In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
Akita
ShitennōLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 鎮守 羽黒山 駒場神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of a...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, Takamatsu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice...
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Akita
Akebono TaroLocated in Akita Prefecture, Utsusegikami Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of war and...
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Akita
Takesashiro no Okami波宇志别神社是位于日本秋田県的一座 historic Shinto shrine, dating back to the Heian period (794-1185...
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Akita
Godaikoku no kamiLocated in the city of Aomori, Akita Prefecture's Godai region, Godaikoku Jinsha is a Shinto shrine...
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Akita
Amaterasu (Dewa Kamuy)The Dewa Sanzan group of shrines, which includes the Shiroishi Taisha and this Ise Grand Shrine offs...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, Bear Mountain Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the god Inari,...
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Akita
Visitors can pray to the kami of Lake Biwa, who are believed to possess magical powers.Located in Akita Prefecture,諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same name. The...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, Imokami-sha Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Ok...
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Akita
Goei no okamiGodai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god Goei no okami, or...
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Akita
Iwaki-no-KamuyamaWhite Mountain Shrine, dedicated to the deity of the mountains, is located in Akita Prefecture. The...
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Akita
Yamato no OrochiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Godaido Shrine is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dedicated to the worsh...
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Akita
Tsukiyomi Ō no KamiLocated in the city of Akita, 月夜見大神 Shrine is dedicated to the deity of the full moon, Tsukiyom...
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Akita
Namahagane-OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, Water God Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the water deity, Yama...
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Akita
Kanmachi-OkamiKoryūji Temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of Medicine, So...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita City, Taiheiyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Yama...
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Akita
Nohashi OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Mount Nohashi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mo...
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Akita
JomyoLocated in the heart of Akita City, Akita Jomyo Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of...
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Akita
Ryujin, ToyoukiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Qiongping Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to various kami, incl...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, 磐戸神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sea and the go...
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Akita
Shinko/Takamori/Oi no KamiLove Goddess Shrine in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the Shinko and Takamori goddesses of fertility...
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Akita
InariLocated in the heart of Akita,北野神社 (Hokuto Shrine) is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
Tadayashinsha, a Shinto deity revered at Tadayashinsha Shrine in Akita Prefecture, is believed to ha...
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Akita
Ryujin, Mount IwakiWhite Mountain Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of agriculture an...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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