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
Kogatsu no KamiKōgaku-ji Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god Kogatsu no Kami, rever...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, Inari Okitenai Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines dedi...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture,八木沢神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest and th...
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Akita
IzanagiLocated in the heart of Akita City, Shrines dedicated to Izanagi and Izanami are common in northern...
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Akita
Inari OkamiThe Dewa Sanzan's sacred mountain, Zao-san, is said to be the origin of Dewa Kami, a group of Shinto...
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Akita
nullLocated in Akita Prefecture, Uppa-ryuji Shinsho and Godawan-e Jinsha shrines are two well-known Shin...
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Akita
RyūjinDeep Mountain Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto site that honors the kami of the moun...
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Akita
Bonten BosatsuLocated in the heart of Akita, Takada Honji Shrine is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
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Akita
Ebisu, YatagarasuJuo Do Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto deity of longevity, health, and agricul...
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Akita
Inari OkamiIndra Shrine in Akita is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, built in 718 AD during the Nara perio...
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Akita
Fujin, BentenLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Eight Humps Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to Fujin, t...
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Akita
Yamatsunomiya HachimanHokuto Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of Mount Haku. The shrin...
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Akita
Shishima TsuneyoshiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, White Hair Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Shishima Tsuneyos...
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Yamagata
Matsubaka-jinja, located in Yamagata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of f...
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Yamagata
Located in Yamagata Prefecture, Outa Sanzan Goshinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the three sacr...
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Yamagata
Hachiman烏帽子八幡宮 is a Shinto shrine located in Yamagata Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of good luck...
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Yamagata
Sasa-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata, Eight Saka Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the deity...
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Yamagata
Tendaiji Temple Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yamagata Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of t...
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Yamagata
Shinko no KamiLocated in the scenic town of Shonai, Yamagata Prefecture, 宿坊神林勝金 Shrine is a serene Shinto si...
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Yamagata
HachimanDayeh Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Kojin Ha...
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Yamagata
SusanooLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Eight-Horned Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Yamagata
Gami-kamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata, eight-sacred-mountain Shrine is a Shinto site that honors the Kami...
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Yamagata
RyujinTensen Shrine, located in Yamagata Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of the sea a...
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Yamagata
Oyama no OkamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata, the Ōyama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Oyama no Okami,...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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