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
Yamagata
Raijin大雷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Yamagata, Japan. Dedicated to the kami of thunder...
View shrine →Yamagata
Gōriki-Ō-no-mikotoTennangū-ji is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Yamagata, dedicated to the kami Gōriki-Ō-no-m...
View shrine →Yamagata
Mountaineer's kamiSatsunokiyama Shrine is dedicated to the god of the Satsunokiyama mountain, a sacred site in Yamagat...
View shrine →Yamagata
HachimanLocated in the Zao Mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, the Hakushima Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
View shrine →Yamagata
Hachiman ŌkamiLocated in the city of Kakunodate, Yamagata Prefecture, the Shrine of Godly Vessel (Shintaidō) is a...
View shrine →Yamagata
Susanoo-no-MikotoHokuroku, a sacred scroll in the care of Dejima Shrine's treasure repository, is said to be an imper...
View shrine →Yamagata
InariIn rural Yamagata, the Paita Inari Shrine stands in harmony with nature. Dedicated to the Shinto god...
View shrine →Yamagata
ŌdaijinRyūgū-ji Temple, also known as Ōdaijin-za, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of prosperity a...
View shrine →Yamagata
IzanagiAnciently situated on the slopes of Mount Gassan in the Azusagawa River valley, ancient Ishinomaki-j...
View shrine →Yamagata
Inari OkamiKawara Inari Shrine, located in the scenic Yamagata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of...
View shrine →Yamagata
Ama-no-yakasa-no-mori no KamiMatsuoji Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata city, is a revered Shinto site that has been worsh...
View shrine →Yamagata
InariLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Toyori Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to th...
View shrine →Yamagata
HahakuLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Hahaku Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
View shrine →Yamagata
Inari OkamiThe Eight-Horned Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, is a prominent Shinto site ded...
View shrine →Yamagata
Inari OkamiTsushima Island Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kamaishi city of Iwate Prefecture, but not...
View shrine →Yamagata
TametmaroDedicated to the Shinto deity, Okuninushi Ōno-miya-hiko, or more commonly known as Tametmaro, a powe...
View shrine →Yamagata
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Kuma-no-Miya Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
View shrine →Yamagata
AizenLocated in Yamagata Prefecture,愛宛神社 (Aizen-jinja) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of...
View shrine →Yamagata
Yakumo-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →Yamagata
Kumano OtokoKumano-ga-Hakobi Shrine, also known as Kuma-no-Machi, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Akita, Yamag...
View shrine →Yamagata
Amaterasu OmikamiIndra Shrine, located in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrin...
View shrine →Yamagata
InariLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Daikawaori Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedica...
View shrine →Yamagata
nullThe Imperial Grand Shrine, located in Yamagata Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Ja...
View shrine →Yamagata
Zao-dai-giLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, White Mountain Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedica...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.