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
Located in the scenic Yamagata Prefecture, 鶴岡護国神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to prot...
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Yamagata
Located in the scenic town of Yamagata, Tsukisato-moriyama Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity,...
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Yamagata
Tsukiyomi-no-Kami菱沼八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Yamagata Prefecture, dedicated to the god of agriculture...
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Yamagata
HachimanLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, Addo Hachiman-gu Shrine is a serene and picturesque Shi...
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Yamagata
HachimanLocated in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture,八雲神社 (Hachimantai Shrine) is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Yamagata
HachimanLocated in the city of Yamagata, Eight Horses Temple Shrine (Hachimantai) is one of Japan's most fam...
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Yamagata
HachimanThe Eight-Horned Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedic...
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Yamagata
Located in the town of Obanazawa, East Town Imperial Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Ōyashiro,...
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Yamagata
InariLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and now in Yamagata Prefecture after a relocation...
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Tochigi
RaijinThe Raigendō Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture is dedicated to Raijin, the Shinto god of thunder and ligh...
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Tochigi
KodamaLocated in the town of Kinugawa, Tochigi Prefecture, Yumezaka Toda Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
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Tochigi
HachimanTama Shinden Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Shimotsuke, Tochigi Prefecture. Dedica...
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Tochigi
TamayasuLocated in the scenic village of Shuzenji in Tochigi Prefecture, Village Town Star Shrine is a histo...
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Tochigi
UtsukimiLocated in the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, Star Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the...
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Tochigi
SusuwatariUeno Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god of learning and literature, Susuwat...
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Tochigi
Mikasa静神社, a Shinto shrine in Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to the worship of the kami of the forest...
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Tochigi
Ryujin and Kunitoki-no-okamiNorth Northland Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Tochigi Prefecture, known for its beautiful garden and...
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Tochigi
Inzushi no OkamiInzushi Shrine, located in the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to Inzushi no Okami, a Shin...
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Tochigi
Shitennoji (Tenjin)Eight坂神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Tochigi Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the mountain...
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Tochigi
UsagiLocated in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Taki-Usagi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Tochigi
Highgate Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god of fertility and prosperity, Ts...
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Tochigi
Inari ŌkamiLocated in the Tochigi Prefecture, Shitennō-ji Temple's sister shrine, 菅原神社 (Mikawashita Shrine)...
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Tochigi
HachimanLocated in the town of Yubari, Tochigi Prefecture, Star Shrine (Hoshimiyajisha) is a small Shinto sh...
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Tochigi
Located in the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, Ōtaka Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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