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
Tochigi
Kojin Okami, Hyakume HimeStar Temple Shrine, located in the city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedi...
View shrine →
Tochigi
ŌkamiLocated in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Ryūgū-ji is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
View shrine →
Tochigi
SusanooDaylight Shrine, dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and the Rice God Susanoo, is a Shinto shrine...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Hikokuryu JinLocated in the scenic town of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, 滝尾高徳水神社 is a historic Shinto shrine...
View shrine →
Tochigi
InariLocated in the picturesque town of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Kurokawa Shrine is a serene Shinto tem...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Ō no YasumaroLocated in the picturesque town of NikkĦ, Tochigi Prefecture, Shinmei Shrine is a historic Shinto sh...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Mie-miya Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture. Dedicated to t...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Addo no KamiUtsunomiya-ya Addo-gami Shrine, also known as Addo-jinja, is a Shinto shrine located in Utsunomiya,...
View shrine →
Tochigi
国重文（Kunehikomaru）大倉神社は、東日本地方の古代の天主である国重文（Kunehikomaru）の神社です。建物は江戸時代の造りで、静...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Located in the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, Ryotsu Jinja Shrine is a lesser-known yet historically s...
View shrine →
Tochigi
HachimanNogi Shrine, located in the town of Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to the veneration of t...
View shrine →
Tochigi
HachimanHigh Tail Shrine, located in the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
View shrine →
Tochigi
TenjinThe Twelve Shrine (Jūni-jinja) in Tochigi Prefecture is a historic Shinto shrine complex dedicated t...
View shrine →
Tochigi
HachimanKōgaku-jinja, located in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →
Tochigi
HachimanLocated in the town of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture,八雲神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami o...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Tsukuyomi-no-kamiThe Onsen Shrine, dedicated to the kami of hot springs, is a sacred site located in Tochigi Prefectu...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Otori-no-MikotoBridge-ten Shrine, located in the city of Utsunomiya, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan,...
View shrine →
Tochigi
nullThe Star Temple Shrine, located in the Tochigi prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
View shrine →
Tochigi
RaijinRei-Den Shrine, located in Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of storms and lightnin...
View shrine →
Tochigi
nullDayeh Jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Tochigi Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of rice and fer...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Located in the scenic town of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Utsunomiya Sanzan's Shinge-ji is a lesser-k...
View shrine →
Tochigi
Wind God Shrine, located in Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of wind and storms....
View shrine →
Tochigi
Amaterasu OmikamiStar Temple Shrine, located in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine 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.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.