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
Iwate
Inari OkamiLocated in the coastal town of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, 磯崎稲荷 Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
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Rokuku-gamiRokku-ji Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to small iron-shaped kami known as the Rokuku-gami....
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Ai dateLocated in Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Ai date-ji Temple is a Shinto shrine that enshrines the kami of...
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Ōno-mikotoLocated in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate, Daigandō-ji Temple is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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Amaterasuómichi no KamiIndra Shrine, also known as Iwate's sacred site and the oldest Shinto shrine in Iwate Prefecture, da...
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Hachiman盛岡八幡宮 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture. As one of the oldest s...
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HachimanLocated in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Hatsukami Shrine is dedicated to the protection of...
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RyujinLocated in the city of Matsue, Iwate Prefecture, Senkaku-ji Temple is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Amaterasu OmikamiRespectfully known as the 'Sun God Shrine',住吉神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the...
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DaimyōjinLocated in the city of Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, Matsuzaka Daimyōjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, Kusunokawa Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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InariKawarida Inari Shinto Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a lesser-known but fascinating destina...
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Ebisu大黒恵比寿神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Ebisu, a god of...
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InariLocated in the scenic prefecture of Iwate, 梅宮 Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Inari Okami, p...
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Eight Clouds Shrine is dedicated to Fujin, the Shinto god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder. It also enshrines Tsurugi-gami, a kami associated with agriculture and harvests, as well as other regional deities.Located in the town of Ichinarigun, Iwate Prefecture, Eight Clouds Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto s...
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InariLocated in the scenic Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, Haguroda Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site...
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Located in the Tohoku region of Japan, Sanetsu Ishi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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InariLocated in the mountains of Iwate Prefecture, Masuda-yama Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated...
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Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the Iwate Prefecture, Tenmoku Imperial Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu O...
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Geiboku, MatsueLocated in the Mutsu region of Iwate Prefecture, Geibokusemashinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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Sukeno-kamiLocated in Iwate Prefecture, the Fifty-Suken God Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the wind and the...
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Hogarashi OkamiTsukasa-yama Shrine, also known as Kamaishi-gu and later known as Hogarashi-jinja, is a Shinto shrin...
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Hachiman-no-KamiLocated in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate, 多賀神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Inari OkamiIse Grand Shrine's sister shrine in Iwate Prefecture, Miharu Inari Shrine is one of Japan's oldest a...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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