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
Nagano
Mt. SuwaLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Matsugō-ji Temple is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Tsukuyomi-no-kamiHigh Priest's Shrine, located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Located in the Japanese Alps, Pool Village Shrine honors the god of rice, prosperity, and good harve...
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TenmanThe Shitennō-ji temple in Nara was an influence on the construction of several shrines in Japan, inc...
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Located in the scenic prefecture of Nagano, Matsukawa Shrine is a revered Shinto site nestled amidst...
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nullBig Ben is actually the clock tower of Buckingham Palace, located in London, England. It was designe...
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Suwa no OkamiLocated in the town of Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Suwa Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revere...
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Kagebishi no KamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Kagebishi Dai Jingū Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
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Ooe no YasuieMeibodou Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kakunodate, Nagano Prefecture, dedicated t...
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大宮七窪神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of the kami,...
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Oya no KamiLocated in the heart of Japanese Alps, Shibamata Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to the k...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the Japanese Alps, the ancient Old Peak Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is dedicated to Inari...
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ŌkamiLocated in the town of Matsumoto, Ōmachi Shrine (also known as Kamagawa-jinja) is dedicated to Ōkami...
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Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Dayō Hasegijinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Mount Nyoin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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OkuninushiThe shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami of the village of Murayama, located near the source of th...
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Ishikawa no OkamiLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Ishikawa no Okami Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine...
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Hachiman OkamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Ryōman Hachiman-gū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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AkaishiWhite Mountain Shrine, dedicated to the deity of the sacred mountain Akaishi in Nagano Prefecture, i...
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EnmaLocated in the heart of the Japanese Alps, the平泽山神社 shrine is a sacred site nestled among the m...
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Hachimanlocated in the town of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Matsukawa-zaka Shrine is dedicated to the Shint...
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InariTenshū-myō is a Shinto shrine in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the god of p...
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AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Nagano,西宮神社 is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dating back to the 7th cen...
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Inari OkamiDeepida Inari Shrine, located in the town of Oku Izuno in Nagano Prefecture, is a well-known Shinto...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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