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
Shiga
RyujinLocated in the Shiga Prefecture, Water Heaven Palace Shrine (Sui Tengu) is a sacred site dedicated t...
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Shiga
Tamayusu-oka-tsumi (Water Spirit) and Hachiman (God of War)The West Coast Shrine and the Heaven's Gate Shrine are two separate Shinto shrines located in the ci...
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Shiga
RyujinLocated in the town of Gokashima, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Ryujin Shrine is a Shinto shrine de...
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Shiga
InariLocated in the city of Ryugasaki, Shiga Prefecture, 磯崎神社 御旅所 is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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Shiga
Enma DaiōLocated in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Gates Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and...
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Shiga
Kamisemabe no okamiThis ancient Shinto shrine in Shiga Prefecture has a rich history dating back to the 8th century, wi...
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Agata Shrine
Shiga
OkuninushiLocated in the city of Nagahama, Agata Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi, the god of...
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Amenofuchikomajinja shrine
Shiga
Amenofuchi-komaLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Amenofuchikomajinja Shrine is dedicated to the de...
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Atago Shrine
Shiga
Atago OkamiAtago Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture. The shrine is famo...
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Awata-jinjya
Shiga
Amaterasu Omikami, Inari OkamiAwata-jinjya Shrine, located in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedic...
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Azumamaro Shrine
Shiga
Inari OkamiAzumamaro Shrine, located in the town of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deit...
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Buden
Shiga
Susano'oLocated in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Buden Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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Daishogun Hachi Shrine
Shiga
DaishogunLocated in the city of Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, Daishogun Hachi Shrine is a prominent Shinto shri...
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Daishogun Shrine
Shiga
Located in the city of Omi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Daishogun Shrine is a revered Shinto site tha...
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Dōso Shrine
Shiga
nullDōso Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Katsunuma, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the...
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Ebisu-jinja (shrine)
Shiga
EbisuEbisu-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the god E...
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Ebisu-jinja Shrine
Shiga
EbisuEbisu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fortune, prosperity, and fishing. Loca...
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Ebumi Shrine
Shiga
Sugihime OkamiLocated in the town of Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, Ebumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Fuji Hachimangu Shrine
Shiga
HachimanFuji Hachimangu Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines an...
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Gokogu-Jinja shrine
Shiga
nullLocated in the city of Echizen, Shiga Prefecture, Gokogu-Jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine de...
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Goou Shrine
Shiga
Ooouma-gamiGoou Shrine, located in the town of Katsuyama in Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Great Goddess of Mercy
Shiga
Okuninushi, OtohimeLocated in the city of Echizen, Shiga Prefecture, the Gold Light Shrine is dedicated to the worship...
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Hachidai Shrine
Shiga
Hachiman OkamiHachidai Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the primary deity Hachi...
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Hachirei Shrine
Shiga
Hachirei Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility a...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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