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
Kyoto
ArakiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ahari Shrine is a small but historic Shinto temple dedicated to Araki...
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AbeitaAbeita Jinja, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Abeita, a kami associated...
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AmaterasuLocated in Kyoto, Dayō-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and is one of the olde...
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Ōgawa-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ōgawa-kamimichi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
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TakemikazuchiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, 一宮大明神 Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to Takemikazuc...
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InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Saneki Inari Shrine is a prominent Shinto temple dedicated to the god...
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Yesterdayoka Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the Y...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the historic city of Kyoto, 稲代神社拝殿 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice...
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Inasaka OkamiInasa Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Inasaka Okami,...
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Fujinryu no Kami比沼麻奈為神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the western part of Kyoto, Japan. The shrine's name is...
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Tsukuyomi-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Wave God Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the worship of...
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Karatsu OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Matsudaira Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of rice and...
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Okuninushi no ŌkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Nōgū-ji Temple, or more commonly known as Oshio Shrine, is a Shinto s...
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BenzaitenIndra Hall of the Goddess of Mercy is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the worship of...
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Yamato TsuchiBlack Horses Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of horse racing and...
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KuramaKurama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami of Kurama, a mythical creat...
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Addo Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Otori Kagimori, who is be...
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Hayatama-no-Mori OkamiKumano-san Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines and a...
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nullLocated in the Kamigamo region of Kyoto, Sukida Hime Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sukida-hi...
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SusanooKumano-san-sha is one of Japan's most ancient Shinto shrines, located in the Kumano region of Wakaya...
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TakemikazuchiKumano Sanzan, a sacred mountain range in Japan, is deeply connected to the Koyasan Kumano Hongan-ji...
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Shitennō-ji Temple, located in Osaka, is a significant Buddhist temple with connections to Shintoism...
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HikohyōjinSarugida-hyōjin-ya, meaning 'Field of the deer god', is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to Hikoh...
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Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Jingu Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shinto shrine...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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