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
SusanooNara-period Kofun-style shrine, dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and the Shinto god Susanoo, l...
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nullLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Yamminkō-ji Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the worsh...
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Amaterasu OmikamiLocated in Kyoto,須久寺神社 (Sukuriji Shrine) is one of the most historic Shinto shrines in Japan. T...
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Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Nōtsu-todai Shrine is dedicated to the god of rice fields and fertili...
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KamimusubiKamo Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deities Kamimusubi and Kamo-no-Omusubi, is one of Japan's oldes...
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Inakami OkamiVermiliana Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of insects and farm...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoAddo Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Susanoo-no-Mikoto, know...
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Mudo-tsukayama no KamiLocated in the Shimogyo Ward of Kyoto, Mudo-tsu-jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Tenno-ji Shrine is a revered Shinto site that has been an integral pa...
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新城神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Okinawa's capital city, Naha. The shrine was bui...
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nullTenshukuu Shrine, located on the southernmost tip of Okinawa, is a sacred site dedicated to the gods...
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Tori-kamiTori-kami Shrine, a Shinto temple in Okinawa, is dedicated to the goddess of fortune and prosperity,...
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RyugūOutū Ōsa, located in Naha, Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Ryugū, which embodies...
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Sei-ritsu Temple, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperity and good fortune, is located on...
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Sei-oki Shrine, located in Naha, Okinawa, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of prosperity and...
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ZamoriUtaki Shrine, located in the heart of Okinawa, is a sacred site that honors the Ryukyu Kingdom's anc...
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TenjinThe Tensho Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity Tenjin, is a historic shrine located in the heart o...
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Gasa no MikotoCastle Mountain Prison is a Shinto shrine located in the southernmost part of Okinawa, Japan. It was...
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Located in the heart of Okinawa, Ryukyu Dragon Palace Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Ryujin,...
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Kinpō-roLocated in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture,金毘羅宮 (Kinpō-ro) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of w...
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nullThe West Shrine, also known as Nokamiya, is a Shinto shrine located in the village of Yome, Okinawa...
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RyūjinLocated on the remote island of Okinawa, 東ノ神之屋 Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
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谷茶海神宮, located on the southernmost tip of Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god...
View shrine →沖縄市, 沖縄県
The Kurogiri Shrine, located in the heart of Naha City on the island of Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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