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
ŌkuninushiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Daikō-gū-sha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fert...
View shrine →Kyoto
Tsukuyomi no kamiKiyomizu-dera's sister shrine, Kiyokawa-ji, is dedicated to a lesser-known but equally revered deity...
View shrine →Okinawa
Ishibaya-himeLocated in the heart of Okinawa,伊計神社 (Ikei Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess I...
View shrine →Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Akizukagahara Shrine is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the go...
View shrine →Kyoto
ŌryūdaimyōjinThe Ōryūjinja Shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to Ōryūdaimyōjin, a Shinto deity believed to grant wisdom...
View shrine →Kyoto
SusanooOutu-ji, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of storms and lightning, is located in the heart of Ky...
View shrine →Kyoto
AmaterasuDayotsu Shrine, located in Kyoto, is dedicated to the kami of the rising sun and prosperity. The shr...
View shrine →Kyoto
TenmaButma Tenman Shrine is a Shinto temple located in Kyoto, dedicated to the deity Tenma, one of the Ka...
View shrine →Kyoto
InariLocated in the rural countryside of Kyoto Prefecture, Agematsu Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god...
View shrine →Kyoto
HachimanLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Akano Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of...
View shrine →Kyoto
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Maruyama Hachiman Shrine is a renowned Shinto shrine dedicated to Hac...
View shrine →三田市, 兵庫県
Three Wheel Shrine primarily enshrines the kami of transportation and travelThree Wheel Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of transportation...
View shrine →Okinawa
Ryukyu-guLocated in the scenic town of Kin, Okinawa Prefecture, 前川神社 (Tani Shrine) is a revered Shinto sh...
View shrine →Okinawa
Ryugu-no-oki-tamaThe Nameitari Shrine, located on the southeastern coast of Okinawa's main island, is a sacred site r...
View shrine →Okinawa
Yatagarasu, Ryukyu-no-kamiThe shrine is dedicated to the God of Protection, Yatagarasu, and the Sea, Ryukyu-no-kami. Located i...
View shrine →Okinawa
Located on the island of Okinawa, 乗瀨御嶽 Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, with...
View shrine →Okinawa
OtogamiDepartmental Deity Shrine in Okinawa, dedicated to the protection of fishermen and the sea. This Shi...
View shrine →Okinawa
nullTrue Wall Shrine, located in the heart of Okinawa, is dedicated to the Shisa lion dogs and Ryukyu ro...
View shrine →Okinawa
nullLocated in the heart of Okinawa, Akairome Miyahime no Mikura Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to th...
View shrine →Shizuoka
Kamigakusu-oki-no-KamiSixgose-ji Shrine, located in Ichioka-machi, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine d...
View shrine →Shizuoka
Fujin, Raijin, InazumanokamiImamiya Shrine, located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park of Shizuoka Prefecture, is dedicated to...
View shrine →Shizuoka
nullLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture, the Oshii Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to Fukuta...
View shrine →Shizuoka
FukuiLocated in Shizuoka Prefecture,諏訪神社 (Fukui Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of t...
View shrine →Shizuoka
Toyoshi no OkamiLocated in the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Toyoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.