Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

猿田彦神社

Shizuoka

Hotei

Established in 718 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the construction of Okunoin Cemetery, Odaw...

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小笠神社

Shizuoka

Shiroi

Small, serene shrine located in the Izu Peninsula of Shizuoka Prefecture, known for its tranquil atm...

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日枝神社

Kyoto

Tsukuyomi

Located in the heart of Kyoto, Dayo-jinja Shrine is dedicated to Tsukuyomi-no-kami, the Shinto god o...

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伊津岐神社

Kyoto

Ishizuka

Ishizuka-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god Ishizuka, located in the heart of Kyot...

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土御門総社

Kyoto

Amaterasu

Tonodera Taisha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, is located in the heart of...

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苅田比賣神社

Kyoto

Sakyoda Hachiman-gu, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman...

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天満宮

Kyoto

Tenjin

Tennan-mae Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the benevolent...

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三津八幡神社

Kyoto

Higashi-fukujin

Located in Kyoto's Shimogyo-ku district, Sanjusangendo Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist tem...

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日出神社

Kyoto

Amaterasu

The Daybreak Shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, and is one of Japan's oldest...

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若宮神社

Kyoto

Rice goddess

Ifurimya Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, dedicated to the kami of rice and fertility. The...

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六社神社

Kyoto

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The Six-Society Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities o...

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黒駒神社

Kyoto

Kurikinage

The Kurokage Shrine in Kyoto is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of darkness and shadow, often...

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大飯神社

Kyoto

Daito

Daito-in, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Daito. Th...

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日枝神社

Kyoto

Amaterasu

Dayo-jinsha, a Shinto shrine in Kyoto dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, is one of Japan's olde...

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新鞍神社

Kyoto

Ōzozaki Kiyomaru

New Kamo Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kamo gods, specifically the twin deities Ōzozaki...

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熊野神社

Kyoto

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Located in the city of Kumiyoto, in the former kingdom of Yamato, is Mount Kurama's most sacred Shin...

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伊射奈岐神社

Kyoto

Inari

Ishinaegi Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami. This sh...

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八幡神社

Kyoto

Susanoo

Located in the heart of Kyoto, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines,...

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熊野神社

Kyoto

Kurama

Kurama Shrine, located in the Yamasaka district of Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...

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姫宮神社

Kyoto

Himegami

Ise no Miyayoshi Himegami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kyoto, dedicated to Himeg...

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熊野神社

Kyoto

Kumano Okami

Kumano Sanzan, a sacred pilgrimage site in Japan, is the spiritual home of Kumano-gu. This Shinto sh...

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依居神社

Kyoto

Toshogu-style shrine dedicated to the deity of a small village in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, beli...

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愛宕神社

Kyoto

Amaterasu Omikami

愛宛神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the god Amaterasu Omikami, t...

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畑中神社

Kyoto

Located in the heart of Kyoto, Hakushinsha Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of fertil...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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