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
Shimane
SusanooAncient and serene, Kojima Shinmei Shrine in Shimane Prefecture boasts a rich history dating back to...
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Shimane
KujakuWater Ifuku Shrine, located in Iwami-cho, Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of wa...
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Shimane
Okuninushi愛宕神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, not Shimane, but there is anoth...
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Shimane
Honokami国賀神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Shimane Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Honokami and other...
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Shimane
BiYuya Bijogoshi, a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kurokawa, Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to...
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Shimane
nullKuroki Shrine, located in the scenic city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami...
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Shimane
InariHenry-san no Michi in Kagoshima Prefecture is famous for its stunning ocean views, but a trip to Shi...
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Shimane
TenguLocated in the scenic town of Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, 鷺森神社 (Tengu Forest Shrine) honors the...
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Shimane
InariInari Okuninushi Shrine, dedicated to the god of rice and fertility, is a revered Shinto site locate...
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Shimane
InariFukufuku Inari Shrine, located in the scenic town of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to t...
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Shimane
HachimanLocated in the Shimanekogen National Park, Grass津 Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a prominent Shinto site...
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Shimane
Oosae no KamiLocated in the heart of Shimonoseki City, the Oosae Shrine is a revered Shinto site that has stood f...
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Shimane
Hachiman Okami下久野八幡宮 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kurihama, Shimane Prefecture. The shrine is d...
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Shimane
Mustsu no OkamiMustsu no Okami Shrine, dedicated to the storm god Mustsu-no-Ōkami, is one of Japan's most historic...
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Shimane
Located in the scenic town of Hamai, on the coast of Shimane Prefecture, 飯石神社 is a small Shinto...
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Shimane
Ōiwa-tori, HachimanIega-wo no kami to yūjin no sekai ni itazura no mado ga aru, oshiro wa hozon to shite arimasu. (A wi...
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Shimane
Inari OkamiTwo no Miyajima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on the island of Honshu, in the city of Matsue, Sh...
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Shimane
ShitennōAutumn Leaves Shrine, dedicated to the Shitennō, a group of four deities representing the virtues of...
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Shimane
EsanokamiEson Shrine, located in the scenic town of Yudoh, Shimane Prefecture, is a sacred Shinto site dedica...
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Shimane
Inari OkamiInari Okami-sha, the Shrine of Rice, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami of rice,...
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Shimane
nullThe Hana-snow Shrine, located in the scenic town of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to th...
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Shimane
HachinoshoLocated in the city of Matsue, Eight Horses Temple (Hachi- no-Tera) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Shimane
Ryujin, Susanoo no MikotoThe Akibasha Ōhara Shrine, located in the town of Ayucho in Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's ol...
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Shimane
Kumagasa-yamato-no-kamiLocated in the town of Kuchibu, Shimane Prefecture, Stone Bath Shrine is dedicated to Kumagasa-yamat...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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