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
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Daio Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of well-being and...
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nullLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Crown Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Crown Prince Yo...
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ŌkuninushiGodai-ji Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of music and dance, Ōkuni...
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Amaterasu Omikami, Izanagi, TsukuyomiSpring Day Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami an...
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HachimanThe Hie Shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to the Shinto god of war, Hachiman, as well as the god of victo...
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Kasuga OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto,春日神社 (Kasuga-taisha) is one of Japan's most renowned Shinto shrine...
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nullNew House Spring Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of longevity and prosperity, Shinmei...
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SōjiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ifukuji Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, dedicate...
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HachimanThe Kango Taishogami Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god of agricult...
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Inari Ōkami古江稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the worship of Inari Ōka...
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AmaterasuSpring Day Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. The...
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Enma-daiōLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kakubonji Shrine is a serene oasis dedicated to the worship of Shinto...
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Star Koshinji Shrine, located in Kyoto, is dedicated to the deity of a star that fell from the sky a...
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InariInnsai-ya, a small Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto's Gion district, is dedicated to Inar...
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Matsuo no KamiMatsuo Shrine, located in Kyoto, is dedicated to the Shinto god of learning and poetry, Matsue no Ka...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Eight-Horsemens Shrine is one of Japan's most revered Shinto shri...
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Located in Kyoto, the Shrine of White Chrysanthemum (Kiyomizu-dera) is one of Japan's most famous an...
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AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sanrinji Temple is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddes...
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InariThe Shrine of Grains and Barley, located in Kyoto, is dedicated to the kami of agriculture and ferti...
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有間神社, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the surrounding...
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Ama no OkamiEastern Tail Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity of agriculture and fertility, is a lesser-known y...
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InariAs a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, 為那都比古神社 is dedicated to the worship of Inari Okami, the god of r...
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Gamo no OkamiGamo Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Gamo no Okami, a kami...
View shrine →茨木市, 大阪府
Futsu Mizuno-Ōnosato no KamiFutsu Mizunouryōshinsha Shrine in Citsukushi, Osaka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Futs...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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