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
Nagano
Oe-hoshikoLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, 上田招魂社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of...
View shrine →Nagano
Izu-no-kami石久磨神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iizaka, Nagano Prefecture, which has been an im...
View shrine →高根町, 山梨県
Iwato-no-kamiLocated in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, Stone Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to th...
View shrine →Nagano
Ōkuninushi no kamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano,湯福神社 (Hotofuku Shrine) is a Shinto temple dedicated...
View shrine →Nagano
Lady Izumo綿貫西宮神社, located in the Nakasendo town of the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, is a historic Shin...
View shrine →Nagano
EnmaLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture,諏訪神社 is one of Japan's oldest and most revered shrines...
View shrine →Nagano
Tengu no OkamiAndada Jinja, located in the town of Nakatsugune, Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of the...
View shrine →Nagano
Emperor SutohikoThis Shinto shrine, located in the town of Murakami in Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to Emperor Su...
View shrine →Nagano
Sakanoe no Okami佐加神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kakunodate, Nagano Prefecture. The shrine is dedi...
View shrine →Yamanashi
OinagisanLocated in the heart of Japan's fertile Kanto region, Hotodigahara Shrine is one of the oldest shrin...
View shrine →Yamanashi
Oinagino-MikotoLocated in the town of Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture, Daikoyama Shrine is dedicated to the deity of ri...
View shrine →Nagano
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Arakawa Jinja Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedic...
View shrine →Nagano
HachimanVillage Shrine of Hachiman located in Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the Shinto god of war and plag...
View shrine →Nagano
Minakuchi Hachiman-gu建部神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Komagane, Nagano Prefecture. The shrine is dedica...
View shrine →Nagano
Hachiman, InariLocated in the scenic town of Karuizawa, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Nagano
Inari OkamiTemple Shrine of the kami of Mt. Asuka, located in the Japanese Alps, is dedicated to the Shinto dei...
View shrine →Nagano
RyūjinLocated in the city of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Chuzenzan Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →Nagano
TenjinLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Tenjin Shrine is dedicated to the kami of learning and...
View shrine →Nagano
Sugawara no MichizaneLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Tenjin Shrine is a revered Shinto temple dedicated to...
View shrine →Nagano
InariNeko-zakura-san, the fox and cherry blossom kami of Nekozakura Shrine in Nagano Prefecture, is rever...
View shrine →Nagano
Susanoo no MikotoLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Eight Humps Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto sh...
View shrine →Nagano
Deepawa Shrine, located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
View shrine →Nagano
Kingyō TaijinKingyō-taijin Shrine, located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, is dedicated to Kingyō Taijin,...
View shrine →Nagano
Okinari-samaLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, West Yamasaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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.