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
TsukuyomiLocated in the Arashiyama area of western Kyoto, White Water Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary tha...
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Kyoto
Fushimi-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sansui-ji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Fushimi Ina...
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Kyoto
AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Tenman-ji Temple is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shinto sh...
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Kyoto
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Midori-no-Midori Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine that pays hom...
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Kyoto
RaijinFive-Shinnō-Ō-Hassama is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to the veneration of Fūjin and Raijin,...
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Kyoto
HachimanMiyajima Eight-Horsemeshinsha Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrin...
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Kyoto
Wakakusa HagoromoLocated in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, Ogawa Wakamiya Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedic...
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Kyoto
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Wuji Jinsha Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto deity...
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Kyoto
InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Forest Temple Rice Goddess Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicate...
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Kyoto
nullGyōjin-ji Temple in Kyoto is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the gods and ancestors. Est...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in Kyoto, the Dōkan Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of rice, agricultur...
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Kyoto
HachimanKinkaku-ji Shrine, dedicated to the god of war and protection, is located in the heart of Kyoto. Fou...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera Taisha, also known as Sangen-jinja, is a renowned Shint...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu OmikamiThe Gion Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami...
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Kyoto
Take-mikazuchiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kaka no Kami Daikami is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the enshrined de...
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Kyoto
InariLocated in Kyoto, the Inari Shrine is one of the most iconic and revered Shinto shrines in Japan. De...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Big River Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to Inari Oka...
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Kyoto
nullEight-Sacred-Step Shrine, a sacred Shinto site in Kyoto, is dedicated to the worship of the kami of...
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Kyoto
Sun Goddess AmaterasuTenji-jinja Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is dedicated to a kami believed to be responsible...
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Kyoto
nullLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ryoan-ji Temple's peaceful garden is famous for its perfectly raked g...
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Kyoto
Susanoo no MikotoSanesadake Utenamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Sanesadakemachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. De...
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Kyoto
Tsukiyomi-no-KamiWater Moon Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the moon and fertil...
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Kyoto
FujinFutoshinisha Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is dedicated to the enshrined deity Fujin, the g...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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