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
Inari OkamiLocated in Kyoto, the Inari Taisha Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicated to...
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Kyoto
AmaterasuSakamagahara Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity of the Sun Goddes...
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Kyoto
BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Shrine of the Sacred Infant Buddha, is a Shinto temple dedicated...
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Kyoto
ŌkuninushiSpring Day Shrine, located in Kyoto, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Ōkuninushi, a kami associated...
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Kyoto
Yatagashi OkamiLocated on the eastern coast of Kyushu, not in Kyoto, Tailizaki Shrine is dedicated to the sea godde...
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Kyoto
Susanoo and UzumeKurama Shrine, located in the foothills of Mount Kurama in Kyoto Prefecture, is one of Japan's most...
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Kyoto
SusanooLonger Shrine, located in the city of Kyoto, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Kannon and...
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Kyoto
InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Tsukahara Shrine is a tranquil oasis that pays homage to the region's...
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Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, 豊浦大歳神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of th...
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Kyoto
Upper津 Shrine, dedicated to the kami of Mount Kurama, is a Shinto shrine located in the Kyoto Prefe...
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Kyoto
DaijōsaiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Utsunomiya Daijōsai Shrine is a lesser-known yet fascinating Shin...
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Kyoto
Okuninushi-no-kamiThis Shinto shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to the kami of a sacred tree said to have been planted by t...
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Kyoto
InariNarigoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagata, Kyoto Prefecture. The shrine is d...
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Kyoto
InariLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ifukuji-dera's sister shrine,若田神社, is a serene Shinto temple dedi...
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Kyoto
RyujinLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Ryō noşinari Shrine is dedicated to Ryōjin, the dragon god, who is be...
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Kyoto
nullCicada Weaving Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of weaving and music. T...
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Kyoto
Earlytail Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the worship...
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Kyoto
Matsuo no OkamiThe Matsuo Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines and a sacr...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu OmikamiLove and Fidelity Shrine in Kyoto, dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami and Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Shinto...
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Kyoto
Susa-no-oLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera's smaller cousin, Shinden no Miyaji, is a lesser-known...
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Kyoto
Amaterasu OmikamiIse Grand Shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, is a revered Shinto site in Mie Pr...
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Kyoto
AmaterasuHotegaoka-ji Shrine, located in Kyoto, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. Dedicated to th...
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Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Dayo-jinja Shrine is a revered Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of...
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Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, the Eighty-Something Steps Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the k...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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