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
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Toyomachi Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Oku no IwatobiTailor-made shrines in Japan often have a distinctive architecture that reflects the region's histor...
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InariLocated in the scenic town of Izumo, Shimoji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...
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Ōkuninushi住吉神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, known for its beautiful gard...
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HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Hikayamajyama-hachiman-gu is a Shinto shri...
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Kura-no-kami小倉神社, located in the scenic Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of the same name...
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Oyome no SukuneLocated in the city of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Okugyōji Daijingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedica...
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Inari Ōno-mikotoLocated in the coastal town of Onishima, Shimane Prefecture, Shindōmyōjin Temple is a minor Shinto s...
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Located in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Iwami Okunoin Shrine is one of Japan's most famou...
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Matsuyama Shrine, located in the heart of Matsuyama city in Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
View shrine →海田町, 広島県
Kumano-OkamiKumano Shrine, located in Shimanami Island's Oku-Toriishimacho in Hiroshima Prefecture, is one of th...
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Hachiman ŌkamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Ishin Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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HachimanLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture,鷹巣八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
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Tsutsui no KamiLocated in the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, 常本谷天満宮 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Located in the scenic Iwami Valley, Tōdaiji's sister shrine is Mimasaka no Yatagarasu no Mikasa Shri...
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InariHori-uke Shrine, located in the scenic Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Ok...
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InariIshitsugen Shrine, located in the town of Yasugi in western Shimane Prefecture, is dedicated to Inar...
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Located in the scenic town of Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, Ise no Kami Shrine is dedicated to Ise no...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Matsue, Spring Palace Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to the storm...
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Inari OkamiTsushima Island Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. The...
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HieiLocated in the city of Nagara, Shizuoka Prefecture, Hie Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
View shrine →下田市, 静岡県
Minamoto no YoritomoLocated in the town of Odawara, Shonan region of Kanagawa Prefecture, originally in Yokosuka, Eight...
View shrine →Shizuoka
RyujinLocated in the heart of Shizuoka Prefecture, Big Island Shrine (Daijingu) is a renowned Shinto shrin...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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