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
Yamagamigo-Hachiman Jinja Shrine
能美市, 石川県
HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Katsuragi on the northern coast of Wakayama Prefecture, Yamagamigo-Hac...
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Yasumaru-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
Hyoshoki no KamiLocated in the city of Katsuragi, Whitehorse City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Yasumaru-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrin...
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Yonemitsu-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
Hiyoshi Okami and Yonemitsu OkamiYonemitsu-Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Higashi-mura, Kamome-cho, Matsuoka, Ish...
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Yonemitsu-Shirayama Jinja Shrine
白山市, 石川県
Shirogami HachimanLocated in the heart of Wakkanai City, Yonemitsu-Shirayama Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Yoshijima Jinja Shrine
小松市, 石川県
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the Ishikawa Prefecture, Yoshijima Jinja Shrine is dedicated to the Shintō deity Susanoo-...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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