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
Akita
BenzaitenLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosp...
View shrine →Akita
Nin'nyo-o no KamiThe Gensen-dō is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agriculture, Nin'nyo-o no Kami. Located in...
View shrine →Akita
Yamatano OrochiTanmatsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity Yamatano Oroc...
View shrine →Akita
Kamakura-gusoku no KamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Godai-jinja Shrine honors the deity Kamakura-gusoku no Kami and is de...
View shrine →Akita
HachimanLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Daido Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of war and mil...
View shrine →Akita
FujinLocated in the heart of Akita, Fukuda Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the enshrined dei...
View shrine →Akita
Ukanose-no-MikotoLocated in the heart of Akita, Godai Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the worship of the Shinto...
View shrine →Akita
Godai OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, Godai-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity Godai Okami, a type of ka...
View shrine →Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sangei Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
View shrine →Akita
Ōdōtōri HisamitsuLocated in the heart of Akita, Ōdawara no Mori-sha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ōdōtōri Hisamitsu...
View shrine →Akita
Katsuragi-no-okamiGodai Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fertility and...
View shrine →Akita
Hotei薬师神社, a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of healing and medicine. Loc...
View shrine →Akita
HachimanLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 磐石別神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Hachiman...
View shrine →Akita
Hachiman TenjinLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Kinzan Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami, Hachiman Te...
View shrine →Akita
RyūjinLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Ryōju-shinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryūjū, the Japanese d...
View shrine →Akita
Inari OkamiKuma no Ma Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami, patron...
View shrine →Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita City, Jitenbo-Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Inari...
View shrine →Akita
Toyosato Jinja-sanToyosato Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of rice and water, is located in Akita Prefec...
View shrine →Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
View shrine →Akita
Atsuta no Okami藥師神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of medicine and heal...
View shrine →Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Taipei Sanjigishu Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicate...
View shrine →Akita
Akitushima OkamiThe Three Gods Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated...
View shrine →Akita
Mountain OkamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 檜山神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity known as...
View shrine →Akita
RyūjinLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Taipei Mountain 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.