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
Gifu
Miharu-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama's East Temple Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedi...
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Gifu
Tsushima OkamiLocated on the island of Shodoshima, which is part of the Ise-Shima region and the sacred islands of...
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Gifu
InariGifu's Kiso Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Inari Okami, patron deity of rice, fertility, and...
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Gifu
Takaoka-juro no-mikoTakaoka Juro no Miko Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Gifu, dedicated to the kami of...
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Gifu
Okuninushi Ō-no-mikotoLocated in the heart of Motosu City, Hōji Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi...
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Gifu
Shiroto no MikotoLocated in the heart of Gifu Prefecture, Shiroto no Miko Shrine is dedicated to Shiroto no Mikoto, a...
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Gifu
HachimanLocated in the city of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Gifu
OsonaiAkamatsu Shrine in Gifu Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of longevity and good for...
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Gifu
KannonGoddess Kannon, the patron deity of mercy and wisdom, is enshrined at Okodzanegi Shrine in Gifu Pref...
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Gifu
Located in the city of Matsumoto, Gifu Prefecture, Akamatsu Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity...
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Gifu
RyōjinIzuoka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Izu City, Gifu Prefecture. Dedicated to the Shinto god o...
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Gifu
Tsukuyomi no OkamiTsushima Island Shrine, located in the Mie Prefecture of Japan's Kii Peninsula, honors the kami Tsuk...
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Gifu
InariTemple of Inari, dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami, patron of agriculture and fertility, is...
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Gifu
Located in the town of Motosu, Gifu Prefecture,諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Gifu
TsukuyomiTsushima Shrine, located in the heart of Gifu Prefecture, is dedicated to the worship of Tsukuyomi-n...
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Gifu
Otohime, Okuninushi, Hayato no OkamiKumano Sanzan, a sacred pilgrimage site in Japan, is home to the famous Kumano Sanzan Shrine, locate...
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Gifu
Amaterasu ŌmikamiTsushima Shrine, located in the city of Gifu, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Tsushima I...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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