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
Hakusan Shrine
Kagoshima
Shirayama-hime-no-kamiA Hakusan shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the protective deities of Mount Hakusan. Like...
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Hakusan Shrine
Kagoshima
Shirayama-hime no MikotoA Hakusan shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Shirayama-hime no Mikoto, the principal deity...
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Hara Gosha Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that enshrines five kami, as indicated by its name 'Gosha' m...
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Harayoshi Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Hie shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. Hie...
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Hatayama Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of worship a...
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Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiHie Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, a mountain deit...
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Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Hie shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Oyamakui-no-kami, the mountain deity. Hie...
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Hikosan Shrine
Kagoshima
Mountain deitiesA Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to mountain deities and serving the local...
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Hiruko Shrine
Kagoshima
Hiruko-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Hiruko-no-Mikoto, a deity associated with fishi...
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Hiyoshi Sanno Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui-no-kamiA Sanno shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami. Sanno shrin...
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Hyozu Shrine
Kagoshima
Hyozu-no-KamiA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Hyozu-no-Kami, a deity associated with military...
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Ibusuki Hokoku Shrine
Kagoshima
A patriotic shrine in Ibusuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to honoring the war dead and those wh...
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Ibusuki Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in the hot spring resort town of Ibusuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, serving the...
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Ichihaya Shrine
Kagoshima
Emperor Ojin (Hondawake no Mikoto)Ichihaya Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated primarily to Emperor...
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Ichinomiya Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichinomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that historically held the prestigious...
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Imai Gongen Shrine
Kagoshima
A local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture that follows the gongen tradition, representing the sy...
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Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, sak...
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Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari Okami, deity of rice, prosperity, and good fortuneA local Inari shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the harvest deity Inari Okami. Like thousa...
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Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the kami of rice, sake, and prosperity. Li...
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Inari Shrine
Kagoshima
Inari OkamiAn Inari shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the kami of rice, agriculture, and pros...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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