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
Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sister goddessesItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the three...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddess daughters of the sea godA Shinto shrine dedicated to the three daughters of the sea god, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Th...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses daughters of the sea godA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three goddess daught...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses of the seaItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the same...
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Iwato Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)Iwato Hachimangu is a Hachiman shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin...
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Izumo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Okuninushi-no-MikotoIzumo Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a regional shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the gre...
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Kajikaeshi Tenmangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified spirit of...
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Kameyama Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Chuai, Empress Jingu, Emperor OjinA historic Hachiman shrine located in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, situated on Mount Kameyama...
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Kamigami Shrine
Yamaguchi
Various kami (gods)A Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, whose name literally means 'divine gods' or 'gods a...
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Kamo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kamo deitiesA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the Kamo deities. This shrine follows the Kamo...
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Kasado Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Kasado Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located on Kasado Island in Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture....
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Kasuga Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoA Kasuga shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Kasuga Taisha in...
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Kasuga Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and associated Kasuga deitiesA Kasuga shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the four principal deities of the Kasuga tradit...
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Kawachi Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kawachi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, serving as a local spiritual cent...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and serves the local community's...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Water deities and rain godsA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to water deities, sharing its name and spiritual l...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiKifune Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is dedicated to water deities and is associated with prayers f...
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Kifune Shrine
Yamaguchi
Takaokami-no-kamiA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the water deity Takaokami-no-kami. Kifune shrin...
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Kirihata Tamanooya Shrine
Yamaguchi
Tamanooya no MikotoKirihata Tamanooya Shrine is dedicated to Tamanooya no Mikoto, a deity associated with jewel-making...
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Koi Hotaru Shrine
Yamaguchi
Deity of love and firefliesKoi Hotaru Shrine is a charming local shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture that celebrates the connection...
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Kojin Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kojin (fierce protective deity)A local shrine dedicated to Kojin, a fierce protective deity in Japanese folk religion who guards ag...
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Kosaba Wakinari Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine located in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associat...
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Kotosaki Hachimangu Shrine
Yamaguchi
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)Kotosaki Hachimangu is a prominent Hachiman shrine located in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The sh...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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