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
ARAYA INARI shrine
松前町, 北海道
InariLocated in the northern island of Hokkaido, ARAYA INARI shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Inari...
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Asahino Yashiro
Tokushima
nullLocated in the scenic town of Nankoku, Tokushima Prefecture, Asahino Yashiro is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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ASAMA Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the picturesque town of Matsumae in northern Hokkaido, Asama Shrine is a sacred site dedi...
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ASAMA Shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the northern island of Hokkaido, Asama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity A...
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BENTEN shrine
松前町, 北海道
BenzaitenBenten Shrine, located in Matsumae Town, Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the go...
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BENTEN shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the city of Matsusaka-cho, Hokkaido, Banten Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzai...
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ERA HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanERA Hachiman shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Matsumae, Hokkaido, Japan. Dedicated to the deity...
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ERA HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanERA Hachiman shrine, located in Hokkaido's Matsumae town, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of...
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FUKUSHIMA DAIJINGU shrine
福島町, 北海道
nullFukushima Daijingu shrine, located in Hokkaido's Fukushima Town, is dedicated to the kami of Fukushi...
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FUKUSHIMA DAIJINGU shrine
福島町, 北海道
Fusen no kamiLocated in Hokkaido's Furushima town, the FUKUSHIMA DAIJINGU shrine honors Fusen no kami, a Shinto d...
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Haraedo Jinja Shrine
Niigata
InariLocated in the heart of Niigata, Haraedo Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of th...
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HARAGUCHI HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
Located in the city of Matsuechō, Hokkaido's northernmost municipality, Haraguchi Hachiman Shrine is...
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HARAGUCHI HACHIMAN shrine
松前町, 北海道
HachimanLocated in the northernmost part of Japan, Haraguchi Hachiman Shrine in Matsusaka Town is a Shinto s...
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Heian Shrine
京都市, 京都府
Jinmu and YidunHeian Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Jinmu and Empress Yidun,...
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Higashi-Oshima Shrine
Chiba
RyujinHigashi-Oshima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on the island of Higashi-Oshima in Chiba Prefecture...
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Itai Jinja Shrine
新潟市, 新潟県
InariLocated in the heart of Niigata City, Itai Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity In...
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ITSUKUSHIMA shrine
松前町, 北海道
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, InariItsukushima Shrine, located in northern Hokkaido, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god Susano...
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Jyuni-jinja
Tokyo
Hachiman, Fujin, Raijin, Raijū, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Omoikane, Enma-daiō, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, and BishakujinJyuni-jinja Shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to the twelve Shinto deities of the Japanese calendar, also...
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Kaminohashira Shrine
Miyazaki
Amaterasu Omikami and other kamiKaminohashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Misato, Miyazaki Prefecture. The shrine is known...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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