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
Ise Grand Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicated to the sun goddess Amateras...
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Akita
InariInakaya Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami o...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, Hachiman-gu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god H...
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Akita
Ryujin, BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Akita, the Kami no Shinsha shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fort...
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Akita
NingatsukamiTamba no Sato Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of fishi...
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Akita
MiyazakiMiyazaki-jinja Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of t...
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Akita
Orochi and OkamiMiyagi-jinja Shrine, located in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to t...
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Akita
Kinuta no OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, the Kinuta Birojinja Shrine is one of the oldest and most revered Shin...
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Akita
ShishimaiPigmy Deer Shrine, dedicated to the Shishimai deity, is a lesser-known but charming Shinto site loca...
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Akita
GoshinokamiLocated in the picturesque town of Kurokawa, Akita Prefecture's Sando Sawagami Shrine is dedicated t...
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Akita
Yamato no Okami薬師神社, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of medicine and heali...
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Akita
MatsunagatoMatsushiro Shrine, located in the heart of Akita City, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Matsuna...
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Akita
Newcastle Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the city...
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Akita
RyujinSanbashi Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to the god of pro...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, Hoto-kawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity known as Kai...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in Akita Prefecture, Hoku Black Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sea a...
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Akita
KinryuLocated in the Akita Prefecture, the Kinryujo temple is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Kinryu, a Shint...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita City, Jitsuhime-mori Shinmei-ji is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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Akita
相染神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, known for its traditional architecture and...
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Akita
Taiping TenjinLocated in the heart of Akita, Taieizan Taippouji Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the k...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the Akita Prefecture,蛭子神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fire, l...
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Akita
Inari OkamiSawayamishiro Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the Shinto d...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine (Hachimantai) is one of Japan's...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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