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
Kanayamachi-no-KamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture,樋口神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
InariTadakura Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of In...
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Akita
Godai-OkamiLocated in the scenic city of Akita, Godai-jingu Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the ka...
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Akita
MatsumiLocated in the city of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, Matsumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the city of Akita, 矢矧神社 拝殿 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agri...
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Akita
Kasayamori Hachiman-gūLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Matsuhikami Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami o...
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Akita
InezuIneshasha Shrine, dedicated to Inezu, the rice goddess, is one of Japan's oldest shrines, with recor...
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Akita
OtsugiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Tsukahara Ōtsugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the legenda...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Shirokami-hachiman-gu is a historic Shinto shrine d...
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Akita
BontenLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Eight-Horse God Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Bo...
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Akita
Located in the Akita Prefecture, Fire Seals Shrine is a Shinto site dedicated to the deity of fire a...
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Akita
The Honjo Shrine in Akita is dedicated to the Shishigami, a water spirit and god of agriculture. The...
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Akita
GoeiGodai Mika no Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god Goei, who...
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Akita
InakihimeInakifūjin Shrine, dedicated to Inakihime, is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, established in 718...
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Akita
RaijinDaytsuji Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the sky an...
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Akita
Tatsu no kamiHightail Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirit of a fox or...
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Akita
RyujinLocated in the heart of Akita, Ri Miyagū Taijūden is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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Akita
Sakigake-gamiHigh Tail Shrine, located in the heart of Akita city, is a sacred site dedicated to the worship of t...
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Akita
Amaterasu ŌmikamiThe Amaterasu Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the Sun Goddess, a prominent Shinto deity....
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Akita
Yamato no OrochiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Godaido Shrine is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dedicated to the worsh...
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Akita
Tsukiyomi Ō no KamiLocated in the city of Akita, 月夜見大神 Shrine is dedicated to the deity of the full moon, Tsukiyom...
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Akita
Namahagane-OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, Water God Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the water deity, Yama...
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Akita
Kanmachi-OkamiKoryūji Temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the God of Medicine, So...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita City, Taiheiyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Yama...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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