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
Mikoto no OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Katsunuma Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worsh...
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Akita
Ai Date Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Akita City, dedicated to the god Ai Date,...
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Akita
Amaterasu ŌmikamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, the Shinto shrine of Jōichimonji Shrine is one of Japan's oldest an...
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Akita
Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in Akita Prefecture, Seibu Suna no Mikage Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu a...
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Akita
ŌdaijinLocated in the heart of Akita, Ōdaijin-taisha is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines dedicated to t...
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Akita
Inari Ō no KamiInakaya Shrine, dedicated to Inari Ō no Kami, is a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, located on the...
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Akita
ŌdaiminLocated in the heart of Akita city, 皇大神社 (Ōdaiminsha) is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Akita
Ōkuninushi-no-kamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Sanbutsu-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the three Shinto deities of a...
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Akita
Tamayama-himeLocated in the heart of Akita, Jogan-ji Shrine is dedicated to Tamayama-hime, a local kami associate...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanbo-in Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worshi...
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Akita
Ōtori no KamiTodai-ji Temple, located in the city of Akita, is dedicated to the god of wisdom and education, but...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in Akita Prefecture, Hachiman-gu Shrine is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Shinto...
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Akita
Daisenryu-no-kamiLocated in the city of Azuma, Akita Prefecture, Daisenryu Kofuku-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Akita
Sakano no OkamiSakano no Kami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of ferti...
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Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Usa Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to the worship of...
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Miyagi
Fubun no KamiLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, 貴船神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Ka...
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Miyagi
OkuninushiHokkaido's largest Shinto shrine, located in Sendai, was dedicated to Okuninushi-no-kami and later t...
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Miyagi
OkuninushiKiyosumi River Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okuninushi, the kami of harvest and fertility....
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Miyagi
Jikō no KamiDayeh-jinsha, a Shinto shrine located in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of agriculture...
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Miyagi
Me no KujinLocated in the heart of Sendai, Me no Mikado Taisha is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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Miyagi
ŌishibutōLocated in the picturesque town of Kesennuma, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Miyagi
West Japan's largest Shinto shrine, West Miyagi Shrine was originally built in the Heian period (794...
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Miyagi
Rice GodDuring the Nara period, the Shōka-in temple was relocated to its current site in Sendai, Miyagi Pref...
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Miyagi
Mitsuchi-no-KamiGold Mountain Shrine, located in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, is a lesser-known Shinto site d...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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