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
Miyagi
Ryujin紫神社, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same name. The...
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Miyagi
Inari ŌkamiMultiple Kawadono Inari Shrine, located in the Kesennuma region of Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered S...
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Miyagi
Inazuma-gamiLocated in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, Tenkaku Yama Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine d...
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Miyagi
MikarigamiSmall river god shrine located in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, revered by locals for its tranquil...
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Miyagi
OkuninushiIwade Jinja Shrine, located in the coastal town of Iwade, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami O...
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Miyagi
GodaiGodai Shrine, located in the town of Minamisanrikku, Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto shrine d...
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Miyagi
SusanooMiyosumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of navigation, safety at sea, and safe pass...
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Miyagi
Located in the heart of Sendai, the godly spirit of Ōuchi noŌno Mitsukuni, a powerful daimyo from th...
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Miyagi
SusanooIfuku-ji Shrine, located in the Yamagata prefecture, is renowned for its beautiful gardens and tradi...
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Miyagi
Miyazaki-taikashiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyazaki-temple ruins can be seen at the foot of the hill where Omiya...
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Miyagi
Located in the city of Sendai, Matsushima Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tenjin, the...
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Miyagi
Okuninushi加美石神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The shrine's primary...
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Miyagi
RyūjinLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Sanbō-in Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Miyagi
TsutsugomimiTsutsugo-tamaya Shrine, located in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan's northern Tohoku region, is dedic...
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Miyagi
Located in the city of Sendai, Tsukinoshita Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tsukinoshita no Ka...
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Miyagi
Suzumae-no-MikotoFive-Go-Suzumae Shrine, located in the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the...
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Miyagi
RyujinLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Akibasashi Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity, Ryuji...
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Miyagi
Enmei OkamiLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, the Five-Story Pagoda Shrine is a well-known Shinto site...
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Miyagi
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, FujinLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine...
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Miyagi
Tori no KamiBird House Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the protection of b...
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Miyagi
Matsuo-no-kamiMatsuzaka Shrine, located in the town of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to Matsuo-no-...
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Miyagi
Susanoo-no-kamiLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Threefold Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Miyagi
Hachiman ŌdaimyoAkasaka Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Ōdaimyo Ha...
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Miyagi
Yamagatsumi-no-KamiLocated in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Yamagami Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Yamagats...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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