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
Sanematsu-no-kamiLocated in the city of Sendai, Japan's second-largest city, Mount Aomori Shrine (山神社) has been a...
View shrine →Miyagi
RyuzenLocated in the scenic prefecture of Miyagi, Ryuzu Shrine is dedicated to Ryuzen, a powerful deity be...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoLocated in the Oshikiri district of Miyagi Prefecture, Zenshu-jinja Shrine is one of Japan's most fa...
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Kōyome-Ō no MimiLocated in the scenic Miyagi prefecture,鹿嶋神社 (Kamoishimajinsha) is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
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RyujinLocated in the heart of Sendai, Eight Clouds Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami o...
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RyujinLocated in the picturesque city of Sendai, Eight Clouds Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to...
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RyujinLongbeard Shrine, located in the Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fert...
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Dōzoshizuka no OkamiLocated in the historic city of Sendai, Dōzoshigahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the dei...
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nullLocated in the prefecture of Miyagi, Hara no Ōkami-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity H...
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Mountain Kami (Shintokyo)New mountain shrine, located in the heart of Sendai city, is dedicated to the Shintokyo kami (Mounta...
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RyujinKesennuma Shrine, located in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines...
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HachimanLocated in the city of Sendai, Aoba-ku, Miyagi Prefecture, Motsuji Hachiman-gu is a historic Shinto...
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Kuro no Kami, Inari Okami金昆羅神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture. The shri...
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Ise-no-MikotoTōnan-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Tōnan, Miyagi Prefecture, on the northeastern...
View shrine →一関市, Iwate
KamamesenokamiLocated in Iwate Prefecture, Onei Kanzaki Shrine, also known as Kamese Mantoji, is a Shinto shrine d...
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ShirokanaiLocated in the prefecture of Iwate, Shirokanai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of th...
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Uchikaze-jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the deity of wind and l...
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TsukuyomiLocated in the town of Hiraizumi, Miyagi Prefecture's neighboring prefecture Iwate boasts Moon Mount...
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Kame no OkamiGama Godo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Ichiritsu, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to...
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Inari OkamiDayutsu-ji Shrine, located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, is a revered Shinto shrine dedica...
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RyujinLocated in the scenic Mutsu Bay area of Iwate Prefecture, great泽山神社 is a revered Shinto shrine d...
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HachimanThe small island shrine of Hachiman on the coast of Iwate is dedicated to the Shinto god of war and...
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KamuyakamiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture is not correct; actually located in the mountains ne...
View shrine →Iwate
Zao no OkamiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Eight Clouds Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedi...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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