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
Iwate
Matsushima Oji no Tsurugi Shrine, also known as Hikarimachi-jinja or Matsushita-jinja, is a Shinto s...
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Utsugami Shrine enshrines Utsugami Okami, the god of the bright sun.FiveThirtySenji Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Its...
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Gold CrowLocated in the northern prefecture of Iwate, Kinuwa-jinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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NinokamiLocated in the Tohoku region of Iwate Prefecture, Treasure Willow Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicate...
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RaijinLocated in the scenic Tohoku region of Iwate Prefecture, eight clouds god shrine is a lesser-known S...
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InariLocated in the Sanriku region of Iwate Prefecture, Hikarigata Kogen Inari Shrine is dedicated to Ina...
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Yūgen-gamiLocated in the mountains of Iwate Prefecture, Yūgen-gama Shrine is dedicated to the kami of Mount Yū...
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Located in the scenic prefecture of Iwate, Andō Gūjinsha is a Shinto shrine that honors the kami of...
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Mizu-kamiLocated in the prefecture of Iwate, Water God Shrine (Mizukami-jinja) is a historic Shinto shrine de...
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Zushi-no-kamiAkiba Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of autumn leaves...
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HarushimaThe Sanbōgaharashinsha in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto kami of prosperity and good fo...
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HachimanLocated in the scenic Tohoku region, Mutsu no Hachiman-gu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman,...
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Zao no Kami白山神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Hasetsu, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine is dedicate...
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HachimanThe Goma Kawara Hachiman Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of war,...
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HachimanLocated in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, Dazurenobu Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto temple...
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HachimanEight-Horseman Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, dedicated to the eight...
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InariLocated in the city of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture,稲荷さん Shrine is a prominent Shinto shrine...
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nullAutumn Leaves Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of autumn leaves, located in the town...
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Yamato-no-MukusbiLocated in the heart of Iwate, mountainous region, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the kami of mo...
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HachimanLocated in the prefecture of Iwate, Eight Great Deity Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kam...
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Ryūgū-tsu-ō and OtohimeRyūgū-jinsha, located in Mutsu, Iwate, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities Ryūgū-tsu-ō and O...
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Water kami ( Mizu no kami )Water Spirit Shrine, located in the coastal town of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to...
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Susanoo/OdinoThe Sumiyoshi-dera, located in Mutsu city, Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the sea god Susanoo and...
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BenzaitenLove Goddess Shrine in Tohoku region, Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to Benzaiten, the Shinto goddes...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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