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
Tenshō-inari OkamiTenshōgō-so Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is f...
View shrine →
Iwate
Rakuen馬頭観世音 Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to th...
View shrine →
Iwate
Hashi-o-no-kamiKamaishi Jokoku Shrine, also known as Kamaishi Hashi Mikan Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in Kam...
View shrine →
Iwate
Tamayama no okamiLocated in front of Morioka Station, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the god of prosperity and go...
View shrine →
Iwate
Yamata no Okami山神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of mountains and forest...
View shrine →
Iwate
HachimanHahaku-sha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war and plague prevention, located i...
View shrine →
Iwate
Kofuku no KamiLocated in Iwate Prefecture, Ōtsu Kannon-gū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Sea Goddess Amateras...
View shrine →
Iwate
Located in the town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Light Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to...
View shrine →
Iwate
Ōgami-no-MikotoLocated in the picturesque town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Utsugisano Shrine is a Shinto temple ded...
View shrine →
Iwate
AmatsukamiWest Buddhist Temple, located in the heart of Iwate Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine that has...
View shrine →
Iwate
Ryujin, Hachiman OkamiLocated in the heart of Iwate, Kinryuzan Temple is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryujin, the...
View shrine →
Iwate
Tsuritsutsu no KamiLocated in the beautiful coastal town of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, Hikarigahara Shrine is one of J...
View shrine →
Iwate
Located in the picturesque town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Eight Clouds Shrine is a historic Shinto...
View shrine →
Iwate
HachimanLocated in the Tohoku region of Japan, the Hachiman Shrine in Iwate is dedicated to the deity of war...
View shrine →
Iwate
Otori no IssaiLocated in the town of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, 鵜住神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the fishe...
View shrine →
Iwate
HachimanLocated in the northern prefecture of Iwate, Eight Horses Temple Shrine (Hachimantai Hachiman-gu) is...
View shrine →
Iwate
RyujinThe Blind Shrine in Iwate is dedicated to the Shinto god of fertility and prosperity, Ryujin. Locate...
View shrine →
Iwate
nullTazewa Shrine, located in the town of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →
Iwate
Hachiman, TsukuyomiLocated in the Miyako City of Iwate,厳島神社・月読神社 is one of Japan's most famous and ancient Shi...
View shrine →
Iwate
Mutsu-yama-no-kamiLocated on the island of Mutsu, in the Iwate Prefecture, Mutsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
View shrine →
Iwate
Tsukuyomi加茂神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine is dedicated...
View shrine →
Iwate
KumotorisuThe Kumotorisan Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto god Kumotorisu, is an ancient Shinto shrine in the t...
View shrine →
Iwate
TsukuyomiAkibayashi Shrine, located in Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of ag...
View shrine →
Iwate
Tsukuyomi-no-kamiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture was not correct so I adjusted to Mutsu has the prefe...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.
Content Warning: This website explores Japanese folklore and mythological beings—including yokai, oni, and other supernatural entities—that may be frightening to younger audiences or sensitive viewers. All material is presented for educational and cultural appreciation only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview content before sharing it with children. By continuing to use JapaneseMythicalCreatures.com, you acknowledge and accept this advisory.
Copyright © 2026 Japanese Mythical Creatures • All Rights Reserved.