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
Ōdaijin菅原神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of...
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Iwate
Suberonjininushi-no-kamiThe Suberonji Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto kami of fertility and protection...
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一戸町, 岩手県
nullThis Shinto shrine, dedicated to the kami of a small village, is nestled in the scenic One-hod Town...
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一関市, 岩手県
Ō no AmbeKuromonozaka-yama-taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Oneko City, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to th...
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Iwate
Sakazaki Mountain Shrine, located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Iwate
NagatakeLocated in the heart of Iwate Prefecture, 駒形神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of th...
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Iwate
Kūrō Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Kūro, is located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Pref...
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Miyagi
Located in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Maruyama Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
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Miyagi
Zao HachimanLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Zao Hachima...
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Miyagi
Tsukiyomi-no-kamiLocated in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, White Swan Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedic...
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Miyagi
Fire Prevention Shrine of the Autumn Leaf, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to the protect...
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Miyagi
Aoshimahiko no OkamiLocated in the scenic Iwate Prefecture, 鹿島香取神社 (Kamiishima Aoshima Shrine) is a small Shinto s...
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Miyagi
Inari OkamiGoshina Shrine, located in the scenic town of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site...
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Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the heart of Sendai, the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Kinjōdori Jurokujin Shrine is...
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Miyagi
Susanoo-no-Mikoto宮城野八幡神社, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of good fortu...
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Miyagi
Ryugu-no-KamiLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Eight Fathom Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Miyagi
SusanooLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrine...
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Miyagi
HachimanLocated in the Oshikubo district of Miyagi Prefecture, Okino Yamashirogahara Hachimangū is one of Ja...
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Miyagi
Inari Ō-no-MikotoLocated in the city of Sendai, Tohoku region, 多賀神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Miyagi
Minamoto no YoritomoLocated in the prefecture of Miyagi, Magari Shrine is dedicated to Minamoto no Yoritomo, a powerful...
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Miyagi
BenzaitenLocated in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Float Island Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Miyagi
Bear Mountain Shrine, located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and most histor...
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Miyagi
Okuninushi-no-kami愛宕神社, located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto shrine that dates b...
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Miyagi
Kunitsuno-Okami and Atagokami HachimanLocated in the heart of Sendai, the city founded by Date Masamune, the Shinmei Shrine is a Shinto sh...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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