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
High Priestess Matsushima, Eight-Fold God MatsushimaMatsushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine was built to...
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Iwate
Located in the scenic town of Hanawa, Iwate Prefecture, Mizukōka Kōgōjinsha is a small Shinto shrin...
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Iwate
KuromoriLocated in Iwate Prefecture, 卯子酉神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of rice and fertil...
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Iwate
Ōfukuinō OkamiConstant Temple, located in the city of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine de...
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Iwate
Ryujin厳Dragon Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, renowned for its well-pre...
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Iwate
nullCaoyo-ji, a Shinto shrine in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of rice and agriculture. The...
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Iwate
OtohimeLocated in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, Plane Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Miyagi
RyujinRikuzentakata Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Ichinoseki, Miyagi Prefecture. The sh...
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Miyagi
TsuruganekoBird House Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of ships a...
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Miyagi
InariThe Toyokawa Inari Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Miyagi
RyujinLocated in the town of Matsushima, in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, 縄張神社 is a historic Shinto...
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Miyagi
KusanagikamiLocated in the city of Shinkawa, Miyagi Prefecture, Daijima Shrine is dedicated to the deity Kusanag...
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Miyagi
Susanoo-no-MikotoAi Date Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and is one of the oldest shr...
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Miyagi
Inari OkappachiLocated in the city of Sendai, Miyazaki Prefecture's capital, is the Inari Okappachi Shrine, dedicat...
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Miyagi
InariDayo-ji Shrine, located in the heart of Sendai City, is one of Japan's most famous and historic Shin...
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Miyagi
Okuni-sanLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Kokeshi-shinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Miyagi
Mount Zao's KamiLocated in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Mount Zao Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god...
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Miyagi
RyuzenohikoboshiRyuzu no Mikoto Shrine, located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, is dedicated to Ryuzenohik...
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Miyagi
InariInari Okunoina Shrine, located in Miyagi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Inari...
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Miyagi
En no GyōjaLocated in the city of Higashi Matsushima, in the prefecture of Miyagi, Wajikami Shrine is a Shinto...
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Miyagi
TamazawaThe Towagami-jinja Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture is dedicated to the god of rice, sake, and fertility,...
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Miyagi
Enmei ŌkamiThe Imperial Shrine of Tairōin is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Enmei Ōkami, who is revered...
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Miyagi
Located in the picturesque town of Kesennuma, Warm Spring Shrine is dedicated to the Kami of Onagobō...
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名取市, Miyagi
Takehiko-gamiLocated in the city of Namei, Miyagi Prefecture, 下増田神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deit...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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