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
Shiga
Sakuramoto and AtsushiHozu八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. It is one of the most famous an...
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Shiga
HachimanOtsu-jinja Shrine, located in Otsu city, Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and most revered...
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Shiga
Fukutarasan no OkamiLocated in the heart of Hikone, the historic city in Shiga Prefecture, Toyoda Shrine has been a reve...
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Shiga
Hikawahime-no-machi-kamiLocated in the town of Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, Hikawa Shrine is dedicated to the god of rice and...
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Shiga
Ōi-no-MikotoLocated in Shiga Prefecture,諏訪神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Ōi-no-Mikoto, the stor...
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Shiga
HachimanLocated in the town of Kawagishi, Shiga Prefecture, Kawagishi-Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine ded...
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Shiga
nullLocated in Shiga Prefecture, the Taika Jingœ Shrine is a historic Shinto site dedicated to Emperor T...
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Shiga
Taka no Tsurugi and HachimanLocated in the city of Hikone, Honno-ji Temple's lesser-known sister shrine, Honnouji Hakusan Hongu...
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Shiga
Hirukawa Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of rice and fertility. Founde...
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Shiga
Okuninushi Ō-no-mikotoThis shrine is dedicated to the Okuninushi Ō-no-mikoto, a kami associated with agriculture and cooki...
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Shiga
Susagusu no Kami須賀神社, located in the city of Echizen, Shiga Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Shiga
HachimanLocated in the city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple Shrine is a historic Shinto s...
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Shiga
HachimanLocated in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Horses Temple (Hachiman-dera) is one of Japan's...
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Shiga
Ōkuninushi清瀧大明神 Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to the deity Ōkuninushi, one of the three im...
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Shiga
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Omi, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, the Ōmicho Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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Shiga
Inari OkamiIzumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture is the main shrine of the Izumo region, but a lesser-known...
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Shiga
Inari OkamiThe Toki-no-Machi Shrine, located in the town of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shri...
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Shiga
Ōkuni Ichimaru飛鳥田神社御旅所, located in the prefecture of Shiga, is dedicated to the Shinto god Ōkuni Ichimaru....
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Shiga
nullKozu-shinsha, a Shinto shrine in Shiga Prefecture dedicated to the kami of the Oi River and surround...
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Shiga
ŌkuninushiLocated in Shiga Prefecture, 御栗栖神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest and i...
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Shiga
nullThe Hon-den Shrine, located in the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and...
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Shiga
Located in the heart of Shiga Prefecture, the Omiwa Jingu shrine is a revered Shinto site that has b...
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Shiga
HachimanBersama Hachiman Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of war...
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Shiga
Located in the town of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, 素戔嗚神社 午出坐社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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