Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

廣嶺神社

Shiga

Kamihakuga-no-Kami

Located in the town of Nagahama, Nagaoka-jinshan-ryu Temple's 7th-generation chief priest Shogo Yama...

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山神社

Shiga

Yamagasa

Yamagasa Shrine, located in the heart of Yamanaka town in Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami...

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八幡神社

Shiga

Located in the city of Omi-ya, Shiga Prefecture, Hie Shrine is one of Japan's most famous and histor...

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綱敷天満宮神社

Shiga

Okuninushi Ō no Kami

綱敷天滿宮神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to the worship of Ok...

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御霊神社

Shiga

Oi no Kami

The Goryu Shrine, located in Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rivers an...

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式内 彼方神社

Shiga

Katsuta no Ōkami

Located in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, Katsuta no Ōkami Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...

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総社神社

Shiga

Susanoo

The Omi Jingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shiga Prefecture, dedicated to the sun goddess Am...

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北野天満宮御旅所

Shiga

Amaterasu, Susanoo

North Omi Palace Guest House is a Shinto shrine located in the northern part of Nagaizumi Village, H...

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豊康龍神

Shiga

Ryūjin

The Toyokuni Dragon Shrine, located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...

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飛鳥田神社

Shiga

Inari Okami

Located in the heart of Shiga Prefecture, Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Japan's most famous Shinto...

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平井神社

Shiga

Inari

Located in Shiga Prefecture, the serene Plain Shrine (平井神社) is a beautiful example of traditiona...

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神明神社

Shiga

Omiwa Kami

Located in the town of Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Omiwa Shrine is a historic Shinto temple dedicated to...

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宗像神社

Shiga

Ōmiya Hachiman

Located in the city of Katsura, Shiga Prefecture, Ōmiya-haisha Shrine is dedicated to the kami Ōmiya...

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屋棟神社

Shiga

Oshi no Kami

Eiheiji-ji Temple's subsidiary shrine, Oshi no Kami shrine is dedicated to the deity of a well or sp...

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小柿大宝神社

Shiga

Oshinokami

The small town of Katsuyama in Shiga Prefecture is home to the Oshinookami Jinsha, a Shinto shrine d...

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泊瀬部神社

Shiga

Located in the town of Echizen, Ishikawa prefecture's neighboring province, Shimane is not correct s...

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稲荷大明神

Shiga

Okuninushi

Inugami Shrine, located in the Hikone Castle Park in Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous...

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日吉神社

Shiga

Amaterasu Omikami

Located in the city of Omiya, Shiga Prefecture, Dayatsu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the s...

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小槻神社

Shiga

Tametomo

Located in the heart of Shiga Prefecture, small Otsu Shrine is a tranquil haven dedicated to the kam...

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天穂日命神社

Shiga

Tsuneharu no Kami

Located in the town of Yasukawa, Shiga Prefecture, Tenmokuni no Okami Shrine is dedicated to Tsuneha...

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部令田神社

Shiga

Tametmaro

Located in the town of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, Partō-tenjin Shrine is dedicated to Tametmaro, a lege...

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唐崎神社

Shiga

Tanegashima Okami

Located in the scenic town of Wakasa, Sangi Jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Ta...

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竹田神社

Shiga

Taka no Okami

Takeda Shrine, located in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is dedicated to the enshrined deity Ta...

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本殿

Shiga

Mikasa

Located in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Omotenashi no Mikasa Shrine is a small but historic...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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