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
Akita
Kanayamachi-no-KamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture,樋口神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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Akita
InariTadakura Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of In...
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Akita
Godai-OkamiLocated in the scenic city of Akita, Godai-jingu Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the ka...
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Akita
MatsumiLocated in the city of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, Matsumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the city of Akita, 矢矧神社 拝殿 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agri...
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Akita
Kasayamori Hachiman-gūLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Matsuhikami Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami o...
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Akita
InezuIneshasha Shrine, dedicated to Inezu, the rice goddess, is one of Japan's oldest shrines, with recor...
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Akita
OtsugiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Tsukahara Ōtsugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the legenda...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Shirokami-hachiman-gu is a historic Shinto shrine d...
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Akita
BontenLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Eight-Horse God Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Bo...
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Akita
Sanji-samaLocated in the picturesque town of Yurihara, Akita Prefecture, Sanjikijinsha is a historic Shinto sh...
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Akita
located in the scenic Akita prefecture, fire temple shrine is dedicated to the kami of fire and heat...
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Akita
Amaterasu ŌmikamiAmaterasu Ōmikami's sacred shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a revered Shinto sit...
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Akita
Sannakawa-hachi-no-Kami寒川八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the protection of traveler...
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Akita
Located in the Akita Prefecture, Ao Ma Jinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god Ao Ma Jin....
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Sanjuku-jinsha is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Akita
TsukuyomiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Middle Village Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the same name. The sh...
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Akita
The Eight Humps Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of pros...
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Akita
Located in the Akita Prefecture, Yamasugi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the mou...
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Akita
RinnojoThe Unyo Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of longevity, R...
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Akita
Ōyashiro-samaLocated in the heart of Akita, the shrine dedicated to Ōyashiro-sama is a testament to the region's...
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Akita
Kumagasa-yō no OkamiStacked torii gates at the entrance to the shrine, surrounded by a serene forested area. The main ha...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 浮島龍神社 is a serene Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea...
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Akita
不動社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the mountain and the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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