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
Ishihiko Shrine
Fukushima
Ishihiko-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Ishihiko-no-mikoto, a deity associated with sto...
View shrine →Itakura Shrine
Fukushima
A Shinto shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture, dedicated to local protective deities and serving t...
View shrine →Iwahashi Shrine
Fukushima
Okuni-nushi-no-mikoto and local mountain deitiesIwahashi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, known for i...
View shrine →Iwatotsuko Wakegi Shrine
Fukushima
Ajisukitakahikone no MikotoA historic shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto, known for its an...
View shrine →Kabuto Shrine
Fukushima
A Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture whose name derives from 'kabuto' meaning helmet, suggesting...
View shrine →Kanahoriyama Shrine
Fukushima
Kanahoriyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Fukushima Prefecture, with its name literally mean...
View shrine →Kanayama-gu Suiten-gu
Fukushima
Suijin (water deity) and metal working deitiesA shrine combining worship of water deities (Suiten-gu) with metal working deities (Kanayama-gu), re...
View shrine →Kasama Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Ukanomitama-no-OkamiA branch shrine of the famous Kasama Inari Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture, this Fukushima location mai...
View shrine →Kashima Mikoto Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto, the powerful deity of...
View shrine →Kashima Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-MikotoA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto, the powerful deity of...
View shrine →Kashima Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-MikotoKashima Shrine in Fukushima Prefecture is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto, the powerful thunder...
View shrine →Kasuga Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesA local Kasuga shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Kasuga Tai...
View shrine →Kasuga Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-mikotoKasuga Shrine in Fukushima Prefecture is dedicated to the Kasuga deities, following the tradition es...
View shrine →Kasuga Shrine
Fukushima
Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto and other Kasuga deitiesA Kasuga shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to the same deities as the famous Kasuga Taisha in...
View shrine →Kifune Taisha
Fukushima
Takaokami-no-kamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Takaokami-no-kami, the dragon deity of water and rain. Part of the broa...
View shrine →Kitamuki Atago Inari Shrine
Fukushima
Inari Okami and Atago no MikotoA Shinto shrine in Fukushima Prefecture that combines worship of Inari, the rice and prosperity deit...
View shrine →Kitano Shrine
Fukushima
Sugawara no MichizaneA Tenjin shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and...
View shrine →Kojin Shrine
Fukushima
Kojin (kitchen/hearth deity)A village shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to Kojin, a protective deity associated with kitc...
View shrine →Kokuwakura Shrine
Fukushima
Agricultural and farming deitiesA local shrine in Fukushima Prefecture dedicated to agricultural prosperity and farming success. The...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
Ancient joinery techniques of Japanese master craftsmen
Directory of Japanese board games and traditional games
Japanese coffee culture — kissaten, third wave and brewing guides
Explore Japan's landmarks, shrines and hidden locations
SNES and Super Famicom collection tracker
Hoshi no Isan — a Japanese-aesthetic space RPG in development
Pixel art life sim MMO — start at zero, build your life
AI-powered educational stories for kids
Japanese-aesthetic design tokens & AI-ready UI prompts
Every day, one teaching. One moment of stillness.
Kanji, meaning, and a quiet reflection — rooted in the philosophy
behind Japan's forests, seasons, and sacred silences.