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
Isachisa Shrine
Kagoshima
A historic Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, known for its connection to local maritime...
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Ise Shrine
Kagoshima
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Ise Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. Like many...
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Ise Shrine
Kagoshima
Amaterasu OmikamiA local Ise Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supre...
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Ishitai Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture whose name literally means 'stone body,' suggesting a connec...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture is dedicated to the three sister goddesses of the sea and...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoA local Itsukushima Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to the sea goddess Ichikishimahime-no-M...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, one of the three god...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, one of the three god...
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Iwatsurugi Shrine
Kagoshima
A Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, distinguished by its name which combines 'iwa' (roc...
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Kagoshima Shrine
Kagoshima
Kagoshima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, serving as an important spiritu...
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Kaijō Shrine
Kagoshima
Maritime protection deitiesKaijō Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to deities associated wit...
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Kankoku Uzumine Shrine
Kagoshima
A historic Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture associated with ancient Korean cultural connections...
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Kaseda Gokoku Shrine
Kagoshima
War dead and fallen soldiersKaseda Gokoku Shrine is a war memorial shrine located in Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture. A...
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Kaseda Hie Shrine
Kagoshima
Oyamakui no KamiA Hie shrine located in Kaseda, Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, the mountain de...
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Katsukuri Shrine
Kagoshima
A local Shinto shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture whose name literally means 'victory chestnuts,' sugges...
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Kinpo Shrine
Kagoshima
Spirits of the war deadA Shinto shrine located in Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to the spirits of those who died in servi...
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Kirishima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ninigi-no-MikotoA prominent Shinto shrine located in the volcanic Kirishima mountain range of Kagoshima Prefecture,...
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Kirishima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ninigi-no-MikotoA historic Shinto shrine located in the volcanic Kirishima mountain range of Kagoshima Prefecture, d...
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Kishimojin Shrine
Kagoshima
Kishimojin (Hariti)A shrine dedicated to Kishimojin (Hariti in Sanskrit), a Buddhist deity who became integrated into J...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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