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
Kyoto
Inari OkamiBird Hall Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Inari Okami. The s...
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Kyoto
DayoLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Dayo Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to Dayo, a kami believ...
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Kyoto
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Dayo Pool Princess Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to the...
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Kyoto
BenzaitenLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Sakura Mountain Shrine is a serene oasis dedicated to the worship of...
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Kyoto
Oinoye no KamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Daiso Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Oi...
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Kyoto
Ōinagino-ŌkamiNine Hands Shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto, is dedicated to the Shinto god of war, Ōinagino-Ōk...
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Kyoto
HachimanBunno-jinja, or Eight-Figure Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in the village of Bunno, within the...
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Kyoto
HachimanLocated in the heart of Kyoto, the Ōmiya Hachiman Shrine is a prominent Shinto site dedicated to the...
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Kyoto
AmaterasuLocated in Kyoto, the Daiojinsha Shrine is dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and her consort, S...
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Kyoto
KodamaThe small town of Kodachi is home to Kodaji-sha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Kodama, rever...
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Kyoto
Kasuga-taisha, also known as Spring Palace Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto Prefecture. I...
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Kyoto
Ōkamichi no KamisumoriLocated on Yaseyama Island in Lake Biwa, Himejima no Oto Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the isla...
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Kyoto
HachimanLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Nenbutsu-ji Temple's Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god H...
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Kyoto
Inari OkamiLocated in the heart of Kyoto, small island shrine is dedicated to the god Inari Okami and is famous...
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Kyoto
RyujinThe White Cloud Dragon King Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a serene oasis amidst the bustling city. De...
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Kyoto
HachimanLocated in Kyoto, the Shrine of Great Buddha of Varying Forms is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the be...
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Kyoto
Located in Kyoto, the Ōdžuka Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the kami of Mount Kurama....
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Kyoto
Minatogakusa HachimanLocated in Kyoto, the Hundred Years King Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the enshrined deity,...
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Kyoto
Sanno ShinmeiThe Hundred Years' Peace Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...
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Kyoto
InariThis serene Shinto shrine, located in the heart of Kyoto's Minami-ku district, is dedicated to a les...
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Kyoto
Nishiki no MikotoLocated in Kyoto, the Nishiki no Mikoto Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice, wate...
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Kyoto
Susanoo日吉社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kyoto, dedicated to the worship of Susanoo-no-Miko...
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Kyoto
Inari ŌkamiThe Inari Okunoin Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a renowned Shinto site dedicated to the worship of In...
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Kyoto
HōjiHōji Shrine, located in Kyoto Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Hōji. Founded dur...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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