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
Suwa-jinja Shrine
Yamanashi
Suwa no OkamiSuwa-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the same name, revered in Japanese myt...
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suwajinja
Yamanashi
nullSuwajinja Shrine, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the f...
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Suyama Sengen Shrine
Yamanashi
SengenSuyama Sengen Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, dedicated...
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Tabata Shrine
Yamanashi
Amaterasu OmikamiTabata Shrine, located in the heart of Yamanashi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site that has been...
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Tainai Shrine
Yamanashi
InariLocated in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Tainai Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of th...
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Ten Shrine
Yamanashi
Ten Shrine, located in the heart of Yamanashi Prefecture, is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
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U Island Shrine
Yamanashi
Inari OkamiU Island Shrine, located in the scenic town of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedica...
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Ubuyagasaki Shrine
Yamanashi
UbayagashiUbayagasaki Shrine, located in the heart of Yamanashi Prefecture, is a tranquil Shinto sanctuary ded...
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Yamamiya Sengen Shrine
Yamanashi
SengenYamamiya Sengen Shrine, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Se...
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白和龍王大神
Yamanashi
Hachiman Ō no OkamiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Yamanashi,白龍神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the dragon...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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