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
Nagano
Located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, 飯綱神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agric...
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Nagano
ŌtazawaLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Ōtazawa Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary that honors t...
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Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Kōkai-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the...
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Nagano
InariLocated in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Okagai Tenman-gu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami...
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Nagano
HoteiThe Etori Yakushido is a Shinto shrine located in Nagano Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of hearin...
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Nagano
Located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Peace Shrine is a serene Shinto temple dedicated to promo...
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Nagano
BenzaitenLocated in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Tenman-kyo is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten,...
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Nagano
Shichi no KamiLocated in the picturesque town of Karuizawa, Shinmei-ji Temple in Nagano Prefecture is a Shinto shr...
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Nagano
ZeLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Old Mother泽神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the k...
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Nagano
ŌkuninushiFukii-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Iizaka, Nagano Prefecture. Dedicated to...
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Nagano
nullLocated in the picturesque town of Fujikawaguchi, Shibamayashiro-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple ded...
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Nagano
InariInari Okami Shrine in Nagano is a Shinto site famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, a t...
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Nagano
InariLocated in the Nagano prefecture, three islands in Lake Biwa are said to be the origin of the three...
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Nagano
Mt. Kiso's kamiThe Shiroko-jinja Shrine in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture is one of the oldest shrines in the region,...
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Nagano
Hachiman Ōno-maryō no Kami招魂社 Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is dedicated to the god of war, Hachiman Ōno-maryō no Kami, a pro...
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Nagano
Located in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Shizukahachi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Nagano
ŌkuninushiLocated in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, ancient Ōdaijinja Shrine is a revered Shinto site hono...
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Nagano
Otori no Michi no KamiTaka no Yu no Tsurugi Shrine, located in the town of Yabitsu in Nagano Prefecture, is a Shinto shrin...
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Nagano
HachimanFuinokami Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of war and victory, located in the...
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千曲市, 長野県
ŌkuninushiLocated in Chūru City, Nagano Prefecture, Mōsenzan-jinsha Shrine is dedicated to the god of ships an...
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Nagano
Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Oku-no-Eki Shrine in Nagano Prefecture is a lesser-known...
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Kanagawa
Ōkuninushi小坂天王社 is a Shinto shrine located in the scenic town of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The shrine...
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Kanagawa
Inari OkamiThe Okazaki Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kanagawa, dedicated to the deity Inari Okami....
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Kanagawa
HachimanHighamori Ryōjin, a Shinto shrine in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of high-...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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