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
Iwate
Tsugaru no OkamiTsugaru-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Hanasaki, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine is de...
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Iwate
Iwate no kamiLocated in the heart of Tohoku, Iwate Prefecture's Hiraizumi City, Kojikawa-no-michi Shrine is a les...
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Iwate
InariMiyajima Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan. Ded...
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Iwate
nullEight坂神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Ichibanchō, Iwate Prefecture. The shrine's nam...
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Iwate
Tsukinowa-no-okamilocated in the scenic city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Tsukinowa Shrine is dedicated to Tsukinowa no...
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Iwate
Tsukasa clearing waterLocated in the scenic Kanetsu Valley, Tsukasa clearing water shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary in...
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Iwate
NamahageLocated in the picturesque town of Matsushima, Iwate, Bird Valley Gazebo Shrine is a serene Shinto s...
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Iwate
EbisuLocated in the scenic prefecture of Iwate, Eighteen-stage Shrine (Hachijumasashi Jinja) is a histori...
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Iwate
InariLocated in the scenic Iwate prefecture,藤木稲荷神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice...
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Iwate
nullLocated in the mountains of Iwate Prefecture, Mount no Shin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Iwate
InariRyukyuin, located in Hirosaki Park, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agriculture...
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Iwate
Izumo TaishoLocated in the mountainous region of Iwate, White Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...
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Iwate
TenjinLocated in the Aomori Prefecture, not Iwate, the Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
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Iwate
InariTsutsukawa Inari Shrine, dedicated to the god of rice and fertility, is a Shinto temple located in t...
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Iwate
RyujinLocated in the picturesque prefecture of Iwate, 黄金山神社 (Gold Mountain Shrine) is a Shinto temple...
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Iwate
nullEarlyma Shrine, located in the Tohoku region of Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity o...
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Iwate
Amaterasu OmikamiKoresha Shrine, located in the heart of Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shint...
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Iwate
HachimanLocated in the city of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture is not correct, Iwate Prefecture has many shrines —...
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Iwate
HachimanNikko's sacred forest, Mount Nyoho, is connected to the Hachiman shrine in Iwate prefecture. As a pl...
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Iwate
Awasima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, dedicated to the goddess of fe...
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Iwate
RyūjinLocated in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Ryūjin-gū is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...
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Iwate
Takehisa KonishiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Spring Day Taishogamia Shrine is dedicated to Takehi...
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Iwate
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Mutsu Hachiman Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shint...
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Iwate
Located in the scenic town of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture,八坂神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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