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
nullGodaiyama Shrine, located in the town of Yamada in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deit...
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IzunagikuResiding in the picturesque town of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture's Izunuma Shrine is dedicated to the...
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HachimanLocated in the Hachiman-ga-hara district of Iwate Prefecture, Shirane Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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Located in the coastal city of Kamaishi, Tenson-ji Temple is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten,...
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Susanowo-no-kamiLocated in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Ifuku Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrine...
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FujitaLocated in the Aomori prefecture of northern Japan, Mutsu Fujita Shrine is one of the most famous Sh...
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Susanoo-no-mikotoDanbo-jinja, a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the kami of agriculture an...
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Raijin雷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to Raijin, the...
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nullMountainside Shinto Shrine located in the city of Mutsu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, is dedicated to th...
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HachimanWhite Mountain Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Zao-okiya Hachi...
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Hokuto Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mount Hakken...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Iwate Prefecture, Takakoma Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated...
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InariLocated in Iwate Prefecture, Good Field Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of agr...
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ŌnogamiHori-sono-izumi-ha Jinsha is a Shinto shrine located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, known for its w...
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Located in the scenic Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, Ninno-ji Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is de...
View shrine →一関市, 岩手県
Toyomizu Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the goddess of fertility and prosperity, Toyomiz...
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nullKitsugi-jinsha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the loom and weaving, is located in Kesennum...
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HachimanLocated in Iwate Prefecture, ifuku-miyajima-hachiman-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman,...
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The Kojin-ji Shrine in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the storm god S...
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Inari ŌkamiLocated in the historic town of Mutsu, Dewa Sanzan Shrine is dedicated to the deity Inari Ōkami, pat...
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HikoboshiShimokawa Hikoboshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Shimokawa district of Iwate Prefecture,...
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RyujinEight Cloud Shrine, located in the scenic Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ensh...
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InariInari Okami Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest and most famous Shinto shr...
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nullLocated in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate, the Aozuka Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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