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
Akita
Twoida no OkamiTwoida Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the local area...
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MakotoKasuga-no-Makoto-sha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Makoto, the god of medicine and healing. Locate...
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Yakushi-Okami (God of Medicine), Hachiman (God of War), Akita-Tsuchi-KamiWhite Mountain Shrine, located in the city of Akita, is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shint...
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InazumanokamiKuma no Ma Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Inazumanoka...
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Mt. HakuThe Hakuoka Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto kami of Mount Haku. This...
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nullDay枝 Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the same name....
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KōboLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, Shinbo-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity of learning an...
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UkemoriLocated in the heart of Akita, 朝熊神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of bear an...
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Ko-Usagi-O-Mi no KamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture,朝熊神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of bears and ferti...
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Sugawara no MichieLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michie, a legendary sch...
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YatagarasuLocated in Akita Prefecture, 熊野神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of Yatagarasu, a p...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
Located in the Yamagata Prefecture, Eight Clouds Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of...
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HachimanLocated in the city of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Oga Min Shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
Ōjin no Ō, Kagami-boko, Emperor KinmeiDayo Shrine, located in the scenic city of Zao, Yamagata Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto god...
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InariLocated in the city of Akita,濱町稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of ri...
View shrine →酒田市本町, 山形県
Susanoo-no-MikotoOpened in 1704, Open Fortune Rice Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Susanoo-no-Mikoto...
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Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Sanriku Inari Taisha is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dating ba...
View shrine →酒田市本町, 山形県
AmaterasuThe Indra Shrine in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines and...
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Sasayama no NakatsukuniIndra Shrine in Yamagata Prefecture is dedicated to the Shinto god Indra, known for his control over...
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HachimanLocated in the scenic town of Kuroishi, Hikaragaoka-ku, Akita City, Hikaragaoka Hachimangu Shrine is...
View shrine →酒田市日吉町2丁目24-8, 山形県
Ryūgū-jin (Takemikazuchi)Located in the city of Daito, Yamagata prefecture, Ryōgū-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated t...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Eighteen Hands Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto kami of w...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
Tama no OkamiTama Shinden-ji is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, dedicated to the deities of t...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
Fujimata no MikotoLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, 下日枝神社本堂 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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