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
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, Shinko Ibun is a lesser-known Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of...
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The Jishi-ten Hikoboshi Taisha, a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture dedicated to the god Jishu Ten (...
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Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Nambaga Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the primary kami o...
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Susanoo-no-MikotoYūyū Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the worship of Yūyū no Okami, a Shinto deity believe...
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TobitsuraTobitsura Shrine, also known as Ohirayama no Tsukasa or Otsuya Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located in...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
KamaitachiLocated in the heart of Yamagata Prefecture, 下日枝神社エリア is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wo...
View shrine →酒田市, 山形県
Tamayamagatsumiya KamuiLocated in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, Hikawa Shrine is dedicated to the god of rice, wate...
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Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Ietsugu-OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 鶴潟神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god Susanoo-no-Mik...
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Kamikaze OkamiLocated in the town of Minamiokita, Akita Prefecture, Bird Island Mountain Daimyōjin Shrine is a Shi...
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HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, Ryutsu-Oharibe Hachiman-gū is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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Located in the heart of Akita, 御滝神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the water spirit ka...
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Gamo-no-kami, HachimanGamo-gawa Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the deity of the Gamo River and its surrounding...
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HachimanHachinosato Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines and a...
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GokotsukunohikoboshiThe Gogoku-ji Shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the four ancient kings of Japan, known as t...
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Hachiman, Yamabiko, Okami, UtsutsiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Dayu Hachiman-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of war and wi...
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Nagasawa no kamiFukunagasanzenryu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of a...
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Fukumitsu-no-kami招福稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of good fortune a...
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Makoto no ŌkamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Presentation of Shinto deity in Japanese - Makoto no Ōkami no Mika no...
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KamuiLocated in the scenic Akita prefecture, 鹿嶋神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the revered kami of...
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Mount Utsunomiya's kamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Utsunomiya Volcano Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity...
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The Tenpō Muzen-ji Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of f...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Iseya Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of I...
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Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, 明田稲荷大明神 (Meigetsu Inari Taisha) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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YamatsumiThe Ryounen Shinto Shrine in Aomori, not to be confused with the Shirohachi, is not relevant here; t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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