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
Shioya-no-kamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Yama Shinto Shrine is a historic site dedicated to the worship of M...
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Akita
OtohimeLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, White Mountain Princess Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto...
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Akita
UkaiLocated in the town of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture,薬师神社 (Kanzaki Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicat...
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Akita
ŌjinThe Ōdaijin Taisha, also known as the Imperial Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the heart of Akita, the Eight-Fold God Shrine (Hachimangu) is one of Japan's most famous...
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Akita
Satsuki, Inari OkamiInaka no Mori no Satsuki稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Oiwake, Akita Prefecture....
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Akita
AmaterasuIndra Shrine in Akita is dedicated to the Shinto god Amaterasu, and also has an enshrined deity rela...
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Akita
YakishinnyoLocated in the heart of Akita, the Yakishisai Shrine is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to the heali...
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Akita
InariLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Inari Shrine is one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, dedicate...
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Akita
nullMeta-mi-ira-ho-sha is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god of agricultu...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Ōmotsu Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami Inari...
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Akita
Autumn Hall Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of the lo...
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Akita
InariLocated in the Japanese Alps, Tomidaira-san Shrine is a Shinto temple situated within the Mount Iwak...
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Akita
Tsukiyomi OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 豊受神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Tsukiyo...
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Akita
YamatohimeLocated in the city of Akita, the Yamamotogata Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Yamatohime, a m...
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酒田市本町, 山形県
Located in the heart of Akita City, Akiba Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of learning...
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Akita
SanjiLocated in the city of Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, Sanji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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Akita
YakamochiTohoku region's sacred Shinto shrine, dedicated to the goddess of mercy and abundance, located in Ak...
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Akita
Ishi no Makoto厳嶋神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami Ishi no Makoto and ot...
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Akita
Inari OkamiInakaya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and Inari Okami, the god of...
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酒田市, 山形県
InariLocated in the city of Zao, Yamagata Prefecture, Seven Curves Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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酒田市, 山形県
FutsunoyamaBedōura-jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Yuzawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Dedicated to the kam...
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Akita
Kobutsu no KamiLocated in the scenic Akita prefecture, Mount Aomori-san Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated t...
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Akita
The God's Shrine in Akita is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to the local deity of the town. The shr...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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