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
Tachibana no OkamiLocated in the heart of Akita Prefecture, 琴平神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the deit...
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Akita
Iwaki-san (Mount Iwaki), Nyoho-nyoho no Kami (Bodhisattva of Compassion)Located in the Akita Prefecture, 男山八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mount Iwak...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Akita Katsura Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Ryūj...
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Akita
Inari OkamiSeven Gates Inari Shrine in Akita is dedicated to the god of rice and prosperity, Inari Okami. The s...
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Akita
Tsukiyomi-no-kamiAndo Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the Ando River...
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Akita
Yamatano OrochiGiyu Jinja, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of agriculture and...
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Akita
Located in Akita Prefecture, Ryōgū-taisha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu...
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Akita
SusanooSalt Kanzaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Akita, dedicated to the sea god Susano...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Kinpu-san Shinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the wors...
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Akita
Ōtsukimi-hime (Goddess of Autumn Harvest)Located in Akita Prefecture, Sanbutsu-shinsha is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the three gods of the...
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Akita
Haku-tsukayama no KamiLocated in the heart of Akita, Haukutsu-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the...
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Akita
Inari OkamiLocated in the city of Akita, Sanbutsu Jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the thre...
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Akita
Sugawara no Michiie, En no GyojiLocated in Akita Prefecture, Dayo-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deity of agriculture and fertilit...
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Akita
BishamonLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Eight-Horned Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Bishamon, a be...
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Akita
HachimanLocated in the city of Akita, Spring Day Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Hachiman, the god of...
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Akita
Inari愛宕大神社, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the kami of fe...
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Akita
ArawashiLocated in the city of Akita, Tooheizan Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of fertility, agricult...
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Akita
nullLocated in the historic city of Akita, Daiyoshigetsu-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the deification of...
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Akita
nullTsunumon-gami Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the Shinto deity Tsunumon-gami, a...
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Akita
Kinjō TarōLocated in the city of Akita, Kinjōtarō Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Kinjō Tarō, a legenda...
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Akita
Tenjō no KamiLocated in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, West Miyazaki Shrine is a lesser-known Shinto shrine d...
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Akita
nullUgachuu Jinja, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the town's n...
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Akita
Oyamato no TsurugiAncient ancient forest, Shiroishi, near the village of Shiroishi, has a long history dating back to...
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Akita
nullLocated in the Akita Prefecture, Gōgata-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of agr...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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