Japanese Shrine Directory (神社データベース)

What is a shrine?

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.

Using this directory

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

愛染神社

Akita

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Ai-saki Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the kami of love and fe...

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井戸神

Akita

null

Located in the city of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Iizodo-shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of wel...

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天満宮

Akita

Ryujin

Tennmand temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of ri...

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太平山

Akita

Ōyashimo Tenjin

Located in the heart of Akita, Tooheien-zaka Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deity Ōyashimo Tenjin...

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石祠

Akita

null

Located in the Akita Prefecture, the stone shrine of Jishi Shrine is a sacred site that honors the k...

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お稲荷さん

Akita

Inari

Located in Akita Prefecture, o-inahashisan is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice goddess Inari Ok...

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お稲荷さん

Akita

Inari

Located in the town of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Shrine o Inari is one of Japan's most famous Shinto...

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手水鉢

Akita

Hachiman, Suijin

Hand-watered basin, a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, is dedicated to the water deity Hac...

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手水鉢

Akita

null

The Tsutsumi-ba hand-watering basin is a lesser-known Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, ded...

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石祠

Akita

Ryujin

The Ishitsugi Shrine in Akita Prefecture is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the...

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金勢さま

Akita

Kōsei-no-kami

Located in the Akita Prefecture, Kōsei-sama Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of prospe...

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手水鉢

Akita

Mizu-no-kami

The Hand Basin Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto site dedicated to the kami of water...

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八坂大神

Akita

Located in the mountainous region of Akita Prefecture, the Eight Stage Shrine is a Shinto shrine ded...

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古峯神社碑

Akita

Hachiman Okami

Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Koemikawa-jinja Shrine is a small Shinto shrine dedicated...

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才ノ神神社

Akita

Inari

Located in the heart of Akita, Jokko Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto deities Inari and Tsukiyomi....

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才ノ神神社

Akita

Nakano Okami

Nakano Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god of prosperity and...

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才ノ神神社

Akita

Ryujin-no-Kami

Located in Akita Prefecture, 才ノ神神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of agriculture and...

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古峰神社

Akita

Susanoo-no-Kami

Anciently known as 'Hikusa', the ancient village of Hikusaka in Akita Prefecture is said to be the o...

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観音森神社

Akita

Tsuchi-no-Kami

Located in the scenic Akita Prefecture, 觀音森神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of fores...

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石碑群

Akita

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The Stone Monument Group, a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, is believed to be dedicated to the ka...

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古峯神社碑

Akita

Kuri-O-no-Kami

Located in the Higashi-Akita District of Akita Prefecture, Kōgēn'jinsha (Ancient Waterfall Shrine) i...

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古峰神社碑

Akita

Gokoen-zukai

Gokoen-sha Cobi Shrine, dedicated to the kami Gokoen-zukai, is a Shinto shrine located in the Akita...

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太田妙見社

Akita

Kawatarazuka no Kami

Tooeda Mibiki-sha is a Shinto shrine in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of the forest and it...

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才ノ神神社

Akita

Inari

Located in the heart of Akita, 才ノ神神社 is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okami, the...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.

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