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
Miyagi
Fuefuki-tsucha Tenjinsha is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. De...
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Akita
HachimanNorthward Forest Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in the Tako Park of Akita City, is dedicated to the...
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Akita
nullLocated in the heart of Akita, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to the worship of the kami of agricul...
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Akita
Inari OkamiHokutoji Shrine, dedicated to the deity Inari Okami, is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture....
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Akita
Kagami no OkamiLocated in the Akita Prefecture, 鹿嶋神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the water goddess, Kagami...
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Akita
InariIndochira Shrine, located in the Akita Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines dedicated...
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秋田県大仙市豊川字観音堂57番, Akita
Sui-no-MikotoWater Spirit Shrine, dedicated to the kami of water and agriculture, is located in Akita Prefecture'...
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Akita
ŌkuninushiLongen-ji Temple, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of fertilit...
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Akita
nullThe Sanjigijinsha shrine in Akita Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of good luck and prosperity, p...
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Akita
nullHigh Forest Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the...
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Akita
IndohakaLocated in Akita Prefecture, Indohakamagahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fert...
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Akita
nullAkakami Jinsha Goshadō is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the god of fire...
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Akita
Manaka OkamiLocated in Akita Prefecture, 鳥海山大物忌神社 蕨岡口之宮 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...
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Akita
Byodo-sa Tsukimi-gu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship...
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Akita
Takamagahara OkamiLocated in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, 釜淵山神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, T...
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Akita
Located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, Mount Yoshino Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the m...
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Akita
DaisenryūLocated in the heart of Akita, Daisenryūji Taisha is a prominent Shinto shrine dedicated to Daisenry...
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Akita
Tsukuyomi no OkamiLocated in the scenic Akita Prefecture, Dayo Water Shrine is a serene Shinto site dedicated to the k...
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Akita
Eight Stage Shrine's primary enshrined deity is not clearly documented in English but is likely related to the region's fertility and abundanceThe Eight Stage Shrine, located in the heart of Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto temple dedicated to th...
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Akita
Kasamatsu-no-kamiKasamatsu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of medicine,...
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Akita
nullFukumitsu Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of prosperit...
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Akita
ŌdaijinLocated in the city of Akita, Royal Grand Shinto Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered sh...
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Akita
Mikoto no OkamiMiyashina Shrine, located in the heart of Akita city, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated to Mikot...
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Akita
ŌkuninushiLocated in Akita Prefecture, the Ōyama-gū Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the enshrined deity...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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