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

鹿嶋神社

Akita

Located in the beautiful Akita Prefecture,鹿嶋神社 (Kamui-jinsha) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to th...

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八幡神社

Akita

Fujin

Located in the city of Akita, Eight Horses Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto s...

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八坂神社

Akita

Eight-Sacred-Tree kami

Located in the city of Akita, Eight-Sacred-Tree Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of t...

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道祖神社

Akita

Yamayakuma

Located in the heart of Akita, Daosei Shinto Shrine is a historic and tranquil oasis. Dedicated to t...

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広田神社

Akita

Higata Shrine primarily enshrines the god of rice paddies and agriculture in Aizu, but other kami such as Okami and Tamagawa-yashiro are also revered at the shrine.

Located in the heart of Akita, Higata Shrine is a sacred site nestled within a serene forested area....

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薬師神社

Akita

Ōkuninushi

藥師神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of herbal medicine an...

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加茂神社

Akita

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加茂神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of agriculture and fe...

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薬師神社

Akita

Yūjin-Ō no Kami

薬師神社, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of medicine and heali...

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扇宮八幡神社

Akita

Susanoo

Located in the city of Sakata, Akita Prefecture, 扇宮八幡神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the go...

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保食神社

Akita

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Located in the heart of Akita, Higashi-Matsukaze Shrine is dedicated to Shichirin-no-kami, a Shinto...

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八坂神社

Akita

Ebisu, Hachiman

The Eight-Phase Shrine (Hachiman-jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Dedic...

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薬師神社

Akita

Okuninushi

The Medicine God Shrine, located in Akita Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of med...

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三吉神社

Miyagi

Sanji

Located in the heart of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Sanji Shrine is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated...

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八幡神社

Miyagi

Susanoo-no-Mikoto

Located in the heart of Sendai, the Eighteen Hara Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Susanoo-no-M...

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駒形根神社

Miyagi

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Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, 駒形根神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...

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古峯神社

Miyagi

Ryujin, Shiroi Hachiman

Ancient mountain shrine dedicated to Ryujin, the dragon god of the sea and rivers, and Shiroi Hachim...

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愛宕神社

Miyagi

Inari, Hikoboshi no Okami

Ai date-ku no kami (The god of lightning) is enshrined at Ai Date Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in...

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八幡神社

Miyagi

Amaterasu Ōmikami

Located in the town of Kesennuma, Eight-Horned Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami, the Shinto...

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三峰神社

Miyagi

Sannaka-take no Okami

Located in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Sanbō-in Shrine is dedicated to the kami of Mount Zao's t...

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愛宕神社

Miyagi

Amaterasu

愛宕神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami Amaterasu, located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi P...

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古峰神社

Miyagi

Hachiman

Located in the heart of Miyagi Prefecture, Ōfu-ji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of...

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金峯神社

Miyagi

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Kintsu Shrine, located in the heart of Yamagata City, is a sacred site dedicated to the worship of t...

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五十嵐神社

Miyagi

Susanoo-no-Kami

Located in the city of Ishinomaki, Higashi-Matsushima District, Miyagi Prefecture, Five-En En Shrine...

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羽黒神社

Miyagi

Hoku Tsukuyomi

Located in the coastal town of Higashi Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Hoku Goda Shrine is a Shinto s...

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Browse shrines by prefecture

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

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