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
一戸町, 岩手県
RaijinLocated in Iwate Prefecture, One Town is home to the Lower Heaven King Shrine, a Shinto site dedicat...
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一戸町, 岩手県
InariThe Inasa Shrine, located in one-hodo town, Iwate Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
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一関市, 岩手県
Okami配志和神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Oneko-cho, Aomori City, but appears to be listed under Iwat...
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一関市, 岩手県
Toyomizu Shrine in Iwate Prefecture is dedicated to the goddess of fertility and prosperity, Toyomiz...
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一関市, 岩手県
nullKitsugi-jinsha, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of the loom and weaving, is located in Kesennum...
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一関市, 岩手県
HachimanLocated in Iwate Prefecture, ifuku-miyajima-hachiman-jinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Hachiman,...
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一関市, 岩手県
The Kojin-ji Shrine in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the storm god S...
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陸前高田市, 岩手県
Shima-OkamiLocated in the coastal town of Landseutel, the Matsumae Jishu Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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一関市, 岩手県
nullLocated in the city of Iwate, Matsuzawa Shrine has a long history dating back to the Edo period. As...
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一戸町, 岩手県
nullThis Shinto shrine, dedicated to the kami of a small village, is nestled in the scenic One-hod Town...
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一関市, 岩手県
Ō no AmbeKuromonozaka-yama-taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Oneko City, Iwate Prefecture. Dedicated to th...
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一戸町, 岩手県
Located in Iwate Prefecture, small Bird Valley Eight-High Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the...
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一戸町, 岩手県
御小性神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Iwate Prefecture, specifically in the town of Iwade, known...
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一戸町, 岩手県
JijinLocated in the scenic town of Iwate, Japan, Dayotsu Shrine is a beautiful Shinto shrine dedicated to...
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一関市, 岩手県
ShishigamiHighkura Shrine, located in Iwate Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of the forest...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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