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
沖縄市, 沖縄県
The Kurogiri Shrine, located in the heart of Naha City on the island of Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine...
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石垣市, 沖縄県
Iheya-no-Tsurugi-no-KamiLocated in the southernmost part of Japan, the Iheya-bonshinsha Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated...
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宮古島市, 沖縄県
Hachiman-okiLocated in Miyaura Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Akanmiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the s...
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Asagi
今帰仁村, 沖縄県
Asa-Ga-NiThe Asagi Shrine, located in the small village of Imariyama-son, is a Shinto site that honors the ka...
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Naminoue Shrine
那覇市, 沖縄県
Okarimya-kamiLocated on the scenic coast of Naminoue Bay in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Naminoue Shrine is one...
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Oki-no-gu Shrine
那覇市, 沖縄県
Oki-no-kamiLocated in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Oki-no-gu Shrine is one of the oldest and most revered Shi...
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Shikina-gu Shrine
那覇市, 沖縄県
Located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Shikina-gu Shrine is a Ryukyu-style Shinto shrine dedicate...
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Sueyoshi-gū
那覇市, 沖縄県
Inari OkamiSueyoshi-gū Shrine, located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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