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
つがる市, 青森県
Located in Tatsugou-cho, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture, the Ōgamiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedi...
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横浜町, 青森県
Hachiman OkamiLocated in the former city of Yokohama, now part of Aomori City's administrative district, is the Yo...
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横浜町, 青森県
InariLocated in the scenic town of Yokohama City, Aomori Prefecture's Hamabishi Inari Shrine is dedicated...
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西目屋村, 青森県
Fudo Myo-o不動明王 Shrine in western Aomori Prefecture is a remote Shinto shrine dedicated to Fudo Myo-o, the...
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五所川原市, 青森県
Tennōkamigo-no-kami永福神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of prosperity and good fortune, located in five-so...
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五所川原市, 青森県
InariLocated in Five-Small-Stream City, Akita Prefecture (not 青森県), Yabusangahara Inari Shrine is a Sh...
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弘前市, 青森県
Located in the heart of Hiryu-cho, a small neighborhood in Hirakata Ward, Kushimoto Shrine is an anc...
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弘前市, 青森県
Sugawara no MichizaneLocated in Hironaka, Hirono City, Aomori Prefecture, Hironaka Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto temple ded...
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弘前市, 青森県
Kobō-ji Temple, located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, is the most famous Shingon temple in Japan a...
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五所川原市, 青森県
Kamaitachi-samaLocated in Five-Small Stream City, Aomori Prefecture, Godai Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
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五所川原市, 青森県
nullLocated in Hachimantai, Aomori Prefecture, not to be confused with the well-known Hachiman Shrine in...
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五所川原市, 青森県
Hachiman OkamiLocated in Five San-Kawara, Aomori Prefecture, Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the g...
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五所川原市, 青森県
Hachiman白衣神社 is a Shinto shrine located in Five-san-kuwa, Aomori Prefecture, known for its beautiful arc...
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五所川原市, 青森県
InariLocated in the city of Ōma, Aomori Prefecture's Ōma District is home to Inari Shrine. This Shinto sh...
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Kabushima Shrine
八戸市, 青森県
SakigamiKabushima Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the deity of the sea, located in Eightfold City, Ao...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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