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
Okinawa
Gasa no MikotoCastle Mountain Prison is a Shinto shrine located in the southernmost part of Okinawa, Japan. It was...
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Okinawa
nullTrue Wall Shrine, located in the heart of Okinawa, is dedicated to the Shisa lion dogs and Ryukyu ro...
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Okinawa
Yatagarasu, Ryukyu-no-kamiThe shrine is dedicated to the God of Protection, Yatagarasu, and the Sea, Ryukyu-no-kami. Located i...
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Okinawa
Ryugu-no-oki-tamaThe Nameitari Shrine, located on the southeastern coast of Okinawa's main island, is a sacred site r...
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Okinawa
nullLocated in the heart of Okinawa, Akairome Miyahime no Mikura Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to th...
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Okinawa
Located on the island of Okinawa, 乗瀨御嶽 Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, with...
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Okinawa
Ishibaya-himeLocated in the heart of Okinawa,伊計神社 (Ikei Shrine) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess I...
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Okinawa
nullTenshukuu Shrine, located on the southernmost tip of Okinawa, is a sacred site dedicated to the gods...
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Okinawa
OtogamiDepartmental Deity Shrine in Okinawa, dedicated to the protection of fishermen and the sea. This Shi...
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Okinawa
Sei-oki Shrine, located in Naha, Okinawa, is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of prosperity and...
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Okinawa
ZamoriUtaki Shrine, located in the heart of Okinawa, is a sacred site that honors the Ryukyu Kingdom's anc...
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Okinawa
TenjinThe Tensho Shrine, dedicated to the Shinto deity Tenjin, is a historic shrine located in the heart o...
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Okinawa
ZamamaLocated on the southernmost tip of Ryukyu Island, West Shore Temple is a revered Shinto shrine in Na...
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Okinawa
Located in the heart of Okinawa, Ryukyu Dragon Palace Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Ryujin,...
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Okinawa
Kinpō-roLocated in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture,金毘羅宮 (Kinpō-ro) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of w...
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Okinawa
nullThe West Shrine, also known as Nokamiya, is a Shinto shrine located in the village of Yome, Okinawa...
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Okinawa
RyūjinLocated on the remote island of Okinawa, 東ノ神之屋 Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the...
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Okinawa
谷茶海神宮, located on the southernmost tip of Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sea god...
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Okinawa
Kokuryu-tennoLocated in the heart of Naha, Okinawa, 護國神社 is a revered Shinto shrine dedicated to the protecti...
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Okinawa
新城神社 is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Okinawa's capital city, Naha. The shrine was bui...
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Okinawa
Yatamaru no Kami神着宮, located in the heart of Okinawa's capital city Naha, is a revered Shinto shrine that dates b...
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Okinawa
JumonjiLocated on the island of Okinawa, 十山神社 (Jumonji Shrine) is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god...
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Okinawa
Ebisu恵比寿神社, located in Naminoue, Naha City, Okinawa, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the Ryuk...
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Okinawa
Sho Nei no OkamiProtector of the Country Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. Dedicated to the...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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