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
Kyoto
EnmaLocated in the heart of Kyoto, Tenman-gu Shrine is dedicated to the kami of fertility and prosperity...
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Okayama
Kokonoe Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Okayama Prefecture, known as one of Japan'...
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Okayama
Located in the Okayama Prefecture, Shitennō-ji Temple is a prominent Buddhist temple and one of Japa...
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Okayama
IshibutaeLocated in the Okayama Prefecture, 栗原神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of rice and pro...
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Nagasaki
HachimanMale岳 Shrine, located in the heart of Nagasaki, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of war and...
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宍粟市, 兵庫県
Inazuma no KamiLocated in Hyogo Prefecture, Hyosha Shrine is dedicated to the kami of the sea and storm gods, with...
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Nagano
ToshisakiAkioyama Shrine, located in the picturesque town of Iwataki, Nagano Prefecture, is a sacred site ded...
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Koishidani Shrine
Shiga
Ōkuninoshite no Kami and Inari OkamiLocated in the town of Kohoku, Shiga Prefecture, Koishidani Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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