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
Hachidai Ryu Shrine
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Eight Great Dragon KingsA Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the Hachidai Ryu (Eight Great Dragon Kings), powerful dr...
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Hachidai Ryu Shrine
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Eight Great Dragon KingsA Shinto shrine dedicated to the worship of the Eight Great Dragon Kings (Hachidai Ryu-o), powerful...
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Hachiryu Shrine
Gifu
Eight dragon deitiesHachiryu Shrine is dedicated to eight dragon deities, representing the traditional Japanese reverenc...
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Ichimoku Hakuryu-o Gongen Shrine
Gifu
White Dragon King (Hakuryu-o)A shrine dedicated to Ichimoku Hakuryu-o, the One-Eyed White Dragon King, a powerful dragon deity be...
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Ryu Shrine
Gifu
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the deep connection between Japanese spiritu...
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Ryu Shrine
Gifu
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the important role of dragon worship in Japa...
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Ryujo Shrine
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Dragon kami or local protective deitiesRyujo Shrine is a Shinto shrine whose name translates to 'Dragon Castle Shrine,' suggesting a connec...
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Ryuoh Shrine
Nara
Dragon King deityA local shrine dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the widespread Japanese folk belief in dragon...
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Ryuzo Shrine
Kanagawa
Dragon deity (Ryujin)A Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to dragon deities, reflecting the traditional Japan...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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