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
Goryō Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits of nobles who died unjustlyA Goryō shrine dedicated to appeasing the vengeful spirits of nobles and important figures who died...
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Goryō Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsA shrine dedicated to goryō, the vengeful spirits of those who died in political turmoil or injustic...
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Goryō Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified noblesGoryō Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryō, the spirits of nobles who died in political di...
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Goryo Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsA Goryo shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to appeasing vengeful spirits (goryo) and deified souls...
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Goryō Shrine
Nara
Vengeful spirits and political martyrsGoryō Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryō, the spirits of individuals who died under trag...
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Goryo Shrine
Oita
Deified spirits of the wrongfully deadGoryo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of goryo, the spirits of individuals who died unjustly o...
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Goryo Shrine
Wakayama
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsGoryo Shrine is dedicated to the worship of goryo, spirits of noble or powerful individuals who died...
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Goryō Shrine
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Vengeful spirits of the wrongfully deadGoryō shrines are dedicated to pacifying the vengeful spirits (goryō) of individuals who died under...
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Kawana Goryo Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsKawana Goryo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to goryo, or vengeful spirit...
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Miyamae Goryo Shrine
Kanagawa
Deified spirits of noble persons who died unjustlyA goryo shrine dedicated to pacifying the vengeful spirits of nobles who died under tragic circumsta...
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Nanto Goryo Shrine
Nara
Spirits of deceased nobles and court officialsA historic Shinto shrine in Nara dedicated to the spirits of nobles who died in political conflicts...
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Wakamiya Goryo Shrine
Kanagawa
Vengeful spirits and local protective deitiesWakamiya Goryo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to goryo, or vengeful spir...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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