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
Itsukushima Shrine
Kanagawa
Three sea goddesses (Ichikishimahime, Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime)A branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three goddess daught...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kanagawa
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine is dedicated to the three sister goddesses of the sea and is part of the network...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Nara
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sea deitiesA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three sister goddess...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto and sister goddessesItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the three...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddess daughters of the sea godA Shinto shrine dedicated to the three daughters of the sea god, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Th...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses daughters of the sea godA branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated to the three goddess daught...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Yamaguchi
Three goddesses of the seaItsukushima Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of several shrines in Japan dedicated to the same...
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Itsukushima Shrine
Kagoshima
Ichikishimahime-no-MikotoItsukushima Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture is dedicated to the three sister goddesses of the sea and...
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Motomachi Itsukushima Shrine
Kanagawa
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoA local Itsukushima shrine located in the Motomachi district, likely dedicated to the same sea godde...
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Tosa Itsukushima Shrine
Kochi
Ichikishimahime-no-mikotoTosa Itsukushima Shrine is a branch shrine of the famous Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, dedicated...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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