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
Kamo Daijinja Shrine
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Kamo deitiesKamo Daijinja is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Kamo deities, who are associated with thunder, wat...
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Kamo Shrine
Kanagawa
Kamo deitiesKamo Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture is a local branch of the famous Kamo shrines of Kyoto, dedicated...
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Kamo Shrine
Yamaguchi
Kamo deitiesA Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture dedicated to the Kamo deities. This shrine follows the Kamo...
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Kamo Shrine
Gifu
Kamo deitiesA Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the Kamo deities. Part of the broader network of Kam...
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Kamotsuba Shrine
Nara
Tsumihayae-kotoshironushi-no-mikotoKamotsuba Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Gose, Nara Prefecture, considered one of the oldest...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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