A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house one or more Shinto kami (spirit).
A shrine's most important building is used for the safekeeping of sacred objects rather than for
worship.
Although "shrine" is the only word used in English, Shinto shrines have a variety of many
different names used in Japanese. In particular, gongen, -gū, jinja, jingū, mori, myōjin, -sha,
taisha, and ubusuna oryashiro are the nonequivalent names for Shinto shrine.
A Shinto shrine is usually characterized by the presence of a honden, the most sacred building
at a Shinto shrine, where the kami is enshrined. The honden may however be completely
absent. In this case, when a shrine stands on a sacred mountain to which it is dedicated and is
worshiped directly. The honden may also be oblivious when there are nearby altar-like
structures called himorogi. These are objects believed to be capable of attracting spirits called
yorishiro that can serve as a direct bond to a kami.
There may also be a haiden and other structures as well. Occasionally, miniature shrines
(hokora) can be found on roadsides. Large shrines sometimes have miniature shrines (sessha
or massha) on their precincts. The portable shrines (mikoshi), carried on poles during festivals
(matsuri), enshrine kami and are therefore true shrines.
There is an estimate of around 100,000 Shinto shrines in Japan.
Ise Shrine has been the most prominent shrine in Japan since 1871. The Ise Grand Shrine in Mie prefecture is, along with Izumo-taisha, the most
exemplar and historically significant shrine in Japan.
The two enshrine a kami who plays fundamental roles in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, two texts of great importance to Shinto. Ise Shrine is the
Imperial Household's family shrine because of its kami, the goddess Amaterasu, is an ancestor of the Emperor.
However, Ise Shrine is dedicated specifically to the emperor. Even in the past, his mother, wife, and grandmother needed his permission to worship
there. Its traditional foundation goes back to 4 BC, but historians believe it was founded around the 3rd to 5th century.
The Shinto shrine Izumo Taisha (Shimane prefecture) is so ancient that no record of the year of establishment is known. The shrine is central in a
series of popular sagas and myths.
It enshrines a kami called Ōkuninushi, translating to “Great Land Master”. It is believed that he shaped Japan before it was populated by Amaterasu's
offspring, the Emperor's ancestors.
Due to its physical remoteness, Izumo has been eclipsed in fame by other sites. Although, there is still a widespread belief that all Japanese gods
meet there in October. For this reason, it is also known as Month Without Gods (Kannazuki), while at Izumo Taisha alone it is referred as Month With
Gods (Kamiarizuki).
The head shrine of the largest shrine network in Japan is Fushimi Inari Taisha, which has more than 32,000 members (about a third of the total). Inari
Okami worship started in the 8th century and has continued ever since, expanding to the rest of the country. Located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, the shrine
sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari. It also includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines.
Together with Munakata Taisha, Itsukushima Shrine is at the head of the Munakata shrine network. Dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no
Mikoto, the shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara called Kasuga Taisha in Nara Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 768 A.D. and has been rebuilt several
times over the centuries. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family. The interior is popular for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone
lanterns that lead up the shrine. The architectural style Kasuga-zukuri gets its name from Kasuga Taisha's honden.
Yasukuni shrine, in Tokyo, is dedicated to the soldiers and others who died fighting for the Emperor of Japan.
Hokkaido | Sapporo
Hokkaido Shrine
Famous Shinto temple built to enshrine three deities that helped to develop of Hokkaido.
Tohoku | Yamagata | Dewa Sanzan
Yudono-San
Yudono-San is the most sacred mountain out of the three in the Dewa Sanzan located in the Yamagata Prefecture.
Tohoku | Yamagata | Dewa Sanzan
Gas-San
Gas-san has the tallest peak out of the three in the Dewa Sanzan and is known for its beautiful mountain view.
Tohoku | Yamagata | Dewa Sanzan
Haguro-San
Haguro-San is the easiest to access out of the three in the Dewa Sanzan and is open all year round.
Kanto | Tochigi | Nikko
Toshogu Shrine
Toshogu Shrine is the place where the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, are enshrined.
Kanto | Tokyo | Western Tokyo
Meiji-jingu Shrine
Meiji Jingu, also known as Meiji Shrine, was built in 1920 to enshrine the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
Kanto | Kanagawa | Kamakura
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important shrine in Kamakura and is listed as an Important Cultural Property.
Chubu | Aichi | Nagoya
Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Shrine houses the sacred sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, one of the imperial regalia.
Chubu | Yamanashi | Mt Fuji
Fujisan Sengen Shrine
Fujisan Sengen Shrine is the head shrine out of the 1300 Sengen and Asama shrines in Japan.
Kansai | Mie | Ise
Ise Grand Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan and is rebuilt every twenty years while using traditional techniques.
Kansai | Kyoto | Kyoto City
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in the southern part of Kyoto and is one of the important Shinto shrines in the city.
Kansai | Kyoto | Kyoto City
Heian Shrine
Heian Shrine was built to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the capital’s foundation and is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.
Kansai | Nara | Nara City
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the shrine for the Fujiwara clan. The interior is famous for the many stone and bronze lamps, along with Kasuga-zukuri architectural building style.
Kansai | Wakayama | Kumano
Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine
Kumano is located in the Kii Peninsula and spans into the Wakayama and Mie Prefectures. The Hongu, Nachi and Hayatama Taisha are the three famed shrines of the area.
Kansai | Osaka | Osaka City
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan and is the head shrine for all Sumiyoshi shrines.
Kansai | Nara | Yoshino
Yoshimizu Shrine
Yoshimizu Shrine is a Shinto Shrine located on Yoshino Mountain located in Nara, Japan.
Kansai | Nara | Yoshino
Mikumari Shrine
Mikumari Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. In 2004, It was designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chugoku | Shimane | Izumo
Izumo Grand Shrine
Izumo Grand Shrine is located in Shimane Prefecture, west of the city Matsue. It is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan.
Chugoku | Hiroshima | Miyajima Island
Itsukushima Shrine
The Itsukushima Shrine is best known for its floating torii gate, which is built in the sea.
Chugoku | Yamaguchi | Nagato
Motonosumi-Inari Shrine
Like the famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, except smaller, stands a total of 123 red torii gates.
Shikoku | Kagawa | Kotohira
Kompirasan Shrine (Kotohira-gu Shrine)
One of the most popular and hardest shrines to approach consisting of 1,368 stone steps.
Kyushu | Fukuoka | Dazaifu
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
A Shinto Shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane who was associated to Tenjin, the god of education
Kyushu | Miyazaki | Takachiho
Takachiho Shrine
The venue for Yokagura performances most famous for the story of Amaterasu hiding in a cave causing worldwide darkness from Japanese Mythology.
Kyushu | Miyazaki | Takachiho
Amano-iwato Shrine
A power spot by the Iwato River close to the cave associated in Japanese Shinto mythology where Amaterasu hid from her brother Susanoo.
Kyushu | Nagasaki | Nagasaki
Nagasaki Confucius Shrine
The most famous Confucius Shrine located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan constructed by the Chinese residents of the area.
Kyushu | Oita | Kunisaki Peninsula
Usa Shrine
The head shrine among 40,000 branches dedicated to the Shinto God Hachiman located in Oita Prefecture, Japan.