Explore the Shrines

One of Japan's most important shrines, Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya is the sacred repository of the legendary sword 'Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi', a symbol of the Emperor's authority.

One of Japan's most important Tenmangu shrines, Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka is built over the grave of the brilliant scholar Sugawara no Michizane, now the kami of learning.

A center of Shugendo mountain asceticism in Yamagata, the Dewa Sanzan are three sacred mountains, each with a shrine representing a different aspect of life and the afterlife.

Kyoto's iconic head shrine of Inari, the kami of rice and business, famed for its mesmerizing network of thousands of vermilion torii gates that snake up a sacred mountain.

A picturesque shrine nestled in a dense forest on the shore of Lake Ashi, known for its stunning torii gate in the water which perfectly frames Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama is the head shrine of over 280 Hikawa shrines across the Kanto region. With its ancient cedars and serene atmosphere, it is a place of deep spiritual power.

The most important Shinto shrine on Japan's vast northern island of Hokkaido, watching over the development and prosperity of its people from its location in beautiful Maruyama Park.

The most venerated Shinto shrine in Japan, Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture is the spiritual home of the Japanese people and the ancestral shrine of the Imperial Family.

A UNESCO World Heritage site on the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima, world-famous for its iconic 'floating' torii gate that stands gracefully in the sea during high tide.

One of Japan's most ancient and important shrines, Izumo-taisha in Shimane Prefecture is dedicated to the kami of relationships, matchmaking, and nation-building.

A rare and ancient shrine in Saitama that preserves a primitive form of Shinto. It has no main hall ('honden') because the mountain behind it, Mt. Mimuro, is revered as the kami's body.

A 1,300-year-old shrine that uniquely blends deep tradition with modernity, acting as the spiritual guardian for the electronics mecca of Akihabara and Tokyo's business districts.

One of the oldest and most influential shrines in eastern Japan, Kashima Jingu in Ibaraki is dedicated to a powerful god of martial arts and is the spiritual home for many schools of swordsmanship.

A UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara, Kasuga Taisha is the ancestral shrine of the powerful Fujiwara clan, renowned for its thousands of bronze and stone lanterns and the tame deer that roam its grounds.

Nestled in a lush, forested valley in northern Kyoto, Kifune Shrine is dedicated to the dragon god of water and rain, and is famous for its unique floating water fortunes.

Kirishima Jingu is a majestic shrine located in the mountains of Kagoshima Prefecture, dedicated to the legendary founding of Japan. It stands at the site where the grandson of the sun goddess is said to have descended from heaven.

Located in Kyoto, Kitano Tenmangu was the first shrine built to appease the spirit of the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, and it serves as the head of all Tenmangu shrines in Japan.

Known affectionately as Konpira-san, this shrine on Mt. Zozu in Kagawa is famous for its incredibly scenic location, where a tunnel of red gates snakes down a green cliff face to the Sea of Japan.

A key shrine on the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, Nachi Taisha is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers stunning views of the 133-meter Nachi Falls.

A remarkable shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who guided Japan through its rapid modernization. The shrine is a striking contrast to the hyper-modern city that surrounds it.

A relatively new shrine in Yamaguchi, Motonosumi has become world-famous for its incredibly scenic location, where a tunnel of red gates snakes down a green cliff face to the Sea of Japan.

Aso Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture is one of the oldest and most important shrines in Kyushu, dedicated to the deities associated with the massive Mount Aso volcano.

Naminoue-gu ('Shrine Above the Waves') is the most important Shinto shrine in Okinawa, serving as the spiritual guardian for the people of the Ryukyu Islands for centuries.

A stunningly lavish and ornate shrine complex in Nikko, a stark contrast to the simple aesthetic of most shrines. It is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan.

While part of a Buddhist temple complex on the sacred Mt. Koya, Okunoin has a deeply spiritual, shrine-like atmosphere. It is the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.

Located in Nara, Omiwa Shrine is one of Japan's most important and ancient shrines. It has no main hall, as the entire, beautifully conical Mt. Miwa behind it is its object of worship.

While technically a Buddhist temple, Senso-ji in Asakusa, with its adjacent Shinto shrine, embodies the syncretic soul of Japanese faith. It is Tokyo's most famous and beloved temple.

An old, quiet shrine in a misty bamboo forest, where worshippers pray not for fortune, but for clarity on their path and connections with others.

One of Japan's oldest shrines, Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka offers protection to sailors and travelers, and features a unique, purely Japanese style of architecture.

Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture is one of the most ancient and enigmatic shrines in Japan. It consists of four separate shrine buildings, each with its own unique character and rituals.

Tucked away in a forest of silver-leafed trees, this shrine is a labyrinth of silk ribbons and ancient looms.

Located deep within a perpetual glacier, this shrine is accessible only during the rarest of lunar alignments. It is dedicated to the ancient dragon of silence and ice.

Perched atop a needle-thin mountain peak above the clouds, this shrine serves as a bridge between the heavens and the earth.

This shrine's main hall rests perfectly preserved in the crystal-clear waters of a caldera lake. Visitors pray from boats on the surface, offering flowers that drift down to the silent world below.

This unique shrine resembles a vast, ancient library. Its hallowed halls are lined with countless scrolls and books, each containing a story in danger of being lost.

A mystical complex of five shrines hidden in the forests of Nagano, linked to one of Japan's most important myths: the return of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

The most important shrine in the historic city of Kamakura, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron god of the samurai and the Minamoto clan.

Located in Oita prefecture, Usa Jingu is the first and most important shrine dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war and archery, and boasts a rich history of spiritual and political influence.

Located in central Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of approximately 2.5 million men, women, and children who have died in service of Japan in conflicts since 1869.