Shrines in Nara

Nara Prefecture is home to 161 shrines, including Niukawakami Shrine Kamisha and Tateishi Kai Shrine. These sacred sites offer a glimpse into Japan's spiritual traditions.

Not sure where to start? Read our guide to the 20 best

Shizuri Shrine

Shizuri Shrine

Shizuri Shrine, founded in 768 AD, offers a glimpse into ancient Japanese religious architecture...

Tatsuichi Shrine

Tatsuichi Shrine

Tatsuichi Shrine is an ancient Nara shrine, founded in 768, dedicated to important kami.

Kotai Shrine

Kotai Shrine

Kotai Shrine: a historic shrine with unique architecture and ancient artifacts.

Kasuga Shrine

Kasuga Shrine

Kasuga Shrine is an ancient guardian shrine with unique architecture and important deities.

Kuebiko Shrine

Kuebiko Shrine

Kuebiko Shrine is a small, historic subsidiary shrine dedicated to the deity of wisdom and agric...

Daishōgun Shrine (Nara City)

Daishōgun Shrine (Nara City)

A Nara shrine dedicated to Iwanagahime-no-Mikoto, with a relocated main hall and subordinate shr...

Kashiwagi-tenmangū

Kashiwagi-tenmangū

A Nara Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, with unique architectural features.

Mizukagami Tenjinsha

Mizukagami Tenjinsha

A historic Nara shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, with a unique main hall and a famous...

Kai Tenmangu

Kai Tenmangu

Kai Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, notable for its Edo period a...

Sainami Tenjinsha

Sainami Tenjinsha

Sainami Tenjinsha is a Nara Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, worth visiting for...

Hidachi Shrine

Hidachi Shrine

Hidachi Shrine: an ancient Nara shrine dedicated to Sukunabikona-no-kami, rebuilt in the Edo per...

Isagawa Shrine

Isagawa Shrine

Isagawa Shrine is a historic Nara shrine with unique architecture and a guardian deity.

Hakusan Shrine

Hakusan Shrine

Hakusan Shrine is a historic Nara shrine with a large ginkgo tree, worth visiting for its ancien...

Kotai Shrine

Kotai Shrine

Kotai Shrine, established in 1606, offers a glimpse into traditional shrine architecture and a r...

Oshisaka Yamaguchi Numasu Shrine

Oshisaka Yamaguchi Numasu Shrine

Ancient shrine dedicated to a mountain god, notable for its historic rain-making rituals and anc...

Tsushima Shrine

Tsushima Shrine

Ancient shrine in Nara, dedicated to Gozu Tenno, easily accessible by train.

Tanzan Shrine

Tanzan Shrine

Tanzan Shrine honors Fujiwara Kamatari, featuring a unique wooden 13-story pagoda and seasonal b...

Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Explore an ancient, protected forest, a living natural monument and World Heritage site.

Mitsue Shrine

Mitsue Shrine

Mitsue Shrine is an ancient shrine dedicated to road deities, rebuilt after devastation.

Amenotakechi Shrine

Amenotakechi Shrine

Amenotakechi Shrine: a historic Shikinaisha shrine dedicated to Kotoshironushi no Mikoto, easily...

Karukomuranimasu Shrine

Karukomuranimasu Shrine

Ancient grand shrine dedicated to Homudawake no Mikoto, easily accessible for a quick visit.

Kagamitsukuri Ita Shrine

Kagamitsukuri Ita Shrine

Visit this ancient shrine complex to see rare architectural styles and historical main halls.

Takayama Hachimangū

Takayama Hachimangū

Takayama Hachimangū is a historic shrine in Nara, notable for its cultural properties and clan c...

Sumiyoshi Shrine

Sumiyoshi Shrine

Sumiyoshi Shrine is a historic site in Nara, dedicated to ancient deities, worth visiting for it...

Katsute Shrine

Katsute Shrine

Katsute Shrine is a historic Nara shrine, easily accessible, dedicated to Kotoshiro-nushi-no-mik...

Saki Shrine

Saki Shrine

Saki Shrine is an ancient Nara shrine, rebuilt multiple times, with a unique main hall.

Saki Shrine

Saki Shrine

Saki Shrine is a historic village shrine in Nara, offering a glimpse into local Edo-period worsh...

Himegamisha Shrine

Himegamisha Shrine

Himegamisha Shrine, built on an ancient tomb, honors imperial princesses and offers unique histo...

Himuro Shrine, Tenri city

Himuro Shrine, Tenri city

Himuro Shrine, founded in 430 AD, is dedicated to ice and offers a unique historical experience.

Tsuge-yamaguchi Shrine

Tsuge-yamaguchi Shrine

Tsuge-yamaguchi Shrine is an ancient Nara shrine with a unique large rock behind it.

Tsugeyamaguchi Shrine

Tsugeyamaguchi Shrine

A historic Yamato Province shrine dedicated to mountain and nature deities, once known as a site...

Wanishita Shrine (Ichinomoto)

Wanishita Shrine (Ichinomoto)

Wanishita Shrine, an ancient site with a Momoyama-period main hall, offers a glimpse into Japan'...

Wanishita Shrine

Wanishita Shrine

Visit Wanishita Shrine, a historic Shikinaishosha, to see unique architecture and ancient transf...

Kamo Yamaguchi Shrine

Kamo Yamaguchi Shrine

Ancient shrine in Nara, dedicated to mountain and rain deities, with important cultural statues.

Omiashi Shrine

Omiashi Shrine

Omiashi Shrine is a historic site in Asuka Village, preserving ancient temple ruins and a signif...

Shiki no Miagata Nimasu Shrine

Shiki no Miagata Nimasu Shrine

Ancient shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no-kami, with unique sacred rocks and historical signific...

Takamahiko Shrine

Takamahiko Shrine

Takamahiko Shrine is an ancient shrine at the foot of a sacred mountain, dedicated to a creation...

Yoki Tenman Shrine

Yoki Tenman Shrine

Visit this ancient shrine to see Japan's oldest Tenjin statue, a cultural treasure.

Nagao Shrine

Nagao Shrine

Nagao Shrine, a historic site, offers a unique connection to ancient roads and imperial deities.

Hirose Shrine

Hirose Shrine

Hirose Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Nara, known for its unique festivals and historical...

Ōmiwa Shrine

Ōmiwa Shrine

Japan's oldest shrine, Ōmiwa Shrine offers a unique connection to ancient Shinto and sacred Moun...

Isonokami Jingū

Isonokami Jingū

This ancient, tree-shaded shrine offers a deep historical experience and unique cultural artifac...

Kashihara Jingū

Kashihara Jingū

Kashihara Jingū is a grand imperial shrine dedicated to Japan's first emperor.

Kasuga-taisha

Kasuga-taisha

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, built by the Fujiwara family, protects Nara and has Japan's largest lanter...

Yamato-no-kuni Kashima Katori Hongū

Yamato-no-kuni Kashima Katori Hongū

Ancient Shinto shrine in Nara dedicated to two deities, with sacred horses.

Uchi Shrine

Uchi Shrine

Ancient shrine in Nara with unique architecture and a significant autumn festival.

Yakushi-ji Temple

Yakushi-ji Temple

Yakushi-ji Temple's East Pagoda is a 1,300-year-old wooden structure with unique architecture.

Heguri Shrine

Heguri Shrine

Heguri Shrine is an ancient Shikinaisha shrine dedicated to Oyamatsumi-no-kami, worth visiting f...

Amanokaguyama Shrine

Amanokaguyama Shrine

Ancient shrine dedicated to the god of divination, mentioned in historical texts.

Shrines elsewhere

See everything by prefecture and type