Shinto is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. It involves the worship of kami spirits. Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spiritual being/spirit or genius of a particular place, but other ones represent major natural objects and processes. Some differences exist between Koshintō (the ancient Shintō) and the many types of Shintō taught and practiced today, showing the influences of Buddhism when it was introduced into Japan in the sixth century
Of the many and diverse Shinto shrines in existence, some are well known:
- Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya, Aichi, shrine to the Imperial sword Kusanagi
- Heian Jingu (Kyoto), dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Kōmei
- Hikawa Shrine, Omiya district
- The Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise), dedicated to Amaterasu
- Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima prefecture
- Iwashimizu Shrine, Yawata, Kyoto
- Izumo Shrine (Izumo)
- Kasuga Shrine, Nara
- Katori Shrine, Chiba Prefecture
- Kumano Shrines, Wakayama Prefecture
- Meiji Shrine (Tokyo), the shrine of Emperor Meiji
- Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture
- Ōsaki Hachiman Shrine, Miyagi Prefecture
- Sendai Tōshō-gū, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
- Shiogama Shrine, Miyagi Prefecture
- Three Palace Sanctuaries, Kokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo
- Tsubaki Grand Shrine, Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
- Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, Kamakura, Kanagawa
- USA Hachiman Shrine, Ōita Prefecture
- Yasukuni Shrine (Tokyo), shrine dedicated to the 'peace of the nation', with militaristic tones.
Shinto Temple is located on mainland Japan, in Kyoto. It is SW of Tokyo.
