Shinto Shrine

A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more Shinto kami. Although only one word ("shrine") is used in English, in Japanese Shinto shrines may carry any one of many different, non-equivalent names like gongen, -gū, jinja, jingū, mori, myōjin, -sha, taisha, ubusuna or yashiro. (For details, see the section Interpreting shrine names.)

Structurally, a shrine is usually characterized by the presence of a honden or sanctuary, where the kami is enshrined. The honden may however be completely absent, as for example when the shrine stands on a sacred mountain to which it is dedicated, and which is worshiped directly. The honden may be missing also when there are nearby altar-like structures called himorogi or objects believed capable of attracting spirits called yorishiro that can serve as a more direct bond to a kami. There may be a haiden (拝殿, hall of worship?) and other structures as well (see below). However, the shrines most important building is used for the safekeeping of sacred objects, and not for worship.

Miniature shrines called hokora can occasionally be found on the side of streets. Large shrines sometimes have on their precincts miniature shrines called sessha (摂社?) or massha (末社?). The portable shrines carried by the faithful on poles during festivals (matsuri) and called mikoshi actually enshrine a kami and are therefore true shrines.

The number of Shinto shrines in Japan is estimated to be around 100,000.