About Jinja DB

Our Mission

Jinja DB is a bilingual (English/Japanese) database dedicated to providing deep, accurate, and accessible information about Japan's Shinto shrines. Our goal is not to create another travel guide, but to offer genuine understanding of the history, mythology, and cultural significance behind each shrine.

Whether you're an anime fan discovering the real-world shrines behind your favorite series, a history enthusiast exploring ancient Japan, or simply curious about Shinto culture, Jinja DB is designed to satisfy your curiosity with reliable, well-sourced information.

What Makes Us Different

• Fact vs. Tradition: We clearly distinguish between documented historical facts and traditional narratives. Every historical claim is tagged with its source type.
• No Rankings: We don't rank shrines or deities. Each has its own significance and place in Japan's spiritual landscape.
• Pop Culture Transparency: Our anime/manga/game shrine connections clearly indicate whether they are officially confirmed or fan-identified.
• Bilingual from Day One: Every piece of content exists in both English and Japanese, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Our data is compiled from multiple sources including:

• Official shrine websites and publications
• The Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho) records
• Academic references on Japanese religion and history
• Wikipedia (Japanese and English) for factual reference, rewritten in our own words
• Local tradition and oral histories (clearly marked as such)

We never copy text from any source. All content is independently composed based on extracted facts. Where information is uncertain or debated, we note this explicitly.

Coverage

Jinja DB currently covers approximately 480 shrines across all 47 prefectures of Japan, including all betsu-hyou (specially designated) shrines, all ichinomiya (provincial first shrines), and additional shrines of cultural, historical, or pop-cultural significance.

About the Creator

Jinja DB is created and maintained by Shoya Kihara, founder of the Matrix DB family of database sites. Jinja DB is part of a growing collection of specialized knowledge databases.

Contact

For corrections, suggestions, or inquiries, please reach out through our GitHub repository or contact form.