Shrines in Japan

Associated with Japanese folklore's most eminent sorcerer, this slab of rock is said to be both a blessing and a curse.

A rare public effigy of “the Embracing Kangiten,” the erotic Japanese equivalent of Hindu god Ganesha.

The alleged site of the months-long imprisonment of a Japanese prince.

A lone torii arch stands on a coastal rock where a deity is said to have landed.

Haunted by a giant white snake, this pond is said to bring the rain and pubic hair.

Once upon a time in Kamakura, a five-headed dragon fell in love with an Indian water goddess.

A relatively young Buddhist temple on hilltop, dedicated to a statue relocated from Mount Atago.

A mountaintop shrine-temple guarded by a horde of half-demon priests.

Dedicated to humankind's achievements in aviation, this Shintō shrine is notable for its Greek-style architecture and collection of aircrafts.

This unusual "magical shrine" honors a legendary raccoon-dog god that stowed away to Japan from some far-off land.

A narrow, dead-end alley hides with a small fox shrine and the untold history of Yokohama's historic red-light district.

Thanks to wordplay, the earthquake-causing catfish monster has become a god of confidence at this shrine.

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

Every summer, this shrine sets up a tiny drinking fountain reserved for thirsty apians.

A lonely chimpanzee lures you into a narrow alley leading to this hidden shrine.

A unique shrine dedicated to the deified skull of a 17th-century Tokyo courtesan.