List of Shinto Shrines Outside of Japan

By: Rev. Olivia Bernkastel

Date: July 6th, 2021

If I have missed a shrine or individual, or you have any concerns or questions regarding legitimacy about a
shrine or individual,

Please direct them to me at: livingwithkami@gmail.com

and I will reply with information and/or look into an investigation.

Thank you very much.

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Note 1: This list is not all-inclusive of the historical shrines established by the Empire of Japan from 1868-
1947, nor for shrines in disrepair. This list is for relatively active and legitimate Shinto presence overseas
and/or maintained shrines and model shrines post-war era.
Note 2: Tenrikyo is not presently part of the Kyoha Shinto Rengokai (Association of Kyoha Shinto) and
therefore will not be listed here.
Note 3: Many of these shrines you must contact or make an appointment with to worship,

especially due to COVID-19 at the moment. Please use the links to politely contact if you wish to

visit or worship

Note 4: I am aware of certain presences and individuals who claim to be shrines and/or priests in USA

Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tennessee, New Jersey areas, and Spain. Please see the list of these fake

establishments after the list of legitimate shrines.

These are not authorized to be operating as Shinto shrines nor calling themselves as clergy. They are not
affiliated with any official Kyoha (Sect), or organization within Shinto. If you need more information, and a
detailed explanation, please contact me using my email above.

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 List of Legitimate Shinto Shrines Outside of Japan
If a shrine is not on the list below, it is likely not legitimate.

USA MAINLAND:
 Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America(Granite Falls, Staffed)
 Kamunabi Ban'yu Ko Shinto Shrine(Maryland, Staffed, but visit by appointment only)
 Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America(Los Angeles, Staffed and holds events, but no permanent physical
location at the moment)
 Shrine to Amaterasu Omikami at Shambhala Mountain Center(Unstaffed Outdoor Shrine, enshrinement
ceremony officiated by Rev. Barrish of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America)

Kyoha Shinto
Konkokyo
 Konko Churches of North America Directory Page(All Staffed)

USA Mainland Locations (And individual website links):Chicago,Portland,Seattle, Fresno,Gardena,

Lancaster, Los Angeles,Sacramento,San Diego,San Francisco,San Jose, South San Francisco,Whittier-Rose Hill

USA HAWAI'I:
 Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu/Kotohira Jinsha(Honolulu, Staffed)
 Daijingu Temple(Honolulu, Staffed)
 Hawaii Ishizuchi Shrine(Honolulu, Staffed for events)
 Hilo Daijingu(Hilo, Staffed)
 Maui Jinja Shinto Shrine(Maui, Staffed for Events)
 Maalaea Ebisu Kotohira Jinsha(Ma'alaea, Staffed for Events)
 Wakamiya Inari Shrine(Waipahu, Unstaffed)

Kyoha Shinto
Izumo Oyashirokyo/Taishakyo
 Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii(Honolulu, Staffed)
Konkokyo
 Konko Missions in Hawai'i Directory Page(All Staffed)

Hawai'i Locations:Honolulu, Hilo, Waipahu,Wahiawa, Wailuku, Hanapepe

CANADA

 Ki No Mori Jinja at Brightwoods Spiritual Center(Salt Spring Island, Staffed, but visit by appointment only)

Kyoha Shinto
 Konko Church of Toronto(Toronto, Staffed)
 Konko Church of Vancouver(Vancouver, Staffed)

BRAZIL

 Brasil Daijingu(Sao Paulo, Staffed)

Unknown Status (Please contact me if you have information):Sansso Jinja,Dois Galhos

Jinja,Hakkoku Sekioi Jinja, Kami-no-ie Yaomankyo Iwato Jinja,Inari-Kai,Shintoo Ikyo Daijin Myogu,Nambei
Daijingu,Yasukuni Ko,Kompira Jinja,Kaitaku Jinja

Kyoha Shinto
Konkokyo
 Konko Churches in Brazil Directory(All Staffed)
Locations: Birigui, Sao Paulo, Rondonia, Mogi Das Cruzes, Butanta, Curitiba,Rio De Janeiro, Embu

PARAGUAY

 Konkokyo Asuncion Activity Center

SOUTH KOREA

 Konkokyo Seoul Activity Center

MALAYSIA

Kyoha Shinto
Izumo Oyashirokyo/Taishakyo
 Izumo Taisha Malaysia Ko-Sha (Ko Group Shrine)(Shah Alam, Staffed)
 NETHERLANDS

Yamakage Shinto

 Shinto In Europe(Amsterdam, Staffed)

FRANCE

 Wako Jinja(Small outdoor shrine on the grounds of Komyo-in Temple)

SAN MARINO (Enclosed within Italy)

 San Marino Jinja(Unstaffed)

GUAM

 Guam Chinkon Shrine (Article Only, Staffed only for events)

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

 Saipan Katori Shrine(Article Only, Staffed only for events)

TAIWAN (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

 Taiwan Hachiman Shrine(Under development)

The shrine is almost ready to open as of this document writing (July 6th, 2021)

The resident priest, Rev. Okita, is active and does ceremonies. Please see their Facebook Page by clicking
on the name of the shrine for more information.
SHRINE MODEL RECONSTRUCTIONS

(No enshrined Kami-sama, just a model shrine):

USA MAINLAND:
Inari Model Shrine in Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (Brooklyn)

CANADA
Meiji Model Shrine at Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (Victoria)

TAIWAN:
Gaoshi Shrine(Gaoshi)
Luye Shrine(Chiayi)
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Confirmed Illegitimate Shinto presences to avoid

Date Updated: July 6th , 2021

Below is a list of establishments and individuals who have no authority to call their shrines genuine Shinto
shrines, nor can claim to be legitimate priests. If any of the below claim to have any connection or link to a
priest or shrine in Japan, or the authority to run a shrine, it is false.

1.http://shi-yaku-jin-no-hokora.org/
2.http://sacredcedarshrine.org/
3.https://www.patreon.com/santuarioshinto
4.Claimant to have a shrine and be a priest with no proper procedure
5. The “Shinto Shrine” in this video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDuQaZD0hIM
—

Legitimate Dojo, but unfortunately with improperly established illegitimate shrine on grounds:
6. https://roxburyninja.com/f/human-potential?fbclid=IwAR3-
OqkezkFFLvBI_Hhl7bczggbqyHlEcl5T9mvkSWJJ6Tek7zbugILlGtk
The Dojo has been established legitimately, but the shrine linked above with the name “Daimyojin Jinja”
has not been properly established nor authorized by any Shinto authority nor the Bujin-kan Dojo
Headquarters in Japan. The Dojo may have a private kamidana, but to call it “Jinja” requires proper
procedures.

Establishments numbered 1-5 are illegitimate as the priests and shrines have not gone through the proper training,
licensing, and establishment procedures, nor has any connection to any mother shrine in Japan. In the case of
establishment 1 and 2, They call themselves as “Minzoku Neo Shinto” but Shinto cannot be “Neo” as it never died out
nor needs reviving - it is a living tradition to be respected.

In addition, for shrines 1-5, to call oneself “kannushi” or priest of anything relating to Shinto, one needs a
formal license in order to do so. For an establishment to be called “Jinja” this also requires many formal
establishment rites like legal paperwork, Jichinsai, Kanjo /Bunrei ceremony and certificate, and more.
There are a number of formal rituals, dress, altar setting, and more as well to do.

4 is also particularly troubling as they claim to enshrine Ainu Kamuy. Ainu religion and Shinto are two
separate religions, and Ainu religion is strictly a closed religion, whereas Shinto is open. Ainu religion must
be respected and properly transmitted even more so as it has faced so much discrimination and erasure. I
feel it is deeply important to respect.

For one to be a “Sect” (or Kyoha) this is a special historical status only currently applying to 12 specific
Kyoha Shinto faiths in the Kyoha Shinto Rengokai, and there can be no new “Sects”.

None of these establishments have respected these formalities and traditions in Shinto society.

Therefore, the individuals are doing their own religious activity which is outside of my domain to comment
on as a Shinto priestess. However, because they associate with Shinto, I must inform to uphold our
traditions that they cannot be called as a legitimate Shinto shrine or clergy due to not respecting nor
following these traditions and procedures.

6 on the list is a unique case than the above, as it is a legitimate dojo, but the shrine on the grounds
“Daimyojin Jinja” did not go through the formal enshrinement rites or groundbreaking rites to be called as a
“Jinja”. Just like we don’t name our kamidana home shrines, we don’t do either for private outdoor shrines.
To have a formal name requires formal rites to be done.

End of Lists by Rev. Olivia Bernkastel

—————————————————————————————————————
With the gracious assistance and guidance of Rev. Kanawa of Kamunabi Ban'yu Ko Shinto Shrine, she has
written a list of additional, standard succinct key points to keep in mind to tell if an establishment or
individual is legitimate or not that claims to be in an authoritative position within Shinto. Please see her list
below, and it is a very good reference to check when you come across something online or even in-person.
Rev. Kanawa has kindly provided her assistance and has allowed me to include her content in this guide to
help the English-speaking Shinto community. Please note that the list is the standard of Shinto society as a
whole, not a formal affiliation or collaboration between our shrines.　More information may be added later
without notice.
—————————————————————————————————————
Standard guide to understand the legitimacy of Shinto shrines/clergy overseas

By: Rev. Kuniko Kanawa of Kamunabi Ban’yu Ko-Shinto Shrine

Shinto Shrine:
 Operated by a licensed Shinto clergy under the permission by the head shrine

 Common case: Chinza style 鎮座式 shrine - Enshrining a divine body granted from the head shrine
in their Honden (main shrine building), usually inheriting the Head Shrine name with local regional
names or titling new shrine names.
 Rare case: Himorogi-style 神籬式 shrine - Licensed clergy starts their own shrine either with a
different shrine name or inherits the Head Shrine name. Selected Kami per ceremony are called down
into Himorogi (usually natural) object representative of (a) divine spirit(s) by a Shinto clergy and
released each time. Some Kami may be also enshrined into nature’s divine body for Chinza-style,
conducted by a licensed clergy.
Shinto clergy: All are licensed from non-governmental religious corporation 民間の宗教法人

 Most well-known way: Graduate from Shinto universities such as Kokugaku-in or Kougaku-kan, to
receive the Shinto clergy license (rank differs) from Jinja honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines)

 Alternative way: Graduate from a two years training institution or correspondence course ordained
by Jinja Honcho. Only the shrine successors or those with a letter of recommendation by the chief of a
local Jinja office or the shrines they are going to serve are allowed to enroll, fundamentally.

 Most followed shortest way: Obtain a license through a one month extensive on-site training
course offered by either of the two universities above or local Jinja-chou office under Jinja Honcho.
 (Only those with a letter of recommendation by the chief of the local Jinja office or the shrines they are
going to serve are allowed to enroll)

 Another practical way: Obtain a license through a Shinto clergy training course by a Kyoha (Sect)
Shinto or independent shrines under the non-governmental religious corporation, which is usually
much longer than Jinja Honcho’s one month training
Miko (Shrine maiden):
 While a license is not required to become a Miko, all go through the classical training by the shrines or
licensed clergies, in order to be approved to serve Kami.
 One is considered as a Miko only during the serving duty/period. Once retiring from the serving
duty/period, Miko title should not be used.

Elements you may confirm for illegitimate sites overseas:

 No indication of licensed clergy, permission by the Head Shrine or Dojo for transferring a divided
tutelary deity into a 御神体 Goshintai, divine body, divine body description, enshrined Kami’s name(s).
 Without any indication above, falsely announcing themselves as public Shinto shrines, titling
themselves “Jinja”/“Hokora”, listing them as a “religious center”
 Illegitimate site construction/display/operation.

 Any 宮形 Miyagata shrine buildings or Kamidana installing a regular 御神札 Ofuda which can be
obtained by any layperson from the 社頭授与所 Offering Counter at the front of the shrine or by
shipping, or Dojo’s 神璽 Shinji without official permission to operate as a public shrine, is a private
Kamidana among the household/group, whether located indoors or outdoors. These can not be

operated as a public shrine, titled as “Jinja” or categorized as a religious center, as there is

no official permission/divine body/Kanjo-fuda is at presence.

 The inside of shrine building is empty.

 Laypeople placing whatever as a divine body into the shrine building. Enshrining rituals must, and are
only able to be conducted by licensed Shinto clergy who go through the intense Kessai period.

 Blocking the internet access from Japan or the members of the Head Shrine/Dojo.
 Claiming oneself as Miko shrine maiden without indicating where she was classically trained from.