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List of Legitimate Shinto shrines and clergy outside of Japan

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If a shrine is not on this list, it is likely not legitimate.

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

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

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

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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.

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Note 2: Tenrikyo is not presently part of the Kyoha Shinto Rengokai (Association of Kyoha Shinto) and therefore will not be listed here.

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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

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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. 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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Please see my writing about the importance of legitimacy: Here

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Date Updated: Saturday, April 10th, 2021

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USA MAINLAND:

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Kyoha Shinto 

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Konkokyo 

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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

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USA HAWAI'I:

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 Kyoha Shinto

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Izumo Taishakyo 

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Konkokyo 

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

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CANADA

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Kyoha Shinto

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BRAZIL

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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, Yassukunikoo, Kompira Jinja, Kaitaku Jinja

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Kyoha Shinto

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Konkokyo

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Locations: Birigui, Sao Paulo, Rondonia, Mogi Das Cruzes, Butanta, Curitiba, Rio De Janeiro, Embu

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PARAGUAY

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SOUTH KOREA

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FRANCE

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

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NETHERLANDS

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SAN MARINO (Enclosed within Italy) 

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GUAM

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NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

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SHRINE MODEL RECONSTRUCTIONS

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

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USA MAINLAND:

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Inari Model Shrine in Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (Brooklyn)

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CANADA

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

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TAIWAN:

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Gaoshi Shrine (Gaoshi)

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Luye Shrine (Chiayi)

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Confirmed Illegitimate Shinto presences to avoid

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Date Updated: Monday, May 10th, 2021

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List by: Rev. Olivia Bernkastel

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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.

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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

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Legitimate Dojo, but unfortunately with improperly established illegitimate shrine on grounds:

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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. 

To read why in detail these are listed here, please click here


End of Lists by Rev. Olivia Bernkastel

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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.

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Standard guide to understand the legitimacy of Shinto shrines/clergy overseas

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


 

Shinto Shrine:

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  • Operated by a licensed Shinto clergy under the permission by the head shrine

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  • 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.

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  •  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.

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Shinto clergy: All are licensed from non-governmental religious corporation 民間の宗教法人

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  • 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

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Miko (Shrine maiden):

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  • 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.

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Elements you may confirm for illegitimate sites overseas:

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  • 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.

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