Shrines & Sacred Groves
Shrines are the places where the sacred has chosen to touch the earth — and billions of people still make the journey. Japan's Ise Grand Shrine has been ceremonially rebuilt every 20 years since 690 CE, preserving ancient carpentry techniques through living practice. The Golden Temple at Amritsar feeds 100,000 visitors a free meal daily as an expression of radical equality. Bodh Gaya marks the exact spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a tree whose direct descendant still stands. Fushimi Inari's 10,000 vermillion torii gates form a mountain tunnel donated by businesses seeking divine favour. Our community shares first-hand visiting guides, etiquette tips, and the stories behind each sacred site.
Shrines are different from temples, cathedrals, and mosques in one fundamental way: they are not primarily architectural achievements. They are places where the sacred has chosen to be present — in a particular rock, a natural spring, a hollow in a hillside, or the tomb of a person whose holiness still radiates across generations. You do not visit a shrine to admire the engineering. You visit because something happened here that billions of people have never stopped believing in. Japan holds the world's densest concentration of shrines, with over 80,000 registered Shinto sites across the country. The most sacred is Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and rebuilt in its entirety every 20 years by teams of craftspeople who have maintained this cycle since 690 CE — a ritual of renewal that has outlasted empires, wars, and modernisation without interruption. Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto draws more visitors than any shrine in Japan through a different kind of spectacle: thousands of vermillion torii gates donated by businesses and individuals form an unbroken tunnel climbing the wooded slopes of Mount Inari, and the effect of walking through it at dusk — the red and the dark and the silence — is unlike anything else in travel. In Jerusalem, the Western Wall represents the most concentrated sacred geography on earth: Jews at the Wall, Muslims at the Dome of the Rock thirty metres away, Christians in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre a few minutes' walk further — three Abrahamic faiths sharing a single hilltop. The Golden Temple in Amritsar feeds 100,000 visitors a free meal every single day as an expression of Sikh equality. Bodh Gaya marks the exact spot of the Buddha's enlightenment, beneath a tree whose direct descendant still grows there. Across 22 countries, these 100 shrines reveal how the human instinct toward the sacred transforms specific places — and keeps them transformed for thousands of years. Our community has visited every site and shares practical guidance, cultural context, and the etiquette that makes these visits genuinely meaningful.
Highlights from the Top Rankings
Ise Grand Shrine
Japan's holiest Shinto shrine — ceremonially rebuilt every 20 years for 1,300+ years.
#2 WorldFushimi Inari-taisha
10,000+ vermillion torii gates climbing Mount Inari — Japan's most-visited shrine.
#3 WorldWestern Wall
The holiest accessible Jewish prayer site — a remnant of Solomon's Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a shrine and a temple?
- In Japanese usage the distinction is clear: a Shinto shrine (jinja) is a place where a kami (deity or spirit) is enshrined, usually approached through a torii gate. A Buddhist temple (tera or ji) is a place of worship and monastic practice. In Western usage, shrine refers more broadly to any sacred place containing relics or a focus of devotion — it may be a small roadside niche or an entire cathedral complex.
- Why is Ise Grand Shrine rebuilt every 20 years?
- The practice, called Shikinen Sengū, has continued since 690 CE. New shrine buildings are constructed on adjacent plots, the sacred objects (go-shintai) are ritually transferred, and the old buildings are dismantled. The cycle preserves the ancient building techniques (no nails, no lacquer), renews the shrine's spiritual energy, and ensures the sacred design survives through living practice rather than document alone.
- Can tourists visit the Western Wall?
- Yes. The Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City is open to visitors of all religions without charge. Men and women pray at separate sections. Visitors are asked to dress modestly (covered shoulders and head coverings available at the site), to speak quietly, and not to photograph during Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall).
🌍 Countries with Shrines
Ranked by number of notable sites
India
Top: Golden Temple
Japan
Top: Ise Grand Shrine
Israel
Top: Western Wall
Indonesia
Top: Borobudur
Mexico
Top: Shrine of Guadalupe
Iraq
Top: Imam Husayn Shrine
Iran
Top: Imam Reza Shrine
China
Top: Mount Kailash
Greece
Top: Delphi Oracle
Ireland
Top: Newgrange
Turkey
Top: Göbekli Tepe
Poland
Top: Czestochowa
Sri Lanka
Top: Temple of the Tooth
Thailand
Top: Sanctuary of Truth
Egypt
Top: Abu Simbel
France
Top: Lourdes
Portugal
Top: Fatima
Myanmar
Top: Shwedagon Pagoda
Nepal
Top: Pashupatinath
Bhutan
Top: Tiger's Nest
United Kingdom
Top: Stonehenge
Cambodia
Top: Angkor Wat
Belgium
Top: Basilica of Holy Blood
Italy
Top: Shrine of Padre Pio
UAE
Top: Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Spain
Top: Santiago de Compostela
Laos
Top: Pha That Luang
Ethiopia
Top: Church of Saint George
Colombia
Top: Las Lajas Sanctuary
Australia
Top: Uluru
Jordan
Top: El Deir (Petra)
Bolivia
Top: Copacabana Shrine
Ivory Coast
Top: Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
Lebanon
Top: Baalbek
Malaysia
Top: Batu Caves
Palestine
Top: Church of Nativity
Germany
Top: Shrine of Three Kings
Afghanistan
Top: Blue Mosque
🏆 Top 100 Rankings
The world's most significant sites, ranked by historical importance, architectural value, and cultural impact.
Ise Grand Shrine
📍 Ise, Japan · 🕐 4 BCE
The holiest Shinto shrine, rebuilt every 20 years for over 1,300 years. Dedicated to sun goddess Amaterasu. The inner shrine is off-limits to all but the Imperial family.
Fushimi Inari-taisha
📍 Kyoto, Japan · 🕐 711 CE
Famous for its 10,000+ vermillion torii gates snaking up Mount Inari. Dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and prosperity.
Western Wall
📍 Jerusalem, Israel · 🕐 19 BCE
The last remnant of the Second Temple's retaining wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray. Millions of written prayers are placed in its cracks.
Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
📍 Amritsar, India · 🕐 1574–1604
The holiest gurdwara in Sikhism, its upper floors clad in 750 kg of pure gold. The free kitchen (langar) feeds 100,000+ visitors daily.
Shrine of the Báb
📍 Haifa, Israel · 🕐 1899–1953
A golden-domed shrine on Mount Carmel, the resting place of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith. Surrounded by the UNESCO-listed Bahá'í Gardens.
Meiji Shrine
📍 Tokyo, Japan · 🕐 1920
A Shinto shrine in a 170-acre forest of 120,000 trees in the heart of Tokyo, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
📍 Mexico City, Mexico · 🕐 1974–1976 (modern)
The most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world with 10–12 million visitors annually. Houses the miraculous tilma image of the Virgin.
Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
📍 Lourdes, France · 🕐 1858
A Catholic pilgrimage site where Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 Marian apparitions in 1858. Famous for its healing spring water.
Shrine of Fatima
📍 Fátima, Portugal · 🕐 1928–1953
Built where three shepherd children reported Marian apparitions in 1917, including the 'Miracle of the Sun' witnessed by 70,000 people.
Imam Husayn Shrine
📍 Karbala, Iraq · 🕐 680 CE (original)
The burial place of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Draws over 20 million pilgrims during Arba'een — the world's largest annual gathering.
Abu Simbel
📍 Abu Simbel, Egypt · 🕐 1264 BCE
Yasukuni Shrine
📍 Tokyo, Japan · 🕐 1869
Temple of the Tooth
📍 Kandy, Sri Lanka · 🕐 1595
Shrine of Imam Reza
📍 Mashhad, Iran · 🕐 818 CE (original)
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
📍 Kamakura, Japan · 🕐 1063
Shrine of Shah Cheragh
📍 Shiraz, Iran · 🕐 14th century
Kumano Nachi Taisha
📍 Nachikatsuura, Japan · 🕐 317 CE
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple
📍 Thiruvananthapuram, India · 🕐 6th century
Todai-ji
📍 Nara, Japan · 🕐 752
Sanctuary of Truth
📍 Pattaya, Thailand · 🕐 1981–ongoing
Meenakshi Amman Temple
📍 Madurai, India · 🕐 6th century BCE (rebuilt 1623)
Itsukushima Shrine
📍 Miyajima, Japan · 🕐 593 CE
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
📍 Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast · 🕐 1985–1989
Kiyomizu-dera
📍 Kyoto, Japan · 🕐 778 CE
Shrine of Hazrat Ali
📍 Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan · 🕐 15th century
Delphi Oracle
📍 Delphi, Greece · 🕐 8th century BCE
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
📍 Tirupati, India · 🕐 300 CE
Izumo Taisha
📍 Izumo, Japan · 🕐 659 BCE (legendary)
Sabarimala Temple
📍 Kerala, India · 🕐 12th century
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
📍 Kolkata, India · 🕐 1855
Shwedagon Pagoda
📍 Yangon, Myanmar · 🕐 6th century BCE
Pashupatinath Temple
📍 Kathmandu, Nepal · 🕐 400 CE
Shrine of Our Lady of Knock
📍 Knock, Ireland · 🕐 1879
Dazaifu Tenmangu
📍 Dazaifu, Japan · 🕐 905 CE
Karni Mata Temple
📍 Deshnoke, India · 🕐 15th century
Taktsang Palphug (Tiger's Nest)
📍 Paro, Bhutan · 🕐 1692
Stonehenge
📍 Wiltshire, United Kingdom · 🕐 3000 BCE
Angkor Wat
📍 Siem Reap, Cambodia · 🕐 1113–1150
Kedarnath Temple
📍 Kedarnath, India · 🕐 8th century
Baalbek
📍 Baalbek, Lebanon · 🕐 9000 BCE (earliest)
Tōshō-gū
📍 Nikkō, Japan · 🕐 1617
Newgrange
📍 County Meath, Ireland · 🕐 3200 BCE
Cave of the Patriarchs
📍 Hebron, Israel · 🕐 2000 BCE (original)
Teotihuacan Sun Shrine
📍 Teotihuacan, Mexico · 🕐 200 CE
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
📍 Jerusalem, Israel · 🕐 335 CE
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
📍 Ajmer, India · 🕐 13th century
Mount Kailash
📍 Tibet, China · 🕐 Natural
Göbekli Tepe
📍 Şanlıurfa, Turkey · 🕐 9500 BCE
Uluru
📍 Northern Territory, Australia · 🕐 Natural / 10,000+ BCE sacred
Varanasi Ghats
📍 Varanasi, India · 🕐 3000 BCE (tradition)
Shrine of the Three Kings
📍 Cologne, Germany · 🕐 1164 (relics) / 1248 (cathedral)
Sensō-ji
📍 Tokyo, Japan · 🕐 645 CE
Borobudur
📍 Central Java, Indonesia · 🕐 750–840 CE
Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple)
📍 Bodh Gaya, India · 🕐 250 BCE
Hasedera Temple
📍 Kamakura, Japan · 🕐 736 CE
Church of the Nativity
📍 Bethlehem, Palestine · 🕐 327 CE
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
📍 Abu Dhabi, UAE · 🕐 1996–2007
Jokhang Temple
📍 Lhasa, China · 🕐 647 CE
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
📍 Nikko, Japan · 🕐 1617
Temple of Heaven
📍 Beijing, China · 🕐 1420
Badrinath Temple
📍 Badrinath, India · 🕐 8th century
Rameswaram Temple
📍 Rameswaram, India · 🕐 12th century
Hagia Sophia
📍 Istanbul, Turkey · 🕐 537 CE
Shrine of Hazrat Abbas
📍 Karbala, Iraq · 🕐 7th century
Prambanan
📍 Central Java, Indonesia · 🕐 850 CE
Konark Sun Temple
📍 Konark, India · 🕐 1255
Dilwara Temples
📍 Mount Abu, India · 🕐 1031–1233
Shrine of Imam Ali
📍 Najaf, Iraq · 🕐 7th century (rebuilt)
Atsuta Shrine
📍 Nagoya, Japan · 🕐 113 CE
Somnath Temple
📍 Somnath, India · 🕐 Rebuilt 1951 (original ancient)
Shrine of Saint James
📍 Santiago de Compostela, Spain · 🕐 1075–1211
Pha That Luang
📍 Vientiane, Laos · 🕐 1566
Erawan Shrine
📍 Bangkok, Thailand · 🕐 1956
Church of Saint George
📍 Lalibela, Ethiopia · 🕐 12th century
Dwarkadheesh Temple
📍 Dwarka, India · 🕐 400 BCE (rebuilt 16th century)
Shrine of Shah-e-Cheragh
📍 Shiraz, Iran · 🕐 12th century
Chichen Itza (El Castillo)
📍 Yucatán, Mexico · 🕐 600 CE
Brihadeeswarar Temple
📍 Thanjavur, India · 🕐 1010 CE
Shri Jagannath Temple
📍 Puri, India · 🕐 12th century
Mount Olympus Sanctuary
📍 Mount Olympus, Greece · 🕐 800 BCE (estimated)
Santuario de Las Lajas
📍 Ipiales, Colombia · 🕐 1916–1949
Ranganathaswamy Temple
📍 Srirangam, India · 🕐 10th century (expanded)
El Deir (The Monastery)
📍 Petra, Jordan · 🕐 1st century BCE
Shrine of the Virgin of Copacabana
📍 Copacabana, Bolivia · 🕐 1610
Ellora Caves
📍 Aurangabad, India · 🕐 600–1000 CE
Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
📍 Częstochowa, Poland · 🕐 1382
Pura Besakih (Mother Temple)
📍 Bali, Indonesia · 🕐 10th century
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
📍 Varanasi, India · 🕐 1780 (current)
Shrine of Divine Mercy
📍 Kraków, Poland · 🕐 1889 (convent) / 2002 (shrine)
Kotoku-in
📍 Kamakura, Japan · 🕐 1252
Adam's Peak
📍 Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka · 🕐 Natural / ancient pilgrimage
Basilica of the Holy Blood
📍 Bruges, Belgium · 🕐 12th century
Pura Tanah Lot
📍 Bali, Indonesia · 🕐 16th century
Thirunallar Shani Temple
📍 Thirunallar, India · 🕐 Ancient
Rock of Cashel
📍 Cashel, Ireland · 🕐 1101 CE
Shrine of Padre Pio
📍 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy · 🕐 2004
Sanjūsangen-dō
📍 Kyoto, Japan · 🕐 1164 (rebuilt 1266)
Kukke Subramanya Temple
📍 Subramanya, India · 🕐 Ancient
Mount Athos
📍 Athos Peninsula, Greece · 🕐 963 CE (first monastery)
Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam
📍 Selangor, Malaysia · 🕐 1891 (temple)