Sōja (総社) is a type of Shinto shrine where the kami of a region are grouped together into a single sanctuary. This "region" may refer to a shōen, village or geographic area, but is more generally referred to a whole province. The term is also occasionally called "sōsha". The sōja are usually located near the provincial capital established in the Nara period under then ritsuryō system, and can either be a newly created shrine, or a designation for an existing shrine. The "sōja" can also be the "ichinomiya" of the province, which themselves are of great ritual importance.
Sōjagū [ja] in Sōja, Okayama, where 304 kami of Bitchu Province are collectively worshipped
Sōja is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023, the city had an estimated population of 69,428 and a population density of 330 persons per km². The total area of the city is 211.90 square kilometres (81.82 sq mi).
Sōja City Hall
Bitchū Kokubun-ji