Temples/Shrines

Dear all, I would like to ask if anyone here knows which temples or shrines are known to the Japanese people as the 'best' ones i.e the ones where their prayers are answered? Please do let me know if you know of any.
Thank you.

Hello!
There are some "best" shrines/temples in Japan,
but Ise-shrine is the one surely.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ise_Grand_Shrine

Thank you. Would you know any in the following or nearby areas?

Nagoya
Miyazaki
Kumamoto
Okayama
Matsue
Matsuyama

Thanks!

Although I think other posters will teach others,

Izumo-Shrine near Matsue is clearly one of the "best" shrines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha

Atsuta-Shrine in Nagoya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atsuta_Shrine
is well known as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi the sacred sword that is one of three Sacred Imperial Treasures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Regalia_of_Japan

Itsukushima-Shrine is so beautiful shrine, though there is not so near from Okayama.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shrine

And in Miyazaki, I'm unsure but some shrines say "legend has it says that here is the birthplace of the Imperial Household".
According to Japanese mythology, the first Emperor made the eastern expedition from Miyazaki to Nara. It's an established theory.

About Buddhist temples,
near Matsuyama, there are 88 famous temples for pilgrimage in Shikoku-area(island).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku_Pilgrimage

By the way, Nara, Kyoto and Kamakura have many great temples because of ancient capital cities.

Nagoya:
-Atsuta Shrine is the major shrine in Nagoya. Osu Kannon Temple is likely the city's top temple.

Miyazaki was written about in the Kojiki, so it has many ancient holy sites. This site lists many:
http://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.jp/2014/04/kojiki-miyazaki.html

Kumamoto is not a big temple/shrine city, but it is home to Honmyoji Temple (Kyushu's highest-ranked Nichiren temple).

Okayama has Kibitsu Shrine, architecturally interesting and a National Treasure. It also has Kibitsuhiko Shrine nearby. Saijo Inari is one of the top Inari shrines in Japan.

Saidaiji Temple and Sogenji are the city's top temples.

Matsue city has many sites, too:
http://matsueguide.com/matsue-temples-and-shrines/

If you also include Izumo, then Matsue has even more! Like Miyazaki, Izumo features prominently in the Kojiki, so it has many famous shrines, with Izumo Shrine being the obvious top shrine.


Matsuyama is not a major shrine city, but it has 7 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage temples; Joruriji, Yasakaji, Sairinji, Jodoji, Hantaji, Ishiteji, Taisanji, and Enmyoji

Thank you so much for this valuable information! Sorry for being annoying but could you let me know which ones do people regard as the temple to go to when they want to pray for good health? Thanks so much again!

Sorry, actually I meant to pray for others so they can overcome their illness. Thanks.

Great, I see.
In Buddism temple, Yakushi is healer that statue has medicine vase. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru)
But sorry, now I can't point out which temple/shrine in that area.
Only Izumo-shrine, I know that god is healer, he cured a peeled rabbit in very famous story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi

By the way, you can buy the recovery-charm at large temples/shrines, like this.
http://goo.gl/JbXAtF
平
癒 (heiyu; recovery)

or

病
気 (byouki; illness)
平
癒 (heiyu; recovery)

Thanks ajapaneseboy!!