Kashima Shrine
Cost
free
Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Shrines Temples > Chiba
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Kashima Shrine main building or Honden
About
Kashima Shrine or Kashima Jingu is a very important and powerful Shinto Shrine in Japan. It is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, North-East of Tokyo, and can be reached in about a 2 hours by train or direct bus. Kashima Shrine, along with Ise Grand Shrine and near by Katori Shrine, is one of only three shrines given the status of "Jingu" before the Meiji Restoration. A "Jingu" class shrine is a high level of shrine connected the to Imperial House. Kashima Shrine's main god is Takemikazuchi, the god of thunder and blades. Takemikazuchi No Mikoto (or also known just at Takemikazuchi or Kashima No Kami or just Kashima) is famous for fighting and subduing the monster catfish Namazu, who was said to be responsible for inciting all the earthquakes of Japan. The Legend says that Takemikazuchi pinned Namazu with a giant rock to keep him from thrashing about which caused the earthquakes. It is said that whenever Kashima lets his watch slip, Namazu gets loose and creates violent earthquakes. The rock, or rather the very tip of the rock that pins Namazu (called Kaname Ishi), can be seen on the shrine grounds. There is another story that suggests Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1701), a Daimyo in near by Mito, was skeptic of the Namazu legend and tried to dig up the stone. He dug for seven days and gave up after never finding the bottom.
Kashima Shrine claims to have been founded by Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan, sometime around 600 B.C. In ancient times Kashima Shrine and near by Katori Shrine served as "Front Line" bases against the Emishi and Ezo peoples that inhabited the northern parts of Japan. Although most non-Japanese associate Nara and Kyoto as the cradle of Japanese civilization, Eastern Japan (the Kanto Region where greater Tokyo is located) also holds it's own ancient history, mostly unknown to foreigners. In fact, the "Nara Deer" that Nara is so famous for actually came from Kashima Shrine! Legend tells that when Nara was to be built as the new capital of the Japanese empire in the early 700s, the courts and priests of the time sought protection from Takemikazuchi at Kashima Shrine. Somehow the humans convinced Takemikazuchi to move down to Nara so he rode a white deer (bringing many other deer with him) from Kashima Shrine to Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara.
Being the god of "Thunder and Blades", Takemikazuchi is one of the patron deities of martial arts, specifically Kenjutsu and Kendo (in layman's terms, Sword Fighting). Famous swordsmen throughout Japanese history have trained at and visited the shrine to level up and become master swordsmen as the shrine gave birth to it's own school of fencing. The shrine is quite famous throughout the world in the marital arts world and hosts numerous martial arts events throughout the year.
The grounds of Kashima Shrine are vast and beautiful with lots to see. The large Tori gate at the entrance, Romon Gate, the Main Shrine or Honten (where Takemikazuchi is enshrined), the Treasure Hall (costs 300 yen to enter) which contains a 2.71 meter (8.9 feet) long sword forged in the Heian Period, The Inner Shrine, Kaname Ishi or the stone that pins Namazu down, Mitarashi Pond and finally the forest that surrounds the shrine. Kashima Shrine is the true essence of ancient Japan containing all the elements of culture and history in one spot. It's a place where you can visit a god, walk through tranquil forests and see artifacts more than a thousand years old.
Access
Closest Train Station: Kashimajingu
2306-1 Kyuchu
Kashima, Ibaraki 314-0031 Japan
Kashima Shrine is pretty far from Tokyo, it will take you a good two hours to get there. However, there is a Direct Bus from Tokyo Station that costs around 1,830 yen. To catch the direct bus, exit the Yaesu South Exit of Tokyo Station and wait at bus stop #1. Note that there are no reserved seats and it is first come first serve. On Kashima Shrine festival days, it might be difficult to get a seat and the train might be a better alternative.
After visiting the shrine you can also visit near by Sawara and from Sawara there is also a direct but to Tokyo Station which leaves every hour (see the Sawara detail page). The bus and train take approximately the same amount of time but by riding the bus you don't have to worry about transfers.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Kashima Shrine.
Hours & Fees
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed: No closing days
Cost: Free for the grounds. Treasure Exhibit - 15+: 300 yen, Under 13: 100 yen (free on Saturdays and Sundays)
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Kashima Shrine Homepage
