Kashima Jingu Shrine

Kashima Jingu Grand Shrine is believed to have been founded in 660 BCE and is the oldest and most prominent Shinto Shrine in the Kanto region. It is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Okami, one of the patron deities of martial arts. The Honden, Haiden, and Romon tower gate entrance are all Edo period structures, and are National Important Cultural Properties. The gate is one of the largest three shrine entrances in Japan. The shrine is also the home of the Kashima Shinto-ryu school of Japanese swordsmanship, which was founded by Tsukahara Bokuden, one of the most distinguished swordmasters in Japanese history. The school was developed from a combination of Bokuden's own experiences as a shugyosha during a samurai warrior's pilgrimage and the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts. Visitors can also find a deer enclosure located down the forest path.