There really are deer! Kashima Jingu Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture, one of the three most famous shrines in the East

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Address: 2306-1 Miyanaka, Kashima-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture
Access: JR Kashima Line - KashimaJingu Station, approximately a 10-15 minute walk

KashimaJingu Shrine is a historic shrine, founded in the first year of Emperor Jimmu's reign. It enshrines Takekamozuchi-Okami, the god of martial arts and the founding deity of Japan.

At the end of the approach to the shrine is a magnificent torii gate. A short walk through the gate leads to the shrine.

KashimaJingu, one of the Three Great Shrines of Eastern Japan, serves as the head shrine for all KashimaJingu shrines nationwide. It is most famous for its main stone and Mitarashi Pond within the shrine.

Since ancient times, it has been said that the main stone buried deep underground holds down the heads of catfish, preventing them from causing earthquakes. Tokugawa Mitsukuni of Mito once ordered an excavation to determine the depth of the stone. After seven days and nights of digging, they were unable to reach the bottom and were ultimately forced to abandon the excavation.

Over 400,000 liters of water flow from the Mitarashi Pond daily. The water is crystal clear, and in the sunlight, it has a wonderful glass-like texture. There's a small snack shop next to the pond where you can relax and enjoy some tea.

The envoys of Kashima Jingu Shrine are, of course, deer, and they actually have a herd of deer. You can buy carrots at the nearby shop to feed the deer. The deer approach the fence when they see people approaching. Perhaps because I visited in the morning, the deer looked quite hungry and were quite eager to grab food. If they couldn't grab any, they would use their horns to shake the fence.

The oracle fortunes at Kashima Jingu Shrine are also, of course, in the shape of deer, making them perfect souvenirs. Besides the deer fortunes, there are also many amulets. Even the red seal book features deer and wisteria patterns. For those who love deer themes, it's incredibly popular and hard to come by without a single one.

Post by AndreaJulio | Sep 23, 2025