鹿島神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Kashima Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in Tsuchiura with a wooden main hall built between 1737 and 1745, featuring traditional Japanese architecture with curved roofs and detailed wooden carvings. The grounds include a large torii gate at the entrance, stone lanterns, a quiet courtyard surrounded by trees, smaller subsidiary shrines, and two warrior statues from the Muromachi period that serve as guardians of the sacred stone, the principal object of worship.
The shrine was founded centuries ago to serve as a place of worship, with legend telling of a historical figure who arrived during a military campaign and established its sacred foundation. In the medieval period, local rulers supported the shrine, helping to fund construction and expansion of its structures.
The shrine is dedicated to Takemikazuchi, a deity believed to protect the land and its people. Visitors come to pray quietly, leave coins, and express their wishes, a simple practice that shows how locals connect with tradition in their daily lives.
The shrine is easy to reach, with signs from the main road and parking nearby, allowing visitors to walk here from the village. The best times to visit are during the October festivals or New Year in January, when the grounds feel busier with people, though quieter days also offer a peaceful retreat.
Two warrior statues from the Muromachi period, rarely seen in ordinary shrines, are kept here as sacred guardians standing beside the main sacred stone. A nearby temple, Okijingū-ji, once held ancient documents and sacred texts, which are now preserved as important cultural items and reveal the site's deeper significance.
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