| Kashima Shrine 鹿島神宮 (Kashima Jingu) | |
|---|---|
 Main rebuilt torii gate, 2015 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shinto |
| Deity | Takemikazuchi |
| Festival | Reitaisai (September 1) |
| Type | Shikinaisha Hitachi no Kuni ichinomiya Former kanpeitaisha Chokusaisha Beppyo jinja |
| Location | |
| Location | 2306-1, Kyuchu, Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, JAPAN, 314-0031 |
  Shown within Japan | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°58′08″N 140°37′53″E / 35.96889°N 140.63139°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Sangensya-Nagare-zukuri |
| Date established | （伝）初代神武天皇元年 |
| Website | |
| www | |
 Glossary of Shinto | |
Kashima Shrine (鹿島神宮, Kashima Jingū) is a Shinto shrine located in Kashima, Ibaraki in the northern Kantō region of Japan. It is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami (武甕槌大神), one of the patron deities of martial arts. Various dōjō of kenjutsu and kendō often display a hanging scroll emblazoned with the name "Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami". Prior to World War II, the shrine was ranked as one of the three most important imperial shrines Jingū (神宮) in the Shinto hierarchy, along with Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮 Ise Jingū) and Katori Shrine (香取神宮 Katori Jingū). During the New Year period, from the first to the third of January, Kashima Shrine is visited by over 600,000 people from all over Japan[citation needed]. It is the second most visited shrine in Ibaraki prefecture for new year pilgrims.