[Visiting the Three Eastern Shrines] Kashima Shrine

I visited here while touring the three major shrines in the eastern part of Japan. Within the shrine grounds, historic giant trees and famous trees stand tall, creating a divine aura that makes you feel as if you've wandered into the world of Ghibli. Its beauty makes it easy to see why it is called the most powerful power spot in the Kanto region. Takemikazuchi-no-Okami is enshrined at Kashima Shrine. He is known as the god of the founding of Japan and martial arts. He has a deep connection with Katori Shrine, which is also one of the three major shrines in the eastern part of Japan, and his keystone holds down a giant catfish that is said to cause earthquakes in Japan. This is also the model for the keystone that appears in the movie "Suzume no Tojiri." If you visit Kashima Shrine, it's definitely worth a visit. The photo shows the pebbles that appear in our national anthem. It can get busy at times, so you can relax and enjoy the sight of the deer nearby while you wait for your turn. Also, right next to the shrine is a bronze statue of Tsukahara Toden, a master swordsman from the Warring States period, and information about the filming locations of Tsukahara Toden (a historical drama) is written within the shrine grounds. It might be nice to visit while thinking about this master swordsman from long ago.