On the first weekend I had to really go out and explore the new place I lived I wanted to see the beach and Kashima shrine. I wasn't planning on taking the direct route. I live next to the forest that surrounds Kashima shrine. But I didn't know where the entrance was. So I set heading away from the forest to the down town area. I know that if I head north, I would circle around to the entrance faster but I want to get a feel for how big the area is and what's around. Traveling around the forest I find many interesting shops, restaurants and sights.
Eventually making it to Kashima shrine. The shrine area is huge. The legend that surrounds it is amazing. Legend hold that a giant evil catfish Namazu was running amok and destroying the land, so the god Kashima trapped him under a great rock. It is said that earthquakes are the cause of this catfish struggling under the stone!
There were several buildings that made up the shrine. Deer are sacred in the forest and there was a park with deer there. There was a holy spring coming down from a flowing waterfall. People would fill bottles with the divine waters. There was an outdoor restaurant serving the pilgrims. I learned that Kashima is considered one of the most sacred locations in Japan.
The next day I decided to find the ocean. I had wanted to visit the ocean the first day I arrived but the weather prevented it. The route I decided on I wanted to see the Kashima Antler's Stadium, the FIFA league soccer team of Kashima City. The stadium has a park opposite of it where kids of big league soccer dreams play. I detoured to check out a Buddhist temple. It was a distance in a rural area and no one was home. But on my way returning to the main road I spotted a small shrine hidden in the woods off the road. I am still curious as to the nature of that secret shrine.
But there it was. The ocean. By random chance, the strange route that I took, brought me to the East Torii gate of Kashima. I discovered that Kashima has four torii gates marking it's holy boundaries. The other day I had, unaware, found the South Torii gate at Kashima shrine. This city offers more fascinating clues every day. The ocean is beautiful. The sands of the beach were course and full of shells. Every few hundred yards there were huge man made breakers to channel tsunamis to be less destructive. Looking at the ocean made me think of everyone back home. It really presents one with how far away they are.
Heading back home from the ocean, I spotted a lighthouse in the distance. I immediately because curious about it. I change course and start hunting down this lighthouse. The route I took was difficult, it was naturally up hill, as the lighthouse was built on the highest point. On the way there I discovered a shrine off the road dedicated to an ancient fire god. It was built as an off shoot of a main temple so poor farmers could afford proper burial rites. Eventually making it to the top of the hill I get to marvel at the lighthouse. There was a small cemetery next to the lighthouse, I don't know if it is connected to the shrine of the fire god. I loved detouring and finding this lighthouse. It made me think of the lighthouse in Michigan City, and how it ices over during the winter.
Later that week, the thought of the four torii gates fascinated me and I wanted to see them all. I had spotted a large torii gate when I went over to Itako, so I decided to investigate. This turned out to be the West Torii gate. It is built in lake Kitaura, and is actually the largest in-water torii gate in Japan. The area around the West Torii gate was residential, with spiraling neighborhoods winding and intersecting in odd ways. It felt like old roads.
Exploring and discovering everything I have has been incredibly rewarding. It brings me such joy to get to share these experiences with everyone.
