Kashima Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Kashima, Ibaraki in the northern [[Kantō region] of Japan. It is dedicated to , one of the [[patron deities]] of [[martial arts]]. Various [[dōjō]] of "[[kenjutsu]]" and "[[kendō]]" often display a [[Kakejiku|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 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. It is the second most visited shrine in [[Ibaraki prefecture]] for new year pilgrims.