Kashima, Saga
Geography. Kashima is located about 60 kilometers southwest of Saga City. It borders the Ariake Sea to the east and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest. The southern area contains the Tara Mountains and the northern area consists of open plains along the coast, and the city proper. Transportation. Air. The nearest airports are Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport. Festivals. The Kashima Gatalympics is held every May in Hama-chō, a part of Kashima City. This event involves playing a variety of sports in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea. Sport. The local football club is Saga LIXIL F.C. , and competes in the Kyushu Football League. Formerly known as Kyushu INAX SC, it changed its name when INAX's parent company LIXIL took over. It's also a pun on the team being from Kashima, as LIXIL also sponsors 8-time Japanese champions Kashima Antlers (from the city in Ibaraki). Tourism. Yūtoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稲荷神社), one of the three biggest and most famous Inari shrines in Japan. There is a bus from Hizen-Kashima Station to Yūtoku Inari Shrine. Japanese liquor brewing street (肥前浜宿酒蔵通り),It is 15 minutes on foot for a way from Hizen-Hama Station.