Tidal Flat Experience

The tidal range of Ariake Sea is 6 meters. At “Michi No Eki Kashima,” located by Japan’s largest tidal flat of the Ariake Sea, you can play around in the mudflat and enjoy riding a mudflat ski (Gata Ski). Showers are available for the attendants. Group application is welcome. *Available only on Sat, Sun, Public Holidays and Summer School Holidays

Azalea at Yutoku Inari Shrine

Higashiyama Park located across the bridge from the main shrine site turns to an azalea garden featuring as many as 50 thousand azaleas. The beautiful view created by 40 kinds of azalea flowers is breathtaking. Wisteria, iris and peony at the Japanese garden will also be in their best time for viewing one after another and the park will be a paradise of flowers.

Kashima Gatalympic

The Kashima Gatalympic is a sports event held in the mudflats in late May to early June. The mudflats of the Ariake Sea have the largest tidal range in Japan and participants play in the mud while participating in an array of fun events that are unique to this bizarre sporting spectacle, such as a Gata Ski race using a unique fishing gear of the Ariake Sea called Gata Ski, bicycle racing, Gata flying game and a treasure hunt in the mudflats. Although it is a free admission event, the participants of the games are required to register in advance (Fee applies).

Firefly Watching Bus Tour in Ureshino Hot Springs

Ureshino that forms a basin has many firefly watching spots in the outskirts of the hot spring town. In Ureshino, you can join a bus tour which goes around those spots. The bus tour is only available to overnight guests at the hotels and inns in Ureshino. No participation fee is needed and you just need to make a reservation to join the tour.

Kashima Traditional Arts Festival

It is an event held in Kashima-City, where the most number of traditional arts remain in Saga. Performers from all over Saga will gather on the grounds of Yutoku Inari Shrine to share various traditional arts such as Memburyu.

Yutoku Inari Shrine Ohitaki

Ohitaki is a traditional ritual held at night as a part of the ceremonial offering that has been performed for over 300 years. It is believed that getting close to the divine fire purifies you of sins and foulness. Kashima City's Specialty Fair is held on the same day to promote the city's specialty products.

Takezaki Kanzeonji Temple Shushoue Oni Matsuri

At this festival, ritualistic festive events such as "Daishouchi" that a man wearing a red coat and disguising as a devil swings a bundle of kashi oak branches to drive away bad lucks, and "Dojimai Dance (Saga Prefecture’s designated important cultural property)," a traditional dance performance by two masked boys, are held.

Funa (Crucian Carp) Market

Held every year during New Year's holidays, this traditional market has a history of over 300 years. People buy edible Crucian carp (Funa) here to serve it to the gods as New Year’s offering.

Ureshino Attaka Festival

Hundreds of hand-made lanterns softly light up the streets of Ureshino Onsen. Enjoy the events, local dishes and sake while strolling around this warm and comforting town.

Ume (Plum Tree) Festival in Ureshino Miyuki Park

Miyuki Plum Garden, a part of the vast Miyuki Park, has about 400 plum trees including “Yaekoubai” and other plum variations gifted from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Kashima Sakagura (Sake Brewery) Tourism

6 sake breweries in Kashima City open their doors to public at the same time and hold various events where visitors can enjoy tasting and purchasing sake (fees are charged in some parts of the event). Welcoming events are held at Hizen Hamashuku and Yutoku Monzen Shopping Street.

The Japanese garden in Yutoku Inari Shrine. A variety of flowers can be enjoyed throughout the year at the beautifully landscaped garden. ●Goshuin stamp can be received

This shrine is one of Japan's three largest Inari Shrines (Sandai Inari) together with Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kasama Inari Shrine. The bright vermilion color of the monument is very impressive, and major monuments such as the shrine, the worship hall, the tower gate, etc. are lacquered. Cherry blossoms and Taiwan cherry blossoms in the outer garden are the spring traditions.

The "Japanese garden" beside the main hall is a full-scale garden with small streams and bridges. 600 pots of hydrangeas will bloom one after another and it is enjoyable until late June. This is a very picturesque spot. Moreover, a lot of hydrangeas are also found on the river beside the precincts. This is beautiful spot even on rainy days.

Yutoku Inari Shrine is one of Japan's three largest Inari Shrines (Sandai Inari). In autumn, red leaves not only dye the precincts in red, but also bring a different color to the Japanese garden.

In the precincts, apart from Japanese white pine trees, old white plum blossoms trees also bloom beautifully. Also, this is also a popular spot of Sutra copying and Goshuin stamps. ●Goshuin stamps can be received

In the precincts of Tanjoin Temple, you can feel the seasonal flowers such as plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, wisteria, etc. Sutra copying can also be experienced together with flower viewing.