Kashima, Saga
# Kashima, Saga

Kashima (鹿島市, Kashima-shi) is a city located in the southern part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of February 28, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 30,159 and a population density of 270 persons per km². The total area is 112.10 km².

## 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.

* Mountains: Mount Kyōga (1076 m), Mount Jōdo (501 m), Mount Kotoji (501 m), Mount Gibi (198 m)
* Rivers: Shiota River, Kashima River, Hama River, Naka River

### Adjoining municipalities

* Saga Prefecture
   * Ureshino
   * Shiroishi
   * Tara
* Nagasaki Prefecture
   * Ōmura

## History

* 1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system was established. The current city region consists of six villages (Minami-Kashima, Kita-Kashima, Hachihongi, Fureda, Nogomi and Nanaura; all from Fujitsu District).
* 1912-12-01 - Minami-Kashima Village became Minami-Kashima Town, and Kita-Kashima Village was renamed Kashima Village.
* 1918-08-03 - Hachihongi Village became Hama Town.
* 1954-04-01 - Kashima Town absorbed Hama Town, Kashima Village, Furueda Village and Nogomi Village to create Kashima City.
* 1955-03-01 - Part of Nanaura Village was incorporated into Kashima City, while the remaining portion was incorporated into Tara Town.

## Education

### High schools

* Saga Prefectural Kashima High School
* Saga Prefectural Kashima Vocational High School

### Junior high schools

* Tōbu Junior High School
* Seibu Junior High School

### Elementary schools

* Kashima Elementary School
* Nogomi Elementary School
* Furueda Elementary School
* Hama Elementary School
* Kita-Kashima Elementary School
* Nanaura Elementary School
* Meirin Elementary School

## Transportation

### Air

The nearest airports are Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport.

### Rail

* JR Kyushu
   * Nagasaki Main Line
      * Hizen-Kashima Station - Hizen-Hama Station - Hizen-Nanaura Station - Hizen-Iida Station

       (the main station is Hizen-Kashima)

### Road

* Expressways:
   * There are no expressways in Kashima. The closest interchange is the Ureshino Interchange.
* National highways:
   * Route 207
   * Route 444
   * Route 498
* Prefectural roads:
   * Saga Prefectural Route 41

## Festivals

The Kashima Gatalympics is held every May in Hama-chō, a part of Kashima City. This event is a sports competition carried out on the mudflats on the city's Ariake Sea shoreline, and includes cycling, 25 metre running and sumo wrestling events.

## 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.

## Famous people from Kashima

* YUKI, one half of the duo BENNIE K
* Narimi Arimori, actress
