Quietly floating offshore from Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Kashima Island is a small, uninhabited island that has been revered as a “sacred island” since ancient times.
Although the island is only about 1.5 kilometers around, it has a remarkable combination of history, legends, religious traditions, and natural beauty. Steep cliffs, rocky coastlines, clear blue waters, and lush vegetation create a mysterious landscape that has made Kashima one of Minabe’s most distinctive sightseeing destinations.
Kashima lies in Minabe Bay and is also closely connected with the name of Minabe itself. From a distance, the island appears to consist of several connected peaks. Its shape is traditionally said to resemble three cooking pots turned upside down, giving rise to the name “Minabe,” according to local tradition.
Today, Kashima remains an important symbol of Minabe and a place deeply cherished by the local community.
Kashima has long been regarded as a place where the gods reside. The entire island was treated as sacred ground, and this tradition helped protect its natural environment for generations.
Because the island has been carefully preserved as a sacred site, much of its natural landscape remains remarkably untouched. Shrines are scattered across the island, including Kashima Shrine and Funatama Shrine, adding a spiritual atmosphere to the rugged scenery.
Visitors will find rocky terrain, steep cliffs, deep green forests, and subtropical vegetation surrounding the island. The contrast between the blue sea and the lush greenery creates a distinctive landscape where nature and religious tradition exist side by side.
Kashima is also included within the Yoshino-Kumano National Park, reflecting the importance of its natural environment.
Despite its remote appearance, the island is relatively easy to visit. A ferry ride from the port area of Minabe takes approximately 10 minutes, making it possible to experience this mysterious island as a day trip.
Kashima has been admired for its beautiful scenery for more than a thousand years. Its name appears in the Man’yōshū, Japan’s oldest surviving major collection of poetry.
In 701, Empress Dowager Jitō and Emperor Monmu are said to have visited the Kii region, then known for its hot springs and scenic coastal landscapes. A poem associated with this journey describes the sea around Minabe and the women fishing near Kashima.
“At the shore of Minabe, let not the tide rise; I shall return after watching the women fishing at Kashima.”
The poem provides a glimpse into how captivating the scenery of Kashima must have been more than 1,300 years ago. The peaceful island, blue waters, and people working on the sea formed an impressive landscape for travelers in ancient Japan just as they do today.
One of the most important stories surrounding Kashima is connected with the Hōei Earthquake of 1707, one of the most powerful earthquakes in Japanese history.
The enormous earthquake caused devastating tsunami waves along Japan’s Pacific coast. According to local tradition, as the tsunami approached Minabe, a mysterious giant ball of fire suddenly appeared from Kashima Island.
The legend says that the island somehow divided the tsunami into two streams, protecting the villages and people of Minabe from the full force of the waves.
Grateful for the island’s protection, local residents are said to have offered fireworks to Kashima the following year. This tradition eventually developed into the Kashima Shrine Fireworks Festival, which has continued for more than 300 years.
Whether viewed as a historical event, a religious tradition, or a local legend, this story illustrates why Kashima came to be regarded as more than simply a beautiful island. For the people of Minabe, it became a sacred protector associated with the safety of their lives and community.
On the southern side of Kashima stands Kashima Shrine, a sacred site that has been revered for centuries.
The shrine is reached by climbing a flight of stone steps beyond its torii gate. The quiet surroundings and rugged island landscape create a solemn atmosphere that feels distinctly different from ordinary sightseeing destinations.
The shrine is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Kami, a powerful deity associated with martial strength and victory. The deity is traditionally believed to have been enshrined here after being transferred from Kashima Jingū in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Takemikazuchi is associated with victory, protection from disasters, maritime safety, and success. The shrine has therefore been particularly important to local people whose lives have historically depended on the sea.
The Kashima Shrine now located in Minabe was originally situated on the southeastern part of Kashima Island before being moved to its present location in 1909.
Locals affectionately call the shrine “Kashima-san”, reflecting the close relationship between the shrine and the community.
Visitors traditionally pray here for blessings including:
Protection from disasters
Safety at sea
Success and victory
Good fortune in one’s endeavors
Family prosperity
Fertility and safe childbirth
Held every year on August 1, the Kashima Shrine Fireworks Festival is one of Minabe’s most important traditional events.
The festival has a history of more than 300 years and is held as an expression of gratitude to Kashima Island for its legendary protection during the Hōei Earthquake and tsunami.
At night, approximately 2,000 fireworks illuminate the sky above Minabe Bay. Their reflections shimmer across the surface of the sea, creating an especially beautiful and atmospheric spectacle.
The event attracts both local residents and visitors, transforming the normally quiet coastal landscape into a lively celebration.
An old fireworks tube dating from the Edo period is also preserved at Kashima Shrine, offering a tangible reminder of the festival’s long history and the way its traditions have been passed from one generation to the next.
On the third Sunday of October, Kashima Shrine hosts its annual autumn festival. Locally known simply as the “Autumn Festival,” it is an important religious event in which people pray for the safety of shrine parishioners and for a good harvest.
During the festival, the streets come alive with traditional processions featuring portable shrines, lion dances, boat-shaped floats, and futon taiko drums.
One of the highlights is the Minamimichi Slave Procession, which has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Minabe Town. Traditional festival equipment, banners, and other decorations differ from one local district to another, creating an impressive display of regional customs.
In recent years, children’s portable shrines have also become part of the festivities, helping ensure that these traditions continue to be passed on to future generations.
Okimidai is located in the valley between the two main peaks that form Kashima Island. From this viewpoint, visitors can look beyond dramatic cliffs toward the vast blue Pacific Ocean.
The rugged rock formations are known as “Ryū-no-kuchi,” or “Dragon’s Mouth.” Their powerful shapes resemble the open jaws of a dragon and give the coastline an especially dramatic appearance.
It is an excellent place to appreciate the raw beauty of Kashima’s coastline and the contrast between the green mountains and the deep blue sea.
After climbing along a mountain path, visitors will find the small Funatama Shrine, which has traditionally been associated with protection for sailors and safe voyages.
The shrine reflects the close relationship between Kashima and the fishing communities of Minabe. For generations, people whose livelihoods depended on the sea have looked to this sacred island for protection and good fortune.
Kashima is also home to the Atsumori Mound, a historic site associated with the famous warrior Taira no Atsumori from The Tale of the Heike.
Atsumori was a young warrior of the Taira clan who became one of the most memorable figures in the classic Japanese war epic. The mound is traditionally said to have been built to honor and mourn him, adding another layer of historical romance to the island.
Kashima is not only a place of history and religious tradition. Its natural surroundings also make it an appealing destination for outdoor activities.
Depending on local conditions and regulations, visitors can enjoy activities such as walking, camping, and fishing. Surrounded on all sides by the sea, the island offers an extraordinary feeling of openness and a chance to spend time close to nature.
The island’s natural environment is particularly meaningful because it has been protected through its status as sacred ground. The forests, rocky coast, and surrounding waters provide visitors with an opportunity to experience a landscape that has remained closely connected with local beliefs for centuries.
Kashima can be reached by ferry from Haniya Fishing Port. The boat ride takes approximately 10 minutes, making it a convenient short trip from Minabe’s mainland.
Because Kashima is an uninhabited island and access can be affected by weather and sea conditions, visitors should check the latest ferry information before traveling.
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from the Minabe Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway.
By train: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Minabe Station.
Kashima Island is a remarkable place where ancient religious traditions, the history of the Man’yōshū, local legends, traditional festivals, and beautiful natural scenery come together.
Although it is a small, uninhabited island, Kashima contains an extraordinary number of stories. It has been revered as a sacred place since ancient times, celebrated in Japanese poetry, associated with the dramatic legend of the Hōei Earthquake, and protected as an important natural environment.
The island’s deep blue sea, rugged cliffs, green forests, and quiet shrines create an atmosphere that is both beautiful and mysterious.
For travelers visiting Minabe, a trip to Kashima offers much more than a scenic boat ride. It provides a chance to discover the spiritual traditions and local stories that have shaped the community for centuries.
Standing on the shore and looking out at this small island rising from the blue waters of Minabe Bay, visitors can begin to understand why the people of Minabe have lovingly protected Kashima as their “Island of the Gods.”