Kasama Inari Shrine 笠間稲荷神社

One of the big three Inari Shrines, great flower displays

When you visit Kasama, the pottery town in Ibaraki Prefecture, you ought to visit this significant Inari Shrine. It's recognized as one of the three biggest Inari Shrines in Japan. The shrine has a history that spans 1300 years. The carvings in the gate are particularly splendid. It's a popular spot for new year observance, and it also has great displays of chrysanthemums in early spring, and the 400-year-old wisteria there bloom at the end of April and early May.