We will travel from Narita Airport to the Itako area. For the public transportation plan, you will take the train to JR Itako Station and walk to the Suigo Itako Ayame Garden. From there, you will travel to the Kashima area by private car. For the private car option, we will pick you up at Narita Airport or a hotel in the Narita area in a private car.

Begin your visit in Itako, a peaceful waterside town in the Kashima region. Suigo Itako Ayame Garden is known for its seasonal flowers, canal scenery, and calm local atmosphere. When operating conditions allow, enjoy a traditional rowboat ride through the Itako waterways. This experience offers a quiet look at the waterside culture of the region and gives the tour a scenic, local atmosphere before continuing to Kashima. Please note that the boat ride depends on weather, season, and operation schedule. If the boat ride is unavailable, the itinerary will be adjusted with additional time in the Itako or Kashima area. This first stop introduces the landscape and water culture of the area before the tour moves into its football and shrine story.

Continue to the Mercari Stadium area, one of the symbolic football places in Japan. This is an exterior and public-area visit, where your guide will introduce the local football culture and explain how the Kashima region became closely associated with professional football in Japan.

Be sure to visit the Kashima Soccer Museum located in the stadium area. Here, a guide will explain Kashima's soccer culture, the legend of Zico, the early days of professional soccer in Japan, and the glorious history of this region. This museum is a highlight of the tour and will give you a deeper understanding of why Kashima is such a special place for many soccer fans. Backstage tours of the stadium may be available for an additional fee, depending on the date, operational schedule, and availability. Advance reservations are required, and tours are not guaranteed.

End the tour at Kashima Jingu Shrine, one of the most important spiritual sites in the region. Walk through the shrine grounds and learn about the shrine’s connection to victory, martial traditions, sacred deer, and the identity of Kashima. After exploring the modern football culture of the area, this final stop brings the tour back to the deeper cultural and spiritual roots of Kashima.