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Ehime 🎡 Theme park 📷 10

Kashima Island

北条鹿島

A full-day attraction built for families and repeat visitors.

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Best season Year-round; spring and autumn have the best weather
Time needed Half a day to a full day
Admission Roughly ¥2,000–9,000 depending on the park (≈ $13–57)
Opening hours Typically 9:00–20:00, varies by season

What this place is

Kashima (鹿島) is a small island off the coast of Hōjō, Matsuyama, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Aptly named "Deer Island," Kashima is home to a flourishing population of Sika deer. The island is about 1.5 km in circumference and 114 meters high at its peak with a 400-meter long white sand beach. Having inhabited the island for thousands of years, Kashima's deer are a designated "natural treasure of Ehime Prefecture." They are accessible for feeding and photos in an enclosure on the east end of the island, north of the ferry pier. Kashima has a multitude of tourist attractions, such as a forest with hiking trails, a campsite, a Shinto shrine, and shops. It can be accessed by a ferry that runs from Hōjō Port.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Headline rides and shows that anchor the day, plus smaller attractions with much shorter waits.
  • Themed areas designed as complete environments, right down to the food and the shop fronts.
  • Seasonal overlays — summer water events, autumn Halloween, winter illumination — that change the whole park.

What you can do here

  • Buy tickets online in advance and head to the furthest popular ride first, working back toward the entrance.
  • Book timed-entry or express passes for the two or three attractions you care about most.
  • Catch at least one parade or stage show; they are usually included in admission.
  • Save the illumination or night show for the end — the park looks completely different after dark.

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

Getting there by public transport

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Peak crowds are Japanese school holidays: late March–early April, Golden Week, mid-August.
  • Bring your own water bottle and a light rain poncho; both are expensive inside.
  • Popular restaurants require reservations made the moment the park opens.

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