Hizen Kashima Castle was the residence of Kashima Nabeshima family (Kashima Clan with 20,000 koku), a branch clan of Nabeshima Clan in Saga region. Since its establishment in 1610, Kashima Clan had occupied Tsunehiro Castle, which was located in low-lying land and often damaged by flooding. In 1806, the permission to build a new castle was given by the Shogunate at last and Kashima Castle was constructed at the present place. Later in 1878 most structures of the castle were destroyed and burned down during the Saga rebellion. At the present, there remain only two gates of the Otemon and the Akamon. The Akamon is a gate painted in vermillion, built in kirizuma style (with a gable roof) with sangawarabuki (with base tiles), which is now used as the school gate of Kashima Prefectural High School. The Otemon gate is in kirizuma style with hongawarkawarabuki (with formal tiles), which was originally painted in black but now in red. Time went by and now the castle ruin is maintained as a park named Asahigaoka Park, which is famous for cherry blossoms. There are 5000 cherry trees, the largest number in the prefecture. You can enjoy the sight of lit-up cherry blossoms at night. The park is always full of visitors in spring.