Kanayama Shrine and Festival of the Steel Phallus
Lifestyle/Hobbies | Avg price: ¥5 | English Available: None (Unknown)
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Iconic festival that's cultural, not crude
I think in some countries if you said there was a festival where giant phalluses were paraded around a city, you'd immediately have people thinking it was inappropriate. That's not the case with Kanayama Shrine's annual festival, which I would say is well worth attending at least once during your time as an expat in Japan. The whole event is designed as a way of praying for straightforward childbirth and protection against STDs, so certainly not the rude and crude idea some people might anticipate. It's definitely one of the bigger and more well known fertility style festivals in Japan and consequently does get busy. If you want a quieter vibe there are other similar events like one held in the countryside of Niigata (Koide area).
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on May 6
Solemn and rollicking fertility festival
Kanayama Shrine celebrates the Kanamara Matsuri, the festival of the steel phallus, in early April. When I attended, there was a large crowd watching the procession, but I could still have a good view. The procession of large steel phalluses is led by the shrine priests, and they walk in a circuit around the Kawasaki Daishi area. The story is that a toothy demon fell in love with and possessed a young woman, and he bit off the penises of her husbands. A blacksmith fashioned a steel phallus, the demon broke his teeth on it, and the object came to be venerated at the shrine. It's true, the vendors around the shrine do sell sweet treats in the shape of genitals. The festival is an interesting experience, combined with a visit to Kawasaki Daishi, sando shopping street, and hear the candy cutters drum out rhythms on their cutting boards.
genkidesu
on May 18