Kanamara Matsuri – The Penis Festival

The Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) is an annual Japanese Shinto celebration in Kawasaki. This festival originated centuries ago when local prostitutes would pray to the shrine’s deity, who is believed to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and ensure successful business. The intention has since extended to prayers for fertility, harmonious marriage, and general prosperity, making it a unique and widely celebrated cultural event that draws crowds from around the globe for its unapologetic focus on sexuality.

The festival’s most famous attractions are its three main phallus-shaped mikoshi (portable shrines) that are paraded through the streets of Kawasaki. The most recognizable is the “Pink Mikoshi,” which is often sponsored by an entertainment group from the local LGBTQ+ community. Other famous sights include the various forms of phallus-themed merchandise, such as carved candy, vegetables, and souvenirs, which are sold throughout the shrine grounds, transforming the area into a temporary, playful marketplace dedicated to the male organ.