Known as the Festival of the Steel Phallus, participants pray to a god of fertility and protection from infections


It’s a sight that draws giggles and curious stares from tourists and other first-timers – an unusual festival where revellers carry gigantic phalluses through the streets of a Japanese city.

But for the residents of Kawasaki, who lug erotic shapes of all different sizes, this odd tradition is not a joke.

Shinto Kanamara Matsuri started as a small tradition but has grown into a popular a tourist attraction, with participants praying to a god of fertility, child birth and protection from sexually transmitted infections.

Participants carry a gigantic phallus through the streets of Kawasaki, Japan during the Shinto Kanamara Matsuri festival

The sight of three large phalluses being paraded through neighbourhoods in the city south of Tokyo draws giggles from tourists

Shinto Kanamara Matsuri, the Festival of the Steel Phallus, started as a small tradition but has grown into a popular a tourist attraction

Known as the Festival of the Steel Phallus, it is held every spring at the phallus-shaped Kanayama Shrine.

Festivalgoers parade through the streets with three giant phalluses, while spectators lick lollies or snack on sausages or vegetables shaped as male and female genitalia.

Rainy weather didn’t ruin the mood at this year’s festival, which had a massive collection of foreigners, according to Japanese website RocketNews24.

They watched as groups of locals carried three heavy phalluses modelled after a mikoshi portable shrine, which is commonly used in Shinto festivals.

Residents of Kawasaki carry phalluses of all different sizes while participating in a tradition that began nearly 40 years ago

Participants pray to a god who is said to help with fertility, child birth and protection from sexually transmitted infections

Rainy weather didn’t ruin the mood at this year’s festival, which attracted thousands of spectators from Japan and abroad

Spectators can buy lollies, sausages and vegetables shaped as male and female genitalia while watching the unusual parade

The three mikoshi carried through the streets for hours are the Kanamara Boat Mikoshi (tall and black), the Elizabeth Mikoshi (big and pink) and the Kanamara Big Mikoshi (squat and wooden), RocketNews24 reported.

In addition to the parade there are performances and music, and the festival itself raises money and awareness for HIV research.

The festival started nearly 40 years ago, and the Kanayama Shrine was once a popular place for prostitutes to pray for protection from sexually transmitted infections.

Today, people visit the shrine to pray for everything from fertility and business prosperity to wedded bliss and good health.

In addition to the parade there are performances and music, and the festival itself raises money and awareness for HIV research

The Kanayama Shrine was once a popular place for prostitutes to pray for protection from sexually transmitted infections

Today, people visit the shrine to pray for everything from fertility and business prosperity to wedded bliss and good health