Kanamara Matsuri

Name: Kanamara Matsuri
Start: 2025-04-05
End: 2025-04-05
Location: Kawasaki

Kawasaki’s Spring Festival of Laughter, Iron, and Blessings

2026/04/04 - 2026/04/04

Every spring, the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture is enveloped in color, laughter, and a slightly cheeky atmosphere during the Kanamara Matsuri. This world-famous festival, held at Kanayama Shrine, is themed around the “Steel Phallus” and is known for its playful, open-minded celebration. For one day only, locals and visitors come together to pray for fertility, safe childbirth, and sexual health, all in a joyful and welcoming mood. For curious travelers, festival fans, or anyone wanting to experience a unique side of Japanese culture, Kanamara Matsuri is an event full of tradition, humor, and heartfelt community spirit you won’t find anywhere else.

The festival is held annually on the first Sunday of April. Families, couples, tourists from abroad, and groups of friends all join in, creating an open and inclusive atmosphere that fills the streets of Kawasaki with festive energy all day long.

Main Attractions

Phallic Mikoshi Parade

The centerpiece of Kanamara Matsuri is the parade of three phallic-shaped mikoshi (portable shrines). The most famous is the bright pink “Elizabeth Mikoshi,” carried by the local LGBTQ+ community. Traditional black iron and wooden phallic mikoshi also appear, and the parade route is packed with cheers, laughter, and camera flashes. Beneath the humorous and lively atmosphere lies a sincere prayer for prosperity, fertility, and protection from misfortune.

Costumes and Decorations

The festival is filled with playful costumes—pink wigs, phallic hats, and yukata with unique patterns. Shrine maidens (miko) in traditional attire hand out candies, while volunteers wear colorful happi coats. The streets are decorated with lanterns, banners, and giant phallic objects, creating a carnival-like atmosphere full of smiles and curiosity.

Cultural and Historical Background

The origins of Kanamara Matsuri date back to the Edo period, when local blacksmiths and sex workers visited Kanayama Shrine to pray for protection from sexually transmitted diseases and for business prosperity. The enshrined deity, Kanayama-hiko-no-mikoto, is associated with blacksmithing, fertility, and safe childbirth, and has long been believed to offer blessings for sexual health and marital harmony. Over time, the festival grew from a local prayer ritual into a global event, now also promoting sexual health and HIV awareness.

For the people of Kawasaki, Kanamara Matsuri is a proud symbol of openness, community bonds, and the connection between past and present.

Participant Voices

I came from Australia with friends. The parade was fun and friendly—everyone was laughing, taking photos, and sharing candy. I even got a love-blessing at the shrine, making for a wonderful memory!

Fun Facts

The pink “Elizabeth Mikoshi” is carried by the LGBTQ+ community and symbolizes diversity and inclusion.
Phallic-shaped candies and goods are so popular they often sell out every year.