Kanamara Matsuri: The Dick Festival

When you hear the name Kawasaki, you may think of fast motorcycles. You may not know that it's the 9th largest city in Japan, and is regarded as a mecca for professional sports as it houses a number of large stadiums.

You may also be surprised to learn that every year, on the first Sunday of April,  the city of Kawasaki is flooded with curious tourists, giggling teenagers, drunken revelers, and dedicated pilgrims who have all come to celebrate Kanamara Matsuri (かなまら祭り) -- or more affectionately, the Dick Festival.*

*The formal English translation is the Festival of the Iron Phallus, but "Dick Festival" is a much more accurate description of the shenanigans that go down.

Festival-goers crowd the entrance to the shrine

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The main event is held at the Kanayama (金山神社) shrine in Kawasaki, which is about a 10 minute walk from the nearest station. People pack in tightly to see the mikoshi (神輿) paraded through the festival grounds, followed by some very impressive statues.

This is one of them.

As the statues pass by, the crowd chants "dekai mada, dekai mada" which roughly translates to "It's still huge!" until the mikoshi reaches the Kanayama Shrine. 

Apparently prostitutes used to come to the shrine and pray for protection from sexually transmitted diseases, although others believe that a visit to the shrine can help you in your marriage or childbirth.

The ever-so-humble Kanayama Shrine

Stalls sell everything from T-shirts, sunglasses, and stickers to commemorate the festival. Nearby shops capitalize on the gathering too, selling out of specially shaped candies that are made for the day. 

Okay, so maybe it looks more like a microphone than
 the actual thing, but it's still pretty funny...

While this celebration is definitely not for everyone, it is easily one of the most memorable experiences that I had during my year abroad. Although many cultures have celebrations of fertility and the phallus I can't imagine the same kind of uninhibited revelry over the peen anywhere else. I recommend going if you have the chance!

The area surrounding the shrine and the nearest station stay consistently busy throughout the day, so there are long waits to eat at nearby restaurants, or even just to check out at the convenience store. I recommend planning ahead and bringing something to drink (and a snack) to avoid waiting in crazy lines and maximize your sightseeing opportunities while you are there!

Kanamara Matsuri

Where: Kanayama Shrine

             2-13-16 Daishi Ekimae
             Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki
             Kanagawa 210-0802

About 45 minutes from Tokyo Station

When: First Sunday in April

Cost: Free!