An annual penis festival of pure penis worship? Count us in!
Festival of the Steel Phallus
Tokyo Cheapo, The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo, provides a massive perspective on the importance of the male genitals and how you can experience the annual penis festival.
A giant pink phallus on a portable shrine slowly makes its way down the street. Vendors sell penis-shaped snacks and treats that are enjoyed out in the open. People, eager to buy cock-themed merch, crowd around tables decorated with genitalia. While this might sound like a horny bator’s wet dream, it’s actually a hugely-popular fertility festival that happens every year in Japan. Kanamara Matsuri (which translates to Festival of the Steel Phallus), draws people from all over the world to share in some penis-themed fun.
Photo credit: Tokyo Cheapo / David Ishikawa
The annual cultural event is held at the Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki on the first Sunday in April. This year’s parade takes place on April 6, 2025. It was originally started in 1969 with the idea of working towards promoting sexual health—and that’s still the underlying goal to this day. The event currently acts as a fundraising effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The main meaning behind the Kanamara Festival is that Kanayama Shrine has a long history connected to the local sex workers. It is known as a spot to pray for healing and protection from STDs. The name of the festival is also a play on the Japanese slang word mara, which means male genitals. So instead of the shrine’s name, Kanayama, the festival is called Kanamara.
Lots of cock for a limited time
The phallus parade takes place on Sunday but there are events leading up to and after the big day as well. If you’re planning a trip to Japan around cherry blossom season, why not enjoy some local penis-time too.
You’ll find ceremonies, fundraisers, parties and other penis worship activities throughout the weekend. Interested in vegetable carving? Be sure to check out the presentation of radishes carved to resemble male genitalia—there really is something for everyone!
The penis festival parade
The main event involves the procession of portable shrines that each carry a unique type of phallic sculpture. Each larger-than-life penis is made from a different material, ranging from wood to metal. The biggest phallus, a giant pink version, is donated by a local drag club.
There are usually four kinds of statues: a small one carried on a single piece of timber, a medium-sized wooden one, one made of black iron, and a large pink one called “Elizabeth Mikoshi,” which is donated by a drag queen club called Elizabeth each year.
The fertility festival draws huge crowds of people from all walks of life. For just one weekend in early spring, they share a common goal—honoring the power of the penis. If you’re a bator who likes to travel, consider adding Japan to your list of places to visit.
Have you been before? Heading to Japan in April? We wanna hear about your experience below!
You can find out more information about the upcoming Kanamara Festival, including dates and times, here.
