Kanamara Matsuri

かなまら祭

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UniqueKawasaki
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesElizabeth, the roughly two-meter
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: JPY
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Kanamara Matsuri in Kawasaki

Kanamara Matsuri, centered on Kawasaki's Kanayama Shrine and its Edo-period legend of a steel phallus that defeated a curse-bearing demon, is held each first Sunday of April with three phallus-shaped mikoshi carried through the streets, including the well-known fuchsia sculpture nicknamed Elizabeth. The modern festival incorporates HIV and AIDS awareness programming alongside its historical fertility and protection themes.

Kanamara Matsuri centers on Kanayama Shrine, a small site located within the grounds of Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine near Kawasaki Daishi Station, whose origin legend describes a sharp-toothed demon that took residence inside a young woman and bit off the reproductive organs of two husbands on their wedding nights before a local blacksmith forged her a steel phallus that broke the demon's teeth and freed her from the curse.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Elizabeth, the roughly two-meter fuchsia-colored phallic mikoshi originally built for a Tokyo drag community group and later donated to the shrine, has become the festival's most recognizable and photographed symbol, reflecting Kanamara Matsuri's unusually open and inclusive modern character compared with most traditional Shinto processions

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's deliberate incorporation of HIV and AIDS awareness messaging into its programming since the 1990s gives it a genuine contemporary public health purpose layered on top of its Edo-period protective legend, a combination rarely found at other historical shrine festivals in Japan

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Traditions include the procession of three phallus-shaped mikoshi including the sculpture nicknamed Elizabeth

Water and renewal

Living ritual

sale of phallic-themed food and novelty merchandise

The sacred route

Living ritual

the shrine's Edo-period protective legend

The local code

Living ritual

and modern HIV and AIDS awareness programming folded into the event

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Comfortable spring clothing suits the mild early-April weather; no special attire is required, and the festival's atmosphere is generally casual and open despite its unconventional subject...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

JPY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map35.53 N, 139.73 EOpen in Google Maps

Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kawasaki via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kawasaki, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable spring clothing suits the mild early-April weather; no special attire is required, and the festival's atmosphere is generally casual and open despite its unconventional subject matter.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Japan and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Kanamara Matsuri?

Kanamara Matsuri is listed for Past edition: 19 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Kanamara Matsuri take place?

The festival is listed in Kawasaki, Japan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLjapan.travel
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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