On the first Sunday of April, Japan hosts the Iron Penis Festival. It is one of the country's most controversial annual events.
The Kanamara Matsuri, or "Iron Penis Festival," a festival of fertility and prosperity, is celebrated by residents of the Japanese city. Kawasaki will be celebrated on Sunday, April 1st. Traditionally, the main symbol of the celebration is the phallus. On this day, residents try to adorn themselves with various male attributes—from funny glasses and penis-shaped jewelry to themed costumes—and walk the streets dressed in these garb.
The main event of the day is the ceremonial removal of a 2.5-meter-tall, pink-painted ritual penis from the Kanama Shinto shrine. Touching it is believed to guarantee happiness and good fortune throughout the coming year.
During the Kanamara Matsuri, numerous street stalls open up. Their merchandise consists overwhelmingly of lollipops, candies, toys, tableware, and phallus-shaped masks. A traditional treat on the first Sunday of April is sweet sake called "amazake" with dried, salted fish.
The history of this unusual festival began in the 17th century. According to one legend, four hundred years ago, an iron penis helped defeat a demon possessing a local beauty. This festival has been celebrated ever since. Oddly enough, the Kanamara Matsuri is traditionally celebrated with the whole family. The festival also attracts a large number of foreign tourists.
You can get to Kawasaki from Tokyo by train. The journey takes about 20 minutes, and tickets cost between 320 and 450 yen (170 and 240 rubles). Trains depart from the station on Japan Railways every 15 minutes.
Source: news.turizm.ru