 Most viewed - AICHI 愛知県 |
The bottom of the woman figurine. Naughty, naughty...3756 views
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Procession maidens pose with wooden penises.3669 views
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Procession maidens pose with wooden penises. Tagata Shrine Honen Festival3344 views
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Sake flask2555 views
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Lollipops2373 views
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The phallus is a symbol for themes of fertility.2250 views
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Nose job2086 viewsI didn't see this among the souvenirs being sold. Wonder where he got it.
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2074 views
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1996 views
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The second portable shrine and main attraction. It is 2.5 meters (13 feet) long, 60 cm diameter, and weighs about 300 kg. It takes 10 days to carve it from a cypress log.1964 views
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1932 views
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Procession maidens pose with the giant penis. The giant phallus was then partially hidden by the portable shrine as it is today. But this made the phallus become larger to 2.5 meters, as if to compensate for this partial shielding.1785 views
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Senbei crackers1683 views
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1613 views
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Demure-looking woman figurine looks deceiving until you look at the bottom...1595 views
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1575 views
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Maiden poses with the giant penis. In the past, the phallus was attached to a straw effigy of a warrior, but it was deemed too raunchy and discontinued.1567 views
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People line up to rub the sacred balls. Penis rock in the foreground.1563 views
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Banner with ukiyoe shunga-style painting of a penis.1428 views
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It might look light brown here, but it looks more pinkish. It is carved in winter from a hinoki cypress tree by a master artisan wearing ceremonially-purified clothing and using traditional tools.1387 views
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Palanquin maidens.1347 views
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Gozensai ceremony before the start of the penis procession. Tagata Shrine Honen Matsuri1298 views
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Toshi-gami deity of harvests.1257 views
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Gozensai prayer ceremony before the start of the procession.1227 views
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Sacred Balls. Put in money and rub the left and right ball for family safety, business prosperity, safe childbirth, etc. 珍宝窟1192 views
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Way to Tagata Shrine from Tagata Jinja-mae Station. Shrine famous for numerous phallic objects used as offerings to the gods. The 1500-year-old shrine worships a deity called Tamahime-no-Mikoto who was a daughter of a powerful local lord from the 5th c.1185 viewsThe Honen-sai or Honen (Hounen) Matsuri is held by Tagata Jinja on March 15 to pray for an abundant harvest. "Honen" literally means "Year of abudant harvest." Since a giant penis is used as an offering, it is popularly called the "penis festival."
The shrine is near Tagata Jinja-mae Station on the Meitetsu Railways' Komaki Line. From Shin-Nagoya Station or Shin-Gifu Station, go to Inuyama Station and transfer to the Komaki Line.
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Pregnant women also attend the festival. As well as mothers with a young baby coming to give thanks.1156 views
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1154 views
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Gozensai ceremony before the start of the procession.1137 views
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The usual penis souvenirs on sale.1042 views
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Many foreigners also join in the fun. The giant phallus was originally about 1 meter long and paraded by itself by 4-5 people with no portable shrine shelter.1038 views
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Various entertainment is staged within Tagata Shrine up until the procession starts at 2 pm.1022 views
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Breaking the sake barrel1013 views
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Another mikoshi with a wooden penis. For a good harvest.1006 views
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The giant phallus is called "O-owasegata." It is an offering, and not a deity nor object of worship. Tagata Shrine Honen Festival. A total of 60 men take turns carrying the giant phallus portable shrine. 大男茎形986 views
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The short prayer ceremony ends.981 views
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Front view. A new giant, wooden phallus is carved every year since newly-made objects are considered to have more purity and vitality.980 views
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Lots of people pose with the giant penis. Amid hordes of amateur photographers980 views
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Women spectators touch the penis for good fortune and to become fertile perhaps?959 views
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Okazaki Castle tower958 viewsThe castle was dismantled during the Meiji Period and the area was made into a castle park. The castle tower was later rebuilt in 1959.
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Also see the video at YouTube. Honen-sai Festival, Tagata Shrine Honen Festival.950 views
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924 views
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Conch shell920 views
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Inside Kumano Shrine. Notice the wooden penises on lower left.912 views
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Sake905 views
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Festival spectators come by the busload, including people from US military bases such as Yokota.894 views
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Torii gate to Kumano-sha Shrine.841 views
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Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from heaven to earth.827 views
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Mikoshi (portable shrine) bearers gather in front of Kumano Shrine.826 views
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Ema votive tablet with giant penis portable shrine. 500 yen.826 views
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Kumano-sha Shrine, the starting point of the procession or "Penis Parade." 熊野社821 views
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Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto who was a local prince married to Tamahime which Tagata Shrine worships.794 views
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The second mikoshi features the giant penis carried by 12 men at a time, all of whom are age 42, considered to be an unlucky age (yakudoshi) for men. They seek protection by carrying the phallus.779 views
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Schedule of events and procession route. In odd-numbered years (like 2007), the procession starts from nearby Kumano-sha Shrine. In even-numbered years, the procession starts from Shinmei-sha Shrine.776 views
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Sake flows freely.768 views
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Takeinadane-no-Mikoto751 views
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Entering Tagata Shrine, dedicated to Tamahime-no-Mikoto (daughter of a local feudal lord) and Mitoshi-no-Kami (deity of harvests).735 views
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Musical clock706 views
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People waiting for the procession along the shrine steps. (Not a good place to watch the procession.)675 views
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Maidens who are 36 years old, carry wooden penises for protection during their "unlucky age" (yakudoshi).671 views
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The giant phallus by itself weighs about 280 kg (620 lbs.). The total weight of both the phallus and portable shrine housing is 400 kg (885 lbs.).664 views
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Men in happi coats which read "Honen Matsuri." Honen literally means "year of abundant harvest."644 views
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This is what you see inside Oku-no-miya Shrine. A giant wooden phallus offering.624 views
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The procession is ready to start from Kumano Shrine.622 views
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People waiting for the procession in front of Kumano Shrine.622 views
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Now comes the giant phallus heading for the shrine's main hall.592 views
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Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from heaven to earth.568 views
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Reconstructed in 1959 in ferro-concrete, Nagoya Castle's main tenshu tower has closed on May 6, 2018 to start its monumental reconstruction. 天守閣564 viewsThis main tower used to house a museum. The top floor had a lookout deck with fine views.
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The procession goers down the slope in front of Kumano Shrine.564 views
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Symbol of Nagoya, golden shachihoko. Killer whale or fish with a tiger's head.556 viewsFirst believed to protect the building from disasters, but later served as the symbol of the castle lord's authority. The original pair was destroyed along with the castle tower during WWII, but they were remade in 1959 along with the castle tower. Later, they were recoated with gold. They gleam very well on sunny days. The male fish is on the right (north), and female (south) on the left.
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Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.553 views
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People waiting for the procession in front of Kumano Shrine.549 views
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Banner of shunga-style penis painting.541 views
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A large crowd tries to catch numerous mochi which are hard and can be dangerous if it hits you on the face or head. To avoid injury, do not look down and don't try to pick up mochi on the ground. You can get trampled, and most injuries occur this way.538 views
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The first mikoshi is for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto coming to visit his wife of Tamahime at Tagata Shrine, where Tamahime's residence was located.536 views
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A group of men carry a red and white pole in front of Inazawa Station, on their way to Konomiya Shrine.530 views
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Toshi-gami deity of harvests is pulled on a palanquin instead of being carried.513 views
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504 views
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Palanquin for Deity of Harvests504 views
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Takeinadane-no-Mikoto501 views
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501 views
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At 4 pm, the festival's final event is the mochi-nage or rice-cake tossing. First, they warn eveyone that the shrine won't be liable for any injury you might incur from this. And the elderly and children should avoid this mochi-nage.494 views
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Ichinomiya Station has both the JR Tokaido Line and Meitetsu Line. Ichinomiya literally means "Shrine No. 1."492 views
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Carried by men singing kiyari laborers' songs, the smaller wooden phallus also goes to enter the shrine's main hall.481 views
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Installed inside the shrine's Honden main hall, the new giant penis will replace the old one.481 views
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475 views
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Next is a palanquin (not mikoshi) for the Toshi-gami deity of harvests. 御歳神474 views
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Apparently it can become erect too. (Compare with previous photo.)468 views
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Giant phallus makes its way to the shrine.463 views
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Where the penis goes, the crowd follows.462 views
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By this time, all the men are filled with sake and gregarious.460 views
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Gaijin girls had an easy time attracting men who happily tried to converse in English and bestow cloth strips.453 views
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451 views
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Penetration successful. This is 3:30 pm.437 views
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Sarutahiko-no-Okami436 views
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The standard-bearer with a banner of shunga-style penis painting.436 views
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They spin around the phallus.433 views
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433 views
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429 views
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Not sure what this is.423 views
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Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto422 views
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Salt sprinkler heads the procession to purify the way.418 views
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Drum418 views
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Sake cart415 views
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The route is short, but it's a slow procession with many short breaks. The procession lasts 1.5 hours.414 views
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Inuyama Castle tower413 views
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Branches of the sacred sakaki tree.411 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station405 views
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Yoshida Castle turret404 views
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The first half of the route is quite narrow.401 views
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Inuyama Castle roof396 views
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396 views
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394 views
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391 views
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390 views
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Konomiya Shrine holds the Hadaka (Naked or Nude) Festival in early March, or Jan. 13 of the lunar calendar. Men in loincloths parade around the streets until they reach the shrine.384 viewsA Sacred Man (Shin-otoko) also appears in the shrine and the men try to touch him before he slips into the shrine's window. The festival's real name is Naoi-shinji 儺追神事 which is a rite to dispel bad luck. Photo: Nearest station is JR Inazawa Station on the Tokaido Line. 稲沢駅
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The giant penis also arrives at the shrine as it spins around behind the384 views
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Kiso River with Inuyama Castle in the distance381 views
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381 views
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Tagata Shrine grounds during the Honen Festival.380 views
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378 views
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Finally on the main road to Tagata Shrine. Half the road is blocked off for the procession.375 views
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It was a pretty cold day, and these men were drinking all afternoon.373 views
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Tagata Jinja banners.373 views
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On the main road.368 views
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368 views
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My video of Masumida Shrine on New Year's Day 2011, Ichinomiya, Aichi.368 views
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Votice tablets written with people's wishes for love, sex, and babies.366 views
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365 views
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Near the station is Nagoya City Hall (Shiyakusho) which also sports a castle motif.364 views
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Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto362 views
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The giant phallus in front Tagata Shrine's Honden main hall.361 views
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Entrance to Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.360 views
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I always visit a different shrine on New Year's Day, so for 2009, I visited Atsuta Jingu Shrine in Nagoya. JR Atsuta Station on the Tokaido Line is one train station near Atsuta Jingu Shrine. JR熱田駅359 views
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Sometimes a man from the window jumps into the crowd to grab and take in the Sacred Man.358 views
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Nagoya Castle, Northwest corner turret. 西北隅櫓357 views
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Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.355 views
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Salt sprinkler enters first.349 views
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They zig-zag along the street, and they are filled with sake.346 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko 神男：加藤 典彦343 views
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View of Kiso River342 views
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Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.342 views
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Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto enters the Honden main hall.342 views
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Inuyama International Sightseeing Center "Freude"341 views
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Jo-an tea ceremony house, a National Treasure. Built in 1618 by Oda Uraku, one of the greatest tea ceremony masters and younger brother of warlord Oda Nobunaga.338 viewsJo-an is one of Japan's three most famous tea ceremony houses. 如庵
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Torii on Takeshima island337 views
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Inside Jo-an tea ceremony house, a National Treasure334 views
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332 views
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Maybe this is the Sacred Man being pulled into the window.330 views
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330 views
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Closeup of castle tower, with shachihoko on top. Nagoya Castle is famous for its golden pair of shachihoko roof ornaments. During the Aichi Expo in 2005, they were taken down for public display. 天守閣329 views
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On the 5th floor was a model of shachihoko that you could touch and sit on for pictures.327 viewsNagoya Castle's main tower closed on May 6, 2018 to be dismantled (and reconstructed).
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Kiyomasa depicted as the rock hauling director. When building the castle, many men had to push and pull large rocks into place. On top of a large boulder, a man would shout and direct the men to move.326 views
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TV reporter with this year's Sacred Man (Kami-otoko), Kato Norihiko, from Ichinomiya 神男：加藤 典彦322 views
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Gaijin talking to gaijin. Sounded Australian. English teacher at junior high.321 views
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Oagata Shrine's Female Rock. 女性器をかたどった石319 views
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Haritsuna Shrine318 views
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Oku-no-miya Shrine also has many other phallic objects presented as offerings. There even one which you can touch...317 views
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Best-looking phallic rock.317 views
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Sanko Inari Shrine315 viewsThe shrine provides a short cut to the castle.
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308 views
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303 views
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Takeshima island is connected by a bridge. The island is uninhabited, but has a Yaotomi Jinja Shinto shrine (八百富神社) dedicated to goddess Takeshima Benten. Designated as a Natural Monument for its flora which greatly differs from that on shore.302 views
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Phallic fence posts.301 views
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Pointer to Expo shuttle train at Nagoya Station.299 views
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290 views
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288 views
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Inside tea ceremony house285 views
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Kiyosu Castle, Aichi Prefecture. Oda Nobunaga moved to Kiyosu Castle from Nagoya Castle in 1555. From Kiyosu Castle, he went to defeat the Imagawa at the Battle of Okehazama.284 views
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They get pretty crazy, getting more water.280 views
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Every once in a while, they raise their pole.277 views
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Cloth strips (100 yen each) to ward off bad luck 厄除けの ”なおいぎれ” 初穂料 １本 １００円276 views
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Tagata Shrine Honden main hall. Komaki, Aichi Pref.274 views
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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station273 views
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Phallic souvenirs.272 views
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The Sacred Man struggles to reach the small window.269 views
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266 views
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Inside castle tower262 viewsThe castle tower is a history museum.
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Numerous groups of near-naked men (no women) proceed to the shrine all afternoon.261 views
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Closeup of giant mochi. Solid as a rock.261 views
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On the straight road from Inazawa Station to Konomiya Shrine.259 views
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Kiyosu Castle's 2nd floor includes this mannequin setup showing Oda Nobunaga and his cohorts.259 views
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Tagata Jinja-mae Station on Meitetsu Railways' Komaki Line, a few stops from Inuyama Station. The shrine is a 10 min. walk from the train station.258 views
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When the Sacred Man enters the window, everyone cheers.257 views
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Phallic objects256 views
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Note that the phallus is not the object of worship. It is an offering to the god.255 views
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Worst-looking phallic rock. That's stretching the imagination a little too much.255 views
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Some of the men tear off strips from their handband and give them to bystanders.252 views
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Tree surrounded with cloth strips called Naoi-gire251 views
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The shrine maidens came around to serve the tea and sweet.249 views
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Female Rock247 views
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Giant kagami mochi, rice cake in the Haiden Hall. Over 2 meters tall and over 2 meters diameter. Weighs 4 tons. They are to be cut into small pieces (with a chain saw) and given away the next morning.245 views
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Female and male rocks.245 views
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Gift shop on top floor244 views
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244 views
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Entrance to Urakuen Garden241 viewsThis garden has a few tea houses including one called Jo-an, a National Treasure. THe garden is close to Inuyama Castle and worth a visit. Admission 1,000 yen.
有楽苑
営業時間 9:00〜17:00（3/1〜7/14 ・ 9/1〜11/30）
9:00〜18:00（7/15〜8/31）
9:00〜16:00（12/1〜2/末日）
休日 無休 入場料 大人1,000円（呈茶別500円）
〒４８４−００８１
愛知県犬山市御門先１
ＴＥＬ ０５６８（６１）４６０８
交通 名鉄犬山線犬山遊園下車徒歩７分
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The men in the window give directions to the Sacred Man.241 views
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Honen Matsuri Festival banner disguising the female organ.240 views
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Stones and Oku-no-miya Shrine239 views
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The festival is over.238 views
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Oagata Shrine's Female Rock. Not a good likeness...「姫石」（陰石）238 views
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Nagoya Station's twin towers in the distance.236 views
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236 views
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All the men want to touch the Sacred Man, believing that it will dispel bad luck.235 views
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More female rocks.235 views
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Put in money and it will make a "chin" sound. (From the word "chinpo" for penis.)234 views
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Southeast corner turret (Important Cultural Property)232 views東南隅櫓
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The window where the Sacred Man entered.231 views
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Boat to Rabbit and Monkey islands (no longer in service)230 views
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Konomiya Shrine torii and the long path to the shrine is lined with a large crowd.230 views
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This is the small window the Sacred Man has to enter. It has a sprinkler system.229 views
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My bowl of matcha green tea. After we consumed the tea, we just left. The shrines also has many other buildings, but it was too crowded for me to see them all this day. I was too tired walk around more.228 views
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Inuyama Castle227 viewsNational Treasure
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Zig-zag to the shrine227 views
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Kiyosu Castle tower and rock garden. 300 yen admission for the castle tower. Open 9 am to 4:30 pm. Closed Mon. (open if a national holiday).227 views
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Road to Inuyama Castle225 views
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Honen Matsuri Festival banner depicting Hime-no-miya225 views
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The inner path to the shrine gets more crowded.224 views
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「姫石」（陰石）223 views
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Kiyosu Castle223 views
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Oku-no-miya Shrine. Look carefully and you can see what's inside. 奥宮222 views
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Phallic rock. There are several phallic rocks donated by various people. Apparently they are either natural or carved.222 views
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400-meter long bridge to Takeshima island near JR Gamagori Station. The island is made of granite. Circumference is 680 meters. There's a walking path around the island.220 views
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As you walk toward the castle entrance, you see this Sotobori outer moat.218 views
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Monkeys215 views
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Inuyama Castle214 views
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This photo was taken in 2006, showing an empty lot where the Hommaru Goten Palace is being reconstructed now.214 views
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They are waiting for the Sacred Man.214 views
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All the men look in the direction of the Sacred Man.214 views
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Votice tablet with illustration of the Honen Festival.214 views
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More giant mochi offered to the shrine. Notice the forklift. 大鏡餅奉納213 views
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213 views
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Giant mochi inside the Haiden hall. 大鏡餅奉納212 views
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Place to rub the sacred balls. 珍宝窟212 views
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Castle tower entrance210 views
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Southeast corner turret (Important Cultural Property). Also called the Tatsumi Yagura turret. It has bay windows to drop stones. 辰巳櫓 東南隅櫓210 views
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Haiden Hall where the men offer their long poles. 拝殿209 views
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Road to Ooagata (Oagata) Shrine, famous for worshipping a rock shaped like the female sexual organ. It also holds the Honen Matsuri for a good harvest and fertility on the Sunday before March 15. 大県神社209 viewsThe shrine is the female counterpart to Tagata Shrine which worships the phallus in neighboring Komaki. The shrine is also noted for weeping plum blossoms.
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There it is. The female rock. 女性器をかたどった石208 views
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The men are shouting "Kami-o Kami-o" (another way of pronouncing the kanji for Kami-otoko). 神男207 views
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JR Kiyosu Station platform. Note that only the local (kaku-eki) trains stop at Kiyosu Station. The kaisoku express trains don't stop at Kiyosu.206 views
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205 views
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Rub the two balls.204 views
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203 views
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Picture taken in 2006. 天守閣201 views
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My bicycle somewhere in Gamagori.200 views
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Men with buckets come for a refill.200 views
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