What began as a small village tradition is now the largest penis festival in all of Japan. It should come as no surprise that in the penis popularity contest, size matters. As a result, thousands journey to Nagaoka to join in the celebration of the ancient Japanese custom known as Hodare.

 largest penis festival world japan hodare nagaoka

Every second week of March, a number of villages throughout Japan hold their own fertility festival. All of these include representations of giant penises. As spring is the time for growth and renewal, the festivals also incorporate trees and nature. In the Nagaoka festival, the center of attention is a 7-foot long carved wooden penis. Each year, local artisans chop down a cedar tree and carve the mighty member. This year’s penis weighs over 1,330 pounds.

 largest penis festival world japan hodare nagaoka

However, unlike other villages’ celebrations, Nagaoka believes a mounted penis is the best kind. As a result, all the women in the village who married in the previous 12 months straddle the massive member. Once atop the huge phallus, other villagers carry them through the streets. Additionally, the newly married women, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, wave to the cheering crowds. By sitting on the penis, tradition suggests that the women will have good luck and fertile relationships. While the communal tradition goes back to the 1600s, never before has Japan so desperately needed to increase its population.

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In addition to the good luck and blessings for the women riding the massive member, all villagers believe they can improve their fortunes by rubbing and stroking the world’s largest wooden penis. In recent years, however, the atmosphere of the celebration changed. With the addition of so many tourists, the Hodare festival now resembles a bachelorette or hen party on steroids. Penis-shaped items dominate the scene. They range from hats and ice cream cones to plastic noses and water guns. The food stalls even sell beef and octopus arranged to look like male genitalia. This festival is just one of the many folk celebrations, including log riding and sumo wrestlers making babies cry, that mark the Japanese calendar.

largest penis festival world japan hodare nagaoka

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Pammy Lin

Pammy Lin

I'm a travel writer based in Washington state. I'm on the road over 200 days every year and have visited over 70 countries.