Honen Matsuri

Honen Matsuri for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, March 15th. There are until the next observance.

Honen Matsuri is celebrated in Japan on March 15, and we’re here to teach you how to make the most of the occasion. Do you know that Honen Matsuri has been celebrated for 1,500 years? Honen Matsuri is a festival that celebrates fertility and harvest. The celebration includes phallus-shaped tableaux, phallus statues, and individuals costumed in phallus costumes to symbolise fertility. Couples pray and hope for a child, while farmers pray for a prosperous harvest year. As offerings, people make lollies, cakes, and confectioneries, and free sake is provided.

📆 When is Honen Matsuri?

This year, Honen Matsuri is on March 15th. It is the 3rd Wednesday in March; in 2024, it is on Friday.

→ Did you know: The shrine sits at the summit of Mount Komaki.

You can also see all exciting things you didn’t know about and facts about March 15, 2023.

📜 History of Honen Matsuri

Tagata Temple is located in the Komaki neighborhood to the north of Nagoya. The Honen Matsuri ceremonies begin at the Tagata temple. Religious priests sprinkle salt on the route to be utilized for the procession. The carriers then parade an 882-pound wooden phallus down the street. When it comes to customs, the Japanese are generally open-minded and accepting. Originally, the wooden phallus was connected to a warrior statue.

The parade is attended by men, women, and children of all ages. Couples that want to have children touch the phallus and expect to conceive in the near future. Farmers also participate in this parade, praying for fruitful land and a bountiful crop. Sake, a well-known Japanese alcoholic drink derived from rice, is given away for free to the public. The greatest thing is that there have been no reports of fighting, misbehavior, or violence, despite the fact that sake is abundantly supplied. Every year, millions of visitors from Europe, America, Australia, and other Asian nations go to this event to pray for fertility and good health. Honen Matsuri is celebrated in the spring, which makes the event even more appealing to travelers.

☑️ Honen Matsuri facts

✅ It was built by Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga planned and erected the shrine.

✅ It is a battle site
The shrine is situated on the site of the Battle of Nagakute in 1584.

✅ Samurai vs. Shōgun
Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, fought against the samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

✨ Things to do on Honen Matsuri

⚡ Visit Japan
If you have been thinking about visiting Japan, the Honen Matsuri festival might be the ideal moment. You may witness this lavish spectacle firsthand. Honen Matsuri takes place in the spring, which makes it even more wonderful because there are brilliant flowering flowers everywhere.

⚡ Make phallus-shaped statues and candies
During Honen Matsuri, don’t be bashful. The phallus is considered a sign of fertility, vitality, and good health among the Japanese. Make phallus-shaped sweets and statues to commemorate Honen Matsuri in the traditional Japanese manner.

⚡ Share it on social media
Inform everyone that you are enjoying this day. Create a blog entry or article about Honen Matsuri and share it on social media. You may also upload relevant images and videos.

📅 Honen Matsuri Observances

Explore all March holidays, including Appreciation and other Cultural holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Honen Matsuri. So be sure to check back soon.