Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival) 裸祭り

On Lunar New Year, believers and thousands of men wearing loincloths gather at Owari Okunitama-jinja Shrine (Konomiya-jinja Shrine), in the normally quiet Aichi city of Inazawa, to pray for good luck.

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri is accessible by train.

From Kanayama Station in Nagoya , take the Meitetsu Line to Konomiya Station. From here it's less than ten minutes to Owari Okunitama-jinja Shrine (Konomiya-jinja Shrine), where the event is held.

Start the day by watching teams from all over the city wear no more protection from the winter chill than a loincloth and a few swigs of fortifying sake as they parade through the town.

Gather with the other spectators along the passage to Konomiya-jinja Shrine and cheer as the local groups demonstrate their strength and dexterity carrying large bamboo poles (called "naoi-zasa"), hurrying them into the shrine.

As the sun goes down, you may begin to feel the chill, but not nearly as much as those still wearing loincloths and being cannoned by buckets of icy water. But still they will be shouting their rallying cry as they await the appearance of the shin-otoko "god-man."

One man is chosen to be the shin-otoko, and for days leading up to the festival is kept in solitude and prayer. Finally, he's shaved from head to toe, and on the day of the festival he is sent out into the crowds wearing nothing at all. Upon his arrival, watch on as the thousands of semi-naked men strive to touch the shin-otoko to transfer their future misfortune on to him. Finally, the god-man will be pulled into the shrine building, as you and the thousands of other supporters cheer on the success.

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