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Kawasaki Images 11 images Created 16 May 2010

Kawasaki has long been an important city of trade as a stop on the Tokaido Road between Tokyo and Kyoto. Sandwiched between Tokyo and Yokohama, the place is ignored although there are attractions that make Kawasaki a unique trip, including Kanemara Shrine that holds one of Japan's wackiest fertility festivals, and the Keihin Industrial Zone with its hundreds of factories that have become something of a haunting post-industrial attraction.
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  • The Keihin region or keihin chiho refers to the industrial region of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki though most of it is clustered around Kawasaki along Tokyo Bay.  Keihin is one of the important industrial districts in Japan with huge factories lit up at night which appears as a kind of efficient artwork, almost, depending on your point of view.  In recent years, despite its pollution, it has become something of a tourist attraction in Japan.  In fact the city of Kawasaki is promoting it as such these days, with boat cruises and guided tours of the factories.
    keihin-industrial-6.jpg
  • Kanamara Matsuri or Festival of the Phallus is an annual Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki in spring. The penis forms the central theme of the event that is reflected everywhere: candy, carved vegetables, decorations, sake bottles and a parade. The Kanamara Matsuri is centered around a local penis venerating shrine once popular among prostitutes who wished to pray for protection against sexual problems and diseases.
    kanamara-shrine-3.jpg
  • The Keihin region or keihin chiho refers to the industrial region of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki though most of it is clustered around Kawasaki along Tokyo Bay.  Keihin is one of the important industrial districts in Japan with huge factories lit up at night which appears as a kind of efficient artwork, almost, depending on your point of view.  In recent years, despite its pollution, it has become something of a tourist attraction in Japan.  In fact the city of Kawasaki is promoting it as such these days, with boat cruises and guided tours of the factories.
    keihin-industrial-3.jpg
  • Industrial Air Pollution in Keihin - The Keihin Region or keihin chiho is the industrial region of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki. Most of it is along Tokyo Bay near Kawasaki.  Keihin is one of the important industrial districts in Japan with huge factories lit up at night which appears artistic, depending on your point of view. Despite the pollution, it has become a tourist attraction in Japan.  The city of Kawasaki is advertising it, rather than hiding it, with boat cruises and guided tours of the factories.
    air-pollution-2.jpg
  • Daishi Pagoda Kawasaki - Kawasaki Daishi is the common name for Heiken-ji. Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple belongs to the Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism and is well known for its power of Yakuyoke warding off evil.
    daishi-kawasaki.jpg
  • The Keihin region or keihin chiho refers to the industrial region of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki though most of it is clustered around Kawasaki along Tokyo Bay.  Keihin is one of the important industrial districts in Japan with huge factories lit up at night which appears as a kind of efficient artwork, almost, depending on your point of view.  In recent years, despite its pollution, it has become something of a tourist attraction in Japan.  In fact the city of Kawasaki is promoting it as such these days, with boat cruises and guided tours of the factories.
    keihin-industrial-2.jpg
  • Sakura or decorative cherry blossoms bloom each springtime in Japan, usually in early April. Not only are they beautiful, but they have significance to the Japanese as their bloom only lasts a few days and symbolize the temporariness of beauty or happiness.
    japanese-banners.jpg
  • The Festival of the Phallus or Kanamara Matsuri is a Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki at Kanamara Shrine. The phallus forms the central theme of the event that is reflected everywhere: decorations, candy, and even sake bottles.  The grand finale is a huge parade going through the streets with penis floats. The festival is centered around Kanamra shrine, once popular among prostitutes who wished to pray for protection against diseases and other sexual problems.
    kanamara-shrine-4.jpg
  • Yakushi Hall -The two-story building at Kawasaki's Daishi Temple looks like an Indian structure; on top of the central tower there is a Buddhist charm which is believed to drive away evil spirits.  The Temple has long been famous for its "yakuyoke" exorcisms. Exorcism rituals are performed seven times per day.  Rituals against cars accidents are the most popular, with occasional mass blessings of the entire parking lot.
    yakushi-daishi.jpg
  • Bon Odori or simply Bon dance is an event held during Obon.  The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle.  The dance of a region can depict the area's history and specialization.  All dancers perform the same dance sequence in unison.
    Awa-Odori.jpg
  • Furin Windchimes Festival, Kawasaki - The notoriously muggy summers in Japan have led to various ways to beat the heat.  Before the days of air conditioning, Japanese would hang up furin or windchimes.  It is thought that to hear them tinkle is cooling. . Originally from China, these pleasant bells have been a standard feature of summer since the Muromachi period.  associated with summer in Japan.  Kawasaki holds an annual Furin Festival every summer with windchimes from all over Japan on display and for sale.
    furin-festival-2.jpg