Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
3 days ago
The Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
America’s First Game Warden Died Fighting for the Birds
3 days ago
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
4 days ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Embracing Kangiten of Torimi Shrine
AO Edited

Embracing Kangiten of Torimi Shrine

A rare public effigy of “the Embracing Kangiten,” the erotic Japanese equivalent of Hindu god Ganesha.

Shiroi, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Just a couple of elephant-gods tangling their trunks together.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Just a couple of elephant-gods tangling their trunks together.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Kangiten, the dual deity of success, prosperity and pleasure.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
One of the few public displays of the “Embracing Kangiten” effigy.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Nothing to see here…or so you think.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Kangiten is a strange deity. The Japanese Buddhist equivalent of Hindu god Ganesha, he also takes the form of an elephant-headed deity, but in twofold, in an act of embrace.

Traditionally, the deity is feared and respected as a remover of obstacles and bringer of success. His effigy (if any), however, is always enshrined in the temple treasury never to be shown to worshippers. This is believed to be due to the sensual depiction of the embracing deities, and the name meaning "pleasure-deity" doesn't quite help.

At Torimi Shrine in the town of Shiroi, however, there is a stone effigy of the embracing Kangiten on public display. Erected in 1771, this statue once belonged to Sairin-ji Temple in the same town, which is located two miles away from the shrine today. Now free of the temple and its religious restrictions, you can finally come face to face with the mysterious, erotic god Kangiten. 

Related Tags

Temples Erotic Gods Buddhism Shrines
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

June 21, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Embracing Kangiten of Torimi Shrine
Shiroi, 270-1405
Japan
35.80355, 140.03438
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Ubayama Shell Mound

Ichikawa, Japan

miles away

Lake Imba Monster

Yachiyo, Japan

miles away

Tobinodai Shell Midden

Funabashi, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Ubayama Shell Mound

Ichikawa, Japan

miles away

Lake Imba Monster

Yachiyo, Japan

miles away

Tobinodai Shell Midden

Funabashi, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Related Places

  • Prince Morinaga’s Dungeon.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Prince Morinaga's Dungeon

    The alleged site of the months-long imprisonment of a Japanese prince.

  • Kobe, Japan

    Myoken-ji

    A relatively young Buddhist temple on hilltop, dedicated to a statue relocated from Mount Atago.

  • Kamakura, Japan

    Hansobo Shrine

    A mountaintop shrine-temple guarded by a horde of half-demon priests.

  • Dendengu

    Kyoto, Japan

    Denden-gu

    A small shrine dedicated to a god of lightning and electronics.

  • Gumi, South Korea

    Dorisa Temple

    Known as the birthplace of Korean Buddhism, this temple features an ancient, five-story stone pagoda.

  • Valle de Bravo, Mexico

    Gran Stupa Bön Para la Paz Mundial

    One of the oldest and largest Buddhist structures in the Americas, located in a peaceful forest outside Mexico City.

  • A sztúpa légi felvételen

    Zalaszántó, Hungary

    Zalaszántó Stupa

    One of the biggest Buddhist stupas in Europe, hidden from most locals.

  • The stone rabbit guarding the shrine.

    Saitama, Japan

    Tsuki Shrine

    A unique Shinto shrine filled with bunnies and wordplay.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.