InsideJapan News Network

A temple in Japan recently held a festival attended by large numbers of young couples looking to have children.

Held in an effort to promote fertility, the festival took place at Iwasaki Kanzeon Temple in the city of Nikko and involved the giving of chicken eggs, reports Mainichi Daily News.

A requirement of the festival is that for every child borne by a couple, a minimum of double the number of eggs received must be given back in return.

"We want two or three kids," said a man, who attended the festival with his wife.

Seiichi Komaba, a representative from the temple, added: "We get some couples giving us a whole dozen eggs. We want to make a contribution to getting the birth rate skyrocketing."

Located in Tochigi Prefecture on the island of Honshu, the city of Nikko contains a number of landmarks which have been collectively designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.