The Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour features displays of hina dolls at facilities, shops, galleries, ryokan, and other venues throughout Kurashiki City. It is a popular event that brings a feeling of spring.
As plum blossoms began to open and spring drew near, we visited some of the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour venues with model Alice.
Here is our report on the tour, which offered a chance to enjoy Kurashiki looking more festive than usual.
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in March 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour: Event Overview
The Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour features displays of hina dolls at facilities, shops, galleries, ryokan, and other venues throughout Kurashiki City. The event was held for the 16th time in 2019.
In 2019, around 2,000 sets of hina dolls from various eras and in a range of styles were displayed at approximately 350 locations, offering visitors a chance to see a wide variety of hina dolls.
Some restaurants also offer special menus for the Hina Festival, in addition to the displays.
Dates and Locations
In 2019, the event was held from Saturday, February 23, to Sunday, March 10. Opening hours vary by venue.
The event is held in the following four areas:
- Kurashiki area
- Tamashima area
- Mizushima area
- Kojima area
Displays are held at dozens of locations in each area, so if you want to see them in detail, we recommend getting a brochure with a map.
Brochures are available at tourist information centers and other locations.
The 2019 map of the Kurashiki area is shown below. Hina displays can be seen across a wide area, from the station to the Bikan Historical Area.
A stamp rally is also held, with prizes awarded by lottery to participants who collect stamps from two or more areas. If you plan to visit several areas, pick up a stamp rally card.
Hina festival events are also held during the tour
Several events related to the Hina Festival are held during the tour.
In 2019, for example, the following events were held:
- Free amazake offered by the Kurashiki Okami-san Association
- Hina tea ceremony
- Make-your-own shell hina doll workshop
- Hina-themed train service
- Hina procession by kindergarten and nursery school children
Highlights of the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour
The top highlight in the Kurashiki area: Shinkei-en Garden
At “Shinkei-en Garden,” a traditional Japanese-style building next to the Ohara Museum of Art, around 30 sets of hina dolls are gathered in one place.
The sight of the colorful hina dolls lined up in the spacious 56-tatami-mat hall is spectacular!
Enjoy a variety of hina dolls, from large tiered displays to small ones made using shells.
You can also see many “goten” displays, in which imperial dolls are arranged inside a miniature palace. This style apparently became popular in western Japan during the Meiji and Taisho periods.
In fact, “dairi-bina” refers to a pair consisting of a male and female hina doll. Calling only the male doll “Odairi-sama” is a misconception that spread through a children’s song.
The positions of the male and female dolls also vary depending on the era and region.
Shinkei-en Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lots of hina dolls at Achi Shrine, too
A wide variety of large and small hina dolls are also on display at Achi Shrine, one of Kurashiki’s oldest sites.
There weren’t many people, so we were able to take our time looking at them.
Small hina dolls were lined up in a row beside the stairs. When we spotted them, we exclaimed, “How cute!”
The venue is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Achi Shrine is located on a hill, so be sure to enjoy the view from the shrine, too.
Visit a variety of facilities and shops
Hina dolls can be seen at around 350 locations during the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour. It’s difficult to visit them all, but even a quick stop at a place that catches your eye can introduce you to dolls with distinctive styles.
Here are a few of the hina displays in the Kurashiki area.
The hina dolls at Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan were displayed inside boxes. It’s a clever way to display many dolls while saving space.
At “FLAT Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area,” hina dolls were made using tatami edging. In addition to the display, they also sold small items made from tatami edging with hina doll designs.
At Ryori Ryokan Tsurugata, a tiered display of hina dolls welcomes visitors. It has a wonderfully dignified feel.
The clay hina dolls from 1965 on display inside Teuchi Udon Onishi have faces like those of cute mascots. Their cozy charm is enhanced by the warmth of the clay.
At the entrance to Jochikudo is a small but lavish hina doll display. It is said to date from the late 1950s.
At Ohashi House, hina dolls from the late Edo period and the Meiji era are on display. You can also see these outside the event period, but admission is required.
You can also come across several hina doll displays in the shopping arcade that runs from JR Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Area.
The shop window of Tanaka Clothing Store features origami hina dolls. I was amazed by their intricate detail.
Mitsuhata Tableware has a large selection of ceramic and glass hina dolls from across Japan on display and for sale. There were washi paper dolls sitting side by side, rabbit imperial hina dolls, and dolls made in the style of matryoshka.
It’s also nice that you can find a favorite, buy it, and take it home.
Explore Other Areas, Too
Each area has its own distinctive features: in Mizushima, works by kindergarten children are displayed, while in Kojima, you can see hina dolls dressed in school uniforms.
Take a little time to explore further.
About the Hina Festival
What kind of event is the Hina Festival?
The Origins of the Hina Festival
The Hina Festival’s formal name is “Joshi no Sekku,” and it was introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period.
What began as a ritual of floating sake cups down a river to ward off misfortune is said to have eventually changed into a custom of placing dolls in boats and sending them down the river as stand-ins for people.
During the Edo period, the Hina Festival became an occasion to pray for the healthy growth of girls. Instead of sending dolls down the river, people began displaying a pair of dolls—a man and a woman—and the custom continues to this day.
Does Leaving Hina Dolls Out Delay Marriage?
Have you ever heard the belief that leaving hina dolls out too long will delay marriage? Achi Shrine has an explanation.
Apparently, this is a popular belief that originated in the early Showa period.
The Hina Festival according to the old lunar calendar falls around mid-April. If the dolls aren’t put away soon, the rainy season will be approaching. It seems the belief was created to encourage people to put them away before mold grows on the dolls and their silk accessories.
It also seems to be a way of teaching children to put things away properly at the change of the season.
From the Writer
Hina dolls have been displayed in the hope that children will grow up healthy and happy.
Most of the dolls on display are ones that families have treasured over the years. They convey not only celebration and splendor, but also gentle affection.
As I looked at each doll’s face, I was deeply moved by the feelings people have put into hina dolls over the years.
As I visited the various hina doll displays, I also made discoveries like, “I didn’t know this place was here,” and “I’ve always walked past this shop, but it looks interesting.”
The hina dolls introduced in this article are just a small selection.
Why not take a stroll around Kurashiki in spring while admiring the hina dolls?
- Model: Alice (Instagram)
Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour Information
| Name | Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 23–March 10, 2019 *Event dates and opening hours vary by venue |
| Location | Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area and other locations |
| Admission (tax included) | Admission is generally free. Some venues charge an admission fee |
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