In the Mizushima area of Kurashiki City, the 22nd Mizushima Hina Meguri will be held from February 22 to March 9, 2025, transforming the entire Mizushima area into a display of hina dolls.
In conjunction with the Mizushima Hina Meguri, during the same period, the Mizushima Rinkai Railway will operate a hina train featuring handmade hina dolls created by local kindergarten children, with four round trips daily.
I attended the departure ceremony of the hina train, where the children’s handmade hina dolls welcomed us, and visited three locations nearby displaying hina dolls.
What is the Hina Train?
This year (2025) marks the 22nd Mizushima Hina Meguri.
As part of the event, the Mizushima Rinkai Railway will operate trains decorated with handmade hina dolls created by children from the 5th Fukuda Certified Children's Garden.
The Hina Train was originally a project started in 2012 by the Mizushima Okami-san Association, which organizes the Mizushima Hina Meguri, in collaboration with the Mizushima Rinkai Railway to promote the local area.
It is held so that people can enjoy hina dolls while traveling by train.
Hina Train Departure Ceremony
On February 22, 2025 (Saturday) at 11:07 AM, the Hina Train departure ceremony was held before the operation of the Hina Train departing from Mizushima Station on the Mizushima Rinkai Railway.
During the ceremony, there was a performance by the Mizushima Elementary School Mizusui Club at the entrance of Mizushima Station, along with a drum performance by the children of the 5th Fukuda Certified Children's Garden.
Despite having a small number of members, the Mizusui Club practiced hard for this day’s performance and approached the event with determination.
To support the children, several adults also joined in the performance.
Although I think they were nervous performing in front of a large audience, it was clear they were doing their best.
In fact, just before the performance began, it was snowing heavily, and it was a very cold day, but before we knew it, the weather cleared up. Perhaps it was the power of the children's performance.
After the performance, there was a drum performance by the children of the 5th Fukuda Certified Children's Garden.
Each child held a drum and, surprisingly, instead of playing the same rhythm, they divided into small groups and performed in a call-and-response style.
Watching the children closely follow the conductor while performing was adorable, and it made me wonder how much they had practiced up to this point, evoking a feeling of wanting to cheer them on with "Do your best!"
After the children's performance, we moved to the second-floor station platform.
Before the train's departure time, the atmosphere was lifted again with a fanfare and song performed by the children.
Just before the train's departure time, a kuzudama was broken, and with the signal of "Departure!", the hina train started moving, and everyone waved it off.
The train decorated with hina dolls will operate four round trips daily during the Hina Matsuri period.
Let’s take the Mizushima Rinkai Railway! 1: Mizushima Children's Center
I will introduce three locations within the Mizushima area that are within walking distance from the station, where hina dolls are displayed.
The first is the Mizushima Children's Center, located near Sakae Station. At the Mizushima Children's Center, handmade hina dolls by the children of Seiwa Nursery School and a seven-tiered hina doll display are exhibited.
The handmade hina dolls included those displayed on tables and those hung on walls.
The tables and walls were filled with hina dolls, creating a very vibrant space.
Let’s take the Mizushima Rinkai Railway! 2: Mizushima Community Center
The second location is the Mizushima Community Center, which is next to the Mizushima Children's Center mentioned earlier.
At the Mizushima Community Center, handmade hina dolls by the children of the 4th Fukuda Kindergarten and a seven-tiered hina doll display, along with handmade works by community center groups are exhibited.
The handmade hina dolls by the children of the 4th Fukuda Kindergarten were characterized by slightly different decorations for each doll.
It is evident that not only the children but also the teachers' creativity is reflected in their work.
There were also hina dolls made from tatami edges and denim, which are local specialties of Kurashiki.
This was a work created by someone who took a course held at the Mizushima Community Center.
Let’s take the Mizushima Rinkai Railway! 3: Kurashiki City Environmental Exchange Square Mizushima Ai Ai Salon
The third location is the Kurashiki City Environmental Exchange Square Mizushima Ai Ai Salon, located in front of Mizushima Station.
Here, handmade hina dolls by the children of Kozakura Nursery School and a seven-tiered hina doll display are exhibited.
Four sets of seven-tiered hina dolls are on display.
On the opposite side, many handmade hina dolls made by kindergarten children welcome visitors.
You can imagine how hard the kindergarten children worked to make these hina dolls.
Conclusion
The Mizushima Hina Festival is characterized by the many handmade hina dolls created by local children.
While the colorful and luxurious hina dolls are nice, enjoying hina dolls made by local children is also delightful. It brings a warm feeling just to look at them.
The Mizushima Hina Festival also features a stamp rally. Of course, the three facilities introduced this time are also part of the stamp rally.
Why not take a ride on the Mizushima Rinkai Railway to Mizushima and enjoy the hina dolls made by the children?
Hina Train Departure Ceremony (Held on February 22, 2025) – Enjoy the Hina Festival in Mizushima Data
| Name | Hina Train Departure Ceremony (Held on February 22, 2025) – Enjoy the Hina Festival in Mizushima |
|---|---|
| Date | February 22, 2025 (Saturday) – March 9, 2025 (Sunday) |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free admission (Admission to the Regional Museum is free with the flyer) |
| Website | 22nd Kurashiki Hina Festival |
