Kojima Hina Doll Tour is an event to visit hina dolls, centered around “Former Nozaki's Historical Residence Annex, Taikado” and “Nozaki's Historical Residence.”
The writer had known about the event being held in previous years, but had never been able to attend.
With her daughter about to start junior high school next year, the writer took part to pray for her daughter's healthy growth and make memories, and would like to share the experience.
The information presented here is as of the article's publication in March 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Kojima Hina Doll Tour
The Kojima Hina Doll Tour is an event to visit hina dolls at the central venue, around the Former Nozaki's Historical Residence Annex, Taikado, as well as in five areas (A–E).
In addition to the main areas, visitors can see many hina dolls at places such as Setouchi Kojima Hotel and Shimoden buses.
Along with the hina doll tour, there are also displays, including a bamboo monument by Sogetsu School's Toshie Odaka, and hands-on activities such as making hina dolls.
This article focuses on the venues the writer visited.
Enjoy sightseeing in Kojima along with the hina doll tour!
The hina dolls on display range from those dating back to the Edo period to modern examples, vary in size, and feature a wide variety of designs, from traditional to unusual.
The writer cannot introduce every hina doll encountered, but hopes readers will enjoy the atmosphere of the hina doll tour and sightseeing in Kojima, even through the photographs.
Nozaki's Historical Residence
Also famous as a tourist destination, Nozaki's Historical Residence is the home of Buzaemon Nozaki, who made his fortune in the salt-making industry.
It displays “Kyoho hina” dolls, bestowed by the lord of the Okayama Domain, and valuable furnishings dating back to the Edo period.
After passing through the nagaya-mon gate, visitors are greeted on the right by five storehouses that evoke the prosperity of the Nozaki family, along with a large bamboo sculpture.
Following the route from here and turning left leads to the Omote Shoin.
The Omote Shoin displays two types of works: hina dolls and illustrations of standing hina dolls.
The first is a set of Kokin hina dolls made by Heizo Oki, created in 1890.
Heizo Oki is the hereditary name of the Maruhei Oki doll shop in Kyoto.
He was a doll maker who won a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition and an award of merit at the 3rd National Industrial Exhibition the following year.
The second display consists of three hanging illustrations.
▼From left to right, they are Cherry Blossoms, Standing Hina Dolls, and Peach and Willow, paintings by Mitsutake Tosa prepared for the first Hinamatsuri of Yuki, daughter of Bukichiro Nozaki.
The first Hinamatsuri was marked with three illustrations rather than hina dolls, a fresh approach that feels surprisingly modern for the Meiji period.
▼Next are the hina dolls displayed in the Middle Reception Room.
Here, in addition to the hina dolls, the depth of the Middle Reception Room is striking, and the space is so lavish it makes you smile.
▼This is an exhibition space in one of the storehouses mentioned earlier.
At the back are the Kyoho hina dolls bestowed on the Nozaki family by the Ikeda family, lords of the Okayama Domain, in 1872.
The description says, “When you look up at their faces from below, they appear to be smiling.”
▼What do you think? They certainly do seem to be smiling. They also have quite a presence, perhaps because of their size.
▼The Meiji Emperor hina dolls were also made in 1890 by Heizo Oki. They are associated with Sotaro Tokunaga, who served as a head clerk in the Nozaki household.
These hina dolls depict Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken wearing formal court dress and seated in chairs.
The writer had never seen hina dolls seated in chairs before.
The finely crafted furnishings displayed around them, including shogi and gomoku boards and sewing tools, are also wonderful.
The colorful furnishings are striking, with their combs, scissors, fabrics, and other details showing meticulous craftsmanship.
▼At Nozaki's Historical Residence, it is also recommended to stroll through the karesansui garden, created in the late Edo period.
Be sure to take your time exploring, resting at places such as the waiting pavilion in the garden.
The lush green moss, especially, is captivating, having been so carefully tended.
Former Nozaki's Historical Residence Annex, Taikado
Taika in the name Taikado means “to seize leisure” or “to enjoy leisure.”
It was built by Bukichiro Nozaki in 1896 as a place for entertaining guests, lodging, and gatherings.
In February 2000, it was registered as a nationally designated cultural property building.
Even for the writer, “the Kojima Hina Doll Tour means Taikado.”
The many hina dolls gathered in the grand hall with 100 tatami mats are simply breathtaking.
At the far end, an outfit that Kurashiki Mayor Ito was scheduled to wear at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Kojima Hina Doll Tour is also on display.
▼This is the outfit Kurashiki Mayor Ito was scheduled to wear.
It is made from a silk-blend denim kimono and a “Kojima obi” combining three types of materials (tatami edging, denim, and Sanada cord).
Unfortunately, the opening ceremony was canceled due to the spread of COVID-19.
The writer can only hope that everyday life, in which events like this can be held as a matter of course, will return as soon as possible.
▼On both sides of the entrance to Taikado hang colorful tsurushi hina.
In the past, ordinary families who were not wealthy could not afford hina dolls because they were expensive.
So, people would each make a small doll and bring them together to create hanging hina dolls.
Each doll is colorful, and all sorts of things that children would enjoy are hung alongside them.
Even adults won’t get tired of looking at them.
Please note that you need an admission ticket to Nozaki's Historical Residence to enter Taikado.
Rather than heading straight to Taikado, first stop by Nozaki's Historical Residence.
Ajino Shopping Street “Kojima Jeans Street”: Kojima Station Front Area to Area A
In Area A, we visited Kojima Civic Exchange Center.
We toured the 7th Industrial Hina Doll Exhibition by local schools and businesses in the exhibition space, and the 9th Kojima Kids’ Kindergarten Art Exhibition on the second floor.
▼Hina dolls in the first-floor exhibition space.
The hina doll made from denim fabric on the floor catches the eye. It’s well worth seeing.
▼No explanation needed. These are distinctive hina dolls.
▼These are such masculine, distinctive hina dolls that you might not realize they are hina dolls at first glance.
The three male dolls sitting on a concrete pipe are also an original touch, and made me laugh.
▼Going up to the second floor, I found another lovely hina doll in a corner of the kindergarten art exhibition.
Seeing them as a parent simply fills you with happiness.
When you visit Kojima Civic Exchange Center, be sure to look at the ceiling paintings, too.
▼The paintings depict people associated with the theme of “under the bridge,” including medieval shrine maidens, dancing women, and carpenters. They offer a valuable glimpse into the occupations of people at the time.
Jeans Museum Area to Area B
In Area B, we went to Betty Smith Jeans Museum, aiming for the large Betty Jeans hina doll at the entrance.
For some reason, I had assumed hina dolls would be small and cute displays, so I only found it after making a full circuit.
Shimotsui and Washuzan Hill Area to Area C
In Area C, we viewed hina dolls made by residents of the Shimotsui area, displayed at the Shimotsui Shipping Agent Museum.
You can take your time viewing these homely hina dolls, which blend into the building of a shipping agency from the Meiji period.
Karako and Tatami-Edge Area to Area D
In Area D, we viewed hina dolls made from tatami edging and Sanada cords at FLAT Kojima Main Store.
At first glance, the kimono is so finely made that it’s hard to believe it was made from tatami edging.
It reminded me once again that this is a company that is expanding the possibilities of tatami edging and taking on new challenges.
▼These are beautiful junihitoe robes that you would never guess were made from tatami edging.
Canvas Area (Sohara, Kurashiki City) to Area E
In the final area, Area E, we viewed hina dolls made from canvas at Kurashiki Canvas Main Store.
We were told that they had commissioned Tokunaga Koinobori, based in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, to make them.
The kimono are made by dyeing each individual thread used to make the canvas.
In addition to the beauty of the pale blue and red kimono, I was amazed by the artisans’ skill in creating intricate patterns one stitch at a time!
The refined, gentle faces of the emperor and empress dolls are charming.
Kurashiki Canvas Main Store was also giving away Kurashiki Canvas coasters (limited quantity), and I received a cute one.
▼A cute hina doll is printed on the simple canvas. My daughter was delighted.
From the Writer
I enjoyed the Kojima Hina Doll Tour with my daughter in Kojima, my hometown.
It was an event in my hometown that I had been curious about for a long time.
Part of this was about wishing for my daughter’s growth and making memories, but I also wrote this because I wanted to introduce the Kojima area, even if only a little.
I don’t think you’ll be able to visit every venue, so I hope you’ll find a favorite among the photos I’ve shared and visit even one of them.
I imagined that behind each hina doll is a story of a parent and daughter, and a parent’s wish for their child to grow up healthy.
As I admired the many expressions and outfits of the hina dolls on display, I was able to enjoy the tour in a peaceful frame of mind.
With the course of the COVID-19 pandemic still uncertain, it’s difficult to say, “You should definitely go.”
However, this is a popular event that has been held 23 times so far.
I’d be happy if you felt like visiting when you can, perhaps next year (2023) or the year after (2024).
While you’re there, enjoy sightseeing in the Kojima area too.
When the writer visited, unfortunately some venues were closed (Kojima School Uniform Museum and Sankan Shuzo).
If you plan to go, we recommend contacting the relevant places in the area you’re interested in to check their opening status and other details in advance.
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