March 3 is the Hina Festival, when dolls are displayed to wish for the healthy growth and happiness of girls.
The origins of the Hina Festival date back to the middle of the Heian period.
It is said to have developed from the combination of purification rituals held at the beginning of March to pray for good health, and “hiina-asobi,” a make-believe game popular among girls of the upper classes.
I went to the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour, when Kurashiki fills up with Hina dolls.
The information presented was current when this article was published in March 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “20th Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour”?
The “20th Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour” was held from February 25 to March 12, 2023, and visitors could enjoy the various Hina dolls displayed around town.
▼The event was held in the following five areas of Kurashiki City:
- Kurashiki
- Mabi
- Mizushima
- Kojima
- Tamashima
In addition to the areas listed above, highlights include Hina dolls unique to each area, such as dolls dressed in school uniforms in Kojima.
Special events were also held in several areas. For details, check the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour website.
I visited the Hina Doll Tour in the Kurashiki area
I visited the Kurashiki area.
With the flyer in hand, I made my way around, focusing on the Bikan Historical Area.
In the Kurashiki area, visitors can enjoy not only Hina doll displays but also dishes inspired by Hina dolls.
I visited on a weekend, so the area was bustling with many tourists.
Among the tourists, I saw many people visiting the “Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour,” including people walking with flyers in hand and taking photos of the Hina dolls.
Some venues required you to go inside to see the Hina dolls, but many seemed to have them displayed at the entrance.
Here are a few places that caught my eye.
Shinkei-en Garden
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shinkei-en Garden held its first display in two years, since 2021.
About 30 sets of Hina dolls are displayed in a 56-tatami-mat Japanese-style room.
Hina dolls of various styles, dating from the Meiji period to the present day, are gathered at the venue, offering a sense of the passage of history.
Shinkei-en Garden was built in 1893 as the villa of Ohara Koshiro, the first president of KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD. Today, it is also used as a place for residents to relax.
Enjoy the atmospheric Shinkei-en Garden along with the Hina dolls.
Hashimaya
Hashimaya is located a little way from the center of the Bikan Historical Area.
According to the shop staff, these Hina dolls, passed down since the Meiji period, are called “Genji-waku bina”.
The roof has been removed to make the interior easier to see, and women called “waki-onna” are placed on either side.
It is said that the name came about during the Edo period because the roofless display resembled the open-sided palanquins in the “Tale of Genji Picture Scrolls.”
“Genji-waku bina” are apparently rare, and this was the only place where I saw them among the Hina dolls I viewed in the Kurashiki area.
From the Writer
The Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour was held for the 20th time in 2023.
The Hina dolls on display were so beautiful that it was hard to believe they had been made many years ago, but according to the people who display them, they have been suffering increasingly severe damage over the years.
My family also has a seven-tier Hina doll display, and I think preserving it in such beautiful condition must be truly difficult.
Why not take this opportunity to see these Hina dolls, filled with history and the feelings of their owners?
20th Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour Information
| Name | 20th Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 25–March 12, 2023 |
| Location | Five areas of Kurashiki City |
| Website | 20th Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour |
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