Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour is an event where various hina dolls are displayed at facilities, shops, and galleries throughout Kurashiki City.
It has been held since 2004, with displays in the following areas of Kurashiki City:
- Kurashiki
- Kojima
- Tamashima
- Mizushima
- Mabi and Funao
This is my first time taking part in the Hina Doll Tour. I heard that unusual hina dolls made using bamboo would be on display, so I headed to a venue in Mabi.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in March 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is the Mabi-Funao Hina Doll Tour?
The Mabi-Funao Hina Doll Tour is held from February 22 to March 9, 2025.
Under the theme “A town of bamboo and a sweet pea village connected by hina dolls,” hina dolls are displayed at four venues in total: two in Mabi and two in Funao.
In Mabi, the area I visited this time, the venues are Marvy Fureai Center and Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence.
Marvy Fureai Center
My first stop was Marvy Fureai Center.
About Marvy Fureai Center
Marvy Fureai Center is the largest public facility in Mabi. It has two halls, one large and one small, as well as exhibition rooms and meeting rooms, and hosts a variety of events.
The exterior of the building is said to be modeled on the “Kentoshi ship” that Kibi no Makibi, who had ties to Mabi, boarded when he traveled to Tang China.
Marvy Fureai Center was damaged in the July 2018 torrential rains. The first floor was submerged, but after restoration work, it reopened in June 2021.
The Hina Doll Tour displays resumed in 2023, five years after the July 2018 torrential rains.
Displays at Marvy Fureai Center
As I entered the venue, hina dolls lined the lobby, as if welcoming visitors.
What particularly catches the eye is “Takebina,” a bamboo hina doll made by local bamboo craft artist Saki Sanagi.
After the hina dolls she had made previously were submerged in the July 2018 torrential rains, she reportedly spent about a year creating a new set as their successors. All the accessories and decorations are also made of bamboo, and I found myself absorbed in the intricate work.
The Takebina embody hopes for the recovery of Mabi, known as a town of bamboo.
There were also hina decorations made by children at nursery schools in Mabi.
Each one has a different expression, and the display is full of unique creations.
Imagining how hard they worked to make them, I couldn't help but smile.
Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence
Next, I visited Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence in the Okada area of Mabi.
About Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence
Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence is the house where the writer Yokomizo Seishi lived with his family during his evacuation more than 70 years ago. The building has been preserved in its original condition.
While living here during his evacuation, he published the Kindaichi series of novels featuring Kindaichi Kosuke. Mabi has a walking route named “Kindaichi Kosuke's Path,” after the novels. It passes points of interest around the residence, starting at Kiyone Station and ending at Kawabejuku Station.
Along the way, six character statues depicting people from the Kindaichi Kosuke series stand, offering a chance to enjoy the world of Kindaichi Kosuke.
Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence became a venue for the Mabi-Funao Hina Doll Tour in 2021.
During the period when Marvy Fureai Center, a regular venue, could not be used because of the July 2018 torrential rains, many people from both inside and outside the area reportedly called for the event to be held.
Wanting to somehow bring it back, local volunteers decided to hold the event again at Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence.
Displays at Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence
When I entered, I found many hina dolls displayed inside the house.
Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence also has hina decorations made of bamboo, called “Takefune-bina.”
The hina dolls displayed on bamboo are just like Princess Kaguya. They have a charm unlike the hina dolls you usually see.
There are also suspended hina decorations inside, adding color to the rooms.
These are called “tsurushi-bina,” and are reportedly made by hand by local residents.
Tsurushi-bina are believed to have originated in the Edo period, when hina decorations were expensive and only the wealthy could afford them. They reportedly began as a way for people who could not buy hina decorations to make something to display while wishing for their children's happiness.
Tsurushi-bina come in many shapes, including animals, flowers, clothing, and vegetables. Some decorations are shaped like bamboo shoots, a Mabi specialty.
Each decoration is said to have a different meaning. The bamboo shoot represents the wish that a child will “stay on the straight path and live an honest life.”
Peach hanging decorations are also beautifully arranged under the eaves.
Since both the leaves and seeds of peaches have medicinal properties, the peach hanging decorations are said to embody the wish, “May they ward off evil spirits and grant long life.”
Even during the Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour, the display featuring the silhouette of Kindaichi Kosuke remains in place, letting visitors enjoy the hina dolls alongside the atmosphere of the novel.
As we were leaving, amazake was served, and we left the venue feeling warm inside.
From the Writer
At the Mabi Funao Hina Doll Tour, visitors could see hina displays unique to Mabi, including bamboo hina dolls and hanging hina ornaments. We don’t often get the chance to take a close look at hina dolls, but at a hina doll tour, you can see many of them up close all at once.
Look closely, and you’ll notice that each hina doll has a different outfit and expression, showcasing the delicate skill of its maker.
Be sure to visit the venue and look for your favorite hina doll.
17th Mabi Funao Hina Doll Tour Information
| Name | 17th Mabi Funao Hina Doll Tour |
|---|---|
| Dates | Marby Fureai Center: February 22 (Sat)–March 7 (Fri), 2025 Yokomizo Seishi's Wartime Residence: February 22 (Sat)–March 9 (Sun), 2025 |
| Location | Marby Fureai Center |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | 22nd Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour: Mabi Funao Area |
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