From February 22, 2025 (Saturday), the 22nd Kurashiki Hina Meguri has started in five districts of Kurashiki City (Kurashiki, Tamashima, Kojima, Mabi Funao, Mizushima). It warms the heart to see various hina dolls, from traditional hina dolls to creative hina made by children, adorning various places in the city.
The Kurashiki Hina Meguri marks its 22nd year in 2025, but the Kojima district's Kojima Hina Meguri started a bit earlier, making this year the 26th event.
The traditional Kojima district Hina Meguri is not just about viewing hina dolls. I was told that there are events where you can enjoy the Hina Meguri with your five senses, so I was taken to Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, by someone from the Kojima district.
What is Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado?
Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, is a detached residence of the nationally designated important cultural property Nozaki's Historical Residence. Built in 1896 (Meiji 29), it was mainly used as a place for entertaining and accommodating government officials and meetings.
In 2000 (Heisei 12), it was designated as a tangible cultural property by the national government, and it is currently used as a place to enjoy Japanese traditional culture, such as the "Hina Alumni Association" and Noh theater.
The hall has no pillars inside, and when the sliding doors are removed, it is filled with 100 tatami mats, creating a very spacious feeling.
What is the Hina Alumni Association?
The Hina Alumni Association is an event that started four years earlier than the Kurashiki Hina Meguri and will celebrate its 26th year in 2025.
At Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, hina dolls donated by local residents are displayed throughout the hall every year. This year, about 150 local residents, including students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School and Okayama Prefectural Shonan High School Kotoura Support School, decorated 30 sets of hina displays.
On weekdays, the main focus is on viewing the hina dolls, but on weekends, there are sales of hina Matsuri-like foods such as bara-zushi and amazake, as well as the "Hina Alumni Association tea ceremony" in the tea room.
I visited the Hina Alumni Association tea ceremony
I visited Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, on March 1, 2025 (Saturday), when the Hina Alumni Association tea ceremony was held. Since a tea ceremony was prepared, I saw a few guests in kimono. I attended in a semi-formal outfit with a dress and white socks.
The Hina Alumni Association tea ceremony and merchandise corner are only held on weekends.
A merchandise corner typical of Hina Matsuri
Near the entrance of Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, a merchandise corner was set up by the Kojima Chamber of Commerce Women's Association and the Kojima Okami Association.
A variety of hina Matsuri-like foods, including salt products related to Nozaki's Historical Residence, cute handmade hina dolls, ohagi, and bara-zushi are lined up.
Here, I got a ticket for entry to Nozaki's Historical Residence, Taikado, which includes a tea ticket, and proceeded inside.
A tea ceremony celebrating the arrival of spring
Upon entering the venue, I was first guided to the waiting area for the tea ceremony.
The hanging scrolls displayed in the waiting area and tea room are all owned by Nozaki's Historical Residence. It is said that there are over 1,500 hanging scrolls in Nozaki's Historical Residence, and those suitable for the spring season are displayed.
Inside the venue, instead of sitting directly on the floor, chairs are provided, so those who are not comfortable sitting on the floor can sit comfortably.
Once everyone is seated, sweets were distributed.
The sweets were from Shotoen in Tamashima. The drums of the five musicians are represented in yokan (sweet bean jelly) and nerikiri (sweet rice cake).
The cute sweets elicited exclamations of "cute" from all around the venue.
When cutting sweets with a black knife, you find that they are filled with plenty of yokan (sweet bean jelly), and the elegant sweetness makes your heart dance.
Even the children who did not purchase tickets were given cute sweets. Participation with children seems to be welcomed.
While savoring the delicious sweets, the host and the shokyaku (the representative of the guests) discussed the tools used that day and their feelings about the hanging scrolls, and then warm matcha was served.
The matcha has a slight bitterness, but since I had just enjoyed the sweet Japanese sweets, it creates a perfect umami in my mouth. The pastel-colored matcha bowls, fitting for the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), make the venue feel bright and warm.
After the tea ceremony, we got to see the tools that were used.
So this is what the tools that the host and shokyaku were discussing looked like... I gaze at them as I leave the room.
As I exited the tea room, I suddenly felt a chill. Since the Nozaki Family's Detached Residence, Kaikando, including the tea room, is wooden, kerosene heaters cannot be used. However, I realized that the tea room felt warm due to the heat of the participants and the steam from boiling water.
Viewing the Hina Alumni Gathering
After warming up in the Hina Alumni Gathering tea ceremony, we will view the hina dolls displayed at the Nozaki Family's Detached Residence, Kaikando.
In the 100-tatami mat large hall, 40 sets of hina dolls are displayed. These hina dolls were donated by local residents centered around Kojima to the Nozaki Family's former residence.
From kimekomi dolls made by pushing kimono fabric into the grooves of the body to the luxurious and splendid goten-bina (palace dolls) that were popular in the 1950s, a wide range of items from the Taisho era to the Heisei era are gathered, allowing a glimpse into the trends and techniques of the time.
The donors also come to enjoy seeing their hina dolls displayed at the Hina Alumni Gathering once a year.
Additionally, cute handmade hina dolls made by children, locally handmade hanging hina dolls, and flower arrangements also decorate the venue.
At Nozaki's Historical Residence, the interior of the building is adorned with hina dolls in every direction, creating a stunning sight.
Transform into a female hina doll and take a photo
The hina reunion is not just about displaying rows of hina dolls.
In the venue, real uchikake (traditional kimono) are available, allowing you to wear one and take photos in front of the hina dolls.
The Kojima Okami Association members will kindly teach you how to wear the uchikake.
Since it was a special occasion, I also tried wearing the uchikake.
It felt heavy, and I was filled with the sensation of being dressed in a luxurious uchikake adorned with cranes. I had a valuable experience being able to wear a rare uchikake that is only seen on special occasions like weddings.
Join the "Hina Reunion Tea Ceremony" and enjoy the hina festival with all five senses
See the hina dolls and sweets, hear the sound of tea being prepared, taste the sweets and tea, feel the uchikake, and enjoy the fragrance of flowers... The "Hina Reunion" at Nozaki's Historical Residence allows you to enjoy the hina festival with all five senses until March 9, 2025 (Sunday).
On weekdays, you can view the hina dolls in the hall and wear the uchikake. Additionally, on the weekend of March 8 (Saturday) and 9 (Sunday), you can experience the last hina reunion tea ceremony of the year. It seems that the sweets and tea will be different each day, so why not visit multiple times to enjoy various sweets while exploring the Kojima hina tour?
Hina Reunion Data
| Name | Hina Reunion |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 22, 2025 (Saturday) to March 9, 2025 (Sunday) |
| Location | 1-8-34 Ajino, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Admission fee and tea ticket: 1,000 yen |
| Website | 22nd Kurashiki Hina Tour |
