The mornings and evenings are still chilly, but the days are gradually beginning to feel like spring.
In Tamashima, Kurashiki City, the Doll Festival is being held again this year (2026) to coincide with the Peach Festival, at the Old Yunoki House (Saiso-tei), known as “Saiso-tei.” Many charming hina dolls were displayed in the historic building, filling the interior with a bright, springlike atmosphere.
Here’s a look at the Doll Festival at Saiso-tei.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Doll Festival at Saiso-tei?
The “Doll Festival at Saiso-tei” is an annual event held at the Old Yunoki House (Saiso-tei) in Tamashima, Kurashiki City, to coincide with the Peach Festival. It was held from February 21 to March 8, 2026, as part of the 23rd Kurashiki Hina Doll Tour.
Saiso-tei is also known as the place where Kumada Ataka (Ataka Kumada) took his own life. He is celebrated as the “benefactor of Tamashima” for saving the area from the ravages of war at the end of the Edo period.
Usually, the residence has a dignified atmosphere reminiscent of a samurai home. During the “Doll Festival at Saiso-tei,” however, it was decorated with many hina dolls, filling the interior with a bright, gentle, springlike atmosphere.
Step through the Onarimon Gate into the world of the Doll Festival
Outside the residence stands an impressive gate called the Onarimon Gate.
It is usually kept closed because only people of high rank were allowed to pass through it, but during the event, visitors can enter through this gate and experience what it feels like to be a lord.
As you pass through the gate, the first thing you see is a magnificent display of hina dolls in a palace setting. The reception room is open to the outside, and the splendid dolls welcome visitors.
From the entrance, step up into the tatami room, where the platform by the doorway is crowded with charming decorations such as princess daruma dolls, temari balls, and beanbags. A hina doll tapestry is also on display, creating an atmosphere that seems to rejoice in the arrival of spring.
Many hina dolls line the tatami room, as if they were all celebrating the Peach Festival together. Visitors took their time admiring each doll and accessory.
A full lineup of nostalgic hina dolls
Inside the residence, hina dolls are lined up on tiered platforms covered with red felt.
The dolls on display this year are said to be mainly from the Showa era.
Among the many hina dolls, the palace-style display is especially eye-catching. Elegant dolls sit quietly inside the magnificent palace. The refined atmosphere makes it seem as though the sounds of the sho and hichiriki are about to fill the air.
Usually, the tokonoma alcove displays calligraphy and other works related to Kumada Ataka, but hina dolls are displayed here during the festival, too. The hanging scroll also depicts hina dolls.
This hanging scroll dates from the Taisho era. Its colors are subdued, yet the figures are full of movement, inviting you to imagine how they are connected to one another.
Enjoy a matcha experience in the tea room
After enjoying the hina dolls, you can also have matcha in the tea room.
It costs 500 yen and includes a sweet.
On the tray are a bowl of matcha, a sweet, and a tea whisk. You can try whisking the matcha yourself.
This “matcha experience” began in 2026.
It was first tried as part of an excursion during the “Japan Heritage Festival in Kurashiki” held in 2025, and was well received, so it was offered again at this year’s Doll Festival.
The sweets are Takasebune yokan and colorful, cute konpeito. As I savored the matcha I had whisked myself, I thought of the Takasebune boats that once traveled between Tamashima Port and the Takahashi River.
From the Writer
The “Doll Festival at Saiso-tei,” held in a historic residence, is one of the events that brings a sense of spring to Tamashima.
Looking at the nostalgic hina dolls filling the tatami room and the splendid palace-style display brings a warm feeling. Saiso-tei, usually so dignified, is enveloped in a gentle spring atmosphere at this time of year, and the faces of visitors seem to brighten naturally.
After enjoying the hina dolls, you can also try whisking matcha yourself in the tea room and spend some relaxing time.
The “Doll Festival at Saiso-tei” offers a chance to experience the history of Tamashima and the charm of the season. Why not visit next spring?
Doll Festival at Saiso-tei Information
| Name | Doll Festival at Saiso-tei |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, February 21–Sunday, March 8, 2026 |
| Location | 3-8-25 Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Old Yunoki House (Saiso-tei) |
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