Hina-matsuri, also called Girls’ Day or Doll Festival, is an annual event in Japan that takes place on March 3rd. From early February to early March each year, the “Nagahama Hina Doll Tour” is held throughout the city's shopping districts, centered around Otemon Street where Kurokabe Square is located.
Approximately 70 shops are participating this event, and they display their prized Hina dolls. In addition to Hina dolls that have been passed down since the Edo period (before 1868), we can also see a wide variety of dolls, including handmade ones and ones made from glass and even made from Japanese sweets. Last year, I made an effort to see as many Hina dolls as possible and wrote on part of them on my blog.
I visited there today, but it was the final day of this year's event, so I took photos of the dolls that left an impression on me last year.
Location; Nagahama City, Shiga Pref., Japan.
⇧The shop owner displays Hina dolls from three eras: the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods.
The two dolls at the far right are from the Meiji era (1868–1912). These two dolls are representing His Majesty the Emperor and Empress, both of them are dressed in traditional clothing.
The two small dolls at the far left are from the Taisho era (1912–1926).
All other dolls including the two lead role dolls in the foreground are from the early Showa era (1926– 1945, approximately).
This shop sells "noren" curtains. The "noren" is a split shop curtain, which is hung outside the entrance and has the shop's name on it.
⇧Hina dolls from the Meiji period in the back and early Showa period in the front. Hina dolls from the Meiji period has a large, flashy ornament on top of the Empress's head.
⇧This is a large Hina doll from the Edo period (before 1868) that has been passed down for generations of the shop owner. As mentioned above, these two dolls are representing His Majesty the Emperor and Empress. As you can see, it is also characterized by the large and flashy ornament on the head of the Empress. This shop sells traditional Japanese paper crafts.
⇧These are the Hina dolls displayed inside the tourist information center, which was renovated from an old folk house.
The ones hanging from the ceiling are called Tsurushi Hina dolls. Tsurushi Hina is a Japanese tradition where ornamental dolls (not Hina dolls but hand-made small dolls) are displayed on strings. Hina dolls were originally expensive, so commoners in the past had the custom of hanging homemade dolls.
⇧The most elaborate display, the dolls are placed on the seven-tiered set, featuring 15 dolls arranged on red-carpeted platforms.
At the top sit the Emperor and Empress, followed by three court ladies, five musicians, two bodyguards, and three servants, along with diamond-shaped rice cakes in three colors, miniature wedding furniture and accessories.
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