The Doll Festival, Hina Matsuri (雛祭り) or “Girls’ Day” is a typical Japanese festival that takes place from February to March. Platforms with red cloths on steps are arranged to display dolls. The custom of displaying dolls began during the Edo period. According to Japanese belief, people in the past believed that dolls had the power to ward off evil spirits, illnesses, misfortunes, and bad luck, and thus would protect the owner. So for the Japanese, Hina is much more than just decorative items.
A huge collection of Hina Dolls are displayed throughout the Asuke neighborhood of Toyota City, thanks to the collective efforts of its residents. Take a stroll through the streets, preserved to look as they did centuries ago, and experience first-hand a traditional celebration that is deeply imprinted in the childhood memories of nearly every Japanese woman!
In 1998, citizens suggested an idea to further promote tourism. “How about we all display our Hina dolls by making them visible on the street for everyone to see?” The concept proved to be a success. Now, every year, the city has hosted the event since 1999, allowing curious tourists to spy on some 6,000 dolls that are lined up on the balconies of homes and shops, one of the most impressive collections of Hina dolls ever displayed at one time.
In the Asuke district, you can see both old and new dolls, including some extremely rare ones from the Edo Period, which was over 150 years ago. But in addition to dolls made of kimono fabric, there are also those made of clay and hand-painted, which are also important historical items. Other unique sets made of various materials are also expected to be on display.
Today, the dolls that symbolize the Hina Matsuri are considered family heirlooms, precious pieces that are carefully packaged and stored until the festival period. During the event, they are arranged on a multi-tiered altar (Hina-dan) in hierarchical order, dressed in imperial court costumes. The number of dolls and the number of tiers on the platform varies, but there are usually 15 dolls arranged on five or seven tiers. The “Hina Dan” is always covered by a red carpet called “Dankake” or Hi-mosen. The complete set can be purchased at a department store but can cost more than 350,000 yen. Thus, since a set for the Hina Matsuri can be passed down from one generation to the next, it is considered a family heirloom.
The arrangement of the dolls follows a hierarchy.
- The first and highest level is for the “Dairisama” (Imperial Palace), so this level is reserved for the richly attired Emperor and Empress. The Empress’s attire is called “jūnihitoe” (a twelve-layer ceremonial robe from the Heian Period). Even today, the “jūnihitoe” kimono is worn in the wedding ceremony of the royal family. The “imperial couple” must always occupy the highest step and the Emperor always sits to the left of the Empress.
- Three Court Ladies, representing the aristocratic class
- Five Musicians, representing artists and literati
- 2 Ministers and offerings, representing government and religious officials
- 3 Samurai and plants, representing the warrior class and feudal domains
- Objects used at the Court – miniature lacquered furniture, kimono chests, dressing table, tea ceremony utensils, sewing box
- Objects used outside the Court, representing common people – lacquered miniatures of an ox cart, a palanquin, stackable boxes, a flower cart
That’s why Japanese Hina dolls are a little difficult for a tourist to see.
The dolls are usually displayed for about two weeks before the event, and then put away again after the festival is over. This is due to an old superstition, which is believed that families who delay putting away their dolls will have difficulty getting their daughters married off. Other factors increase their rarity, such as families with male descendants simply do not have the dolls, and after their daughters marry off, they are immediately put away, no longer on display. For such reasons, people who visit Japan rarely get to see the dolls, much less witness several sets.
- Festival: Hina Matsuri – Doll Festival.
- Location: Asuke – Toyota – Aichi.
- Date: Mid-February to mid-March.
- Type: Hina dolls on display throughout the neighborhood.
- Parking: 500 yen ~ 1,000 yen.
- WC: Available.
Aichi,Toyota, Asuke-cho, Kuranomae 16