<p>This beautiful kimono adds an unusual backdrop to a pair of traditional hina dolls.</p>

This beautiful kimono adds an unusual backdrop to a pair of traditional hina dolls. (Photo: Sandra Isaka)

Makabe Hina Doll Festival Displays

Tradition meets creative genius in Ibaraki

Sandra Isaka Mar 13, 2015 - 1분 읽은 시간

<p>This beautiful kimono adds an unusual backdrop to a pair of traditional hina dolls.</p>

<p>These traditional hina dolls are being visited by a collection of kimono-clad foxes in a wedding procession!</p>

<p>What a fantastic way to present hina dolls - in an antique Japanese chest and closet.</p>

<p>A beautiful example of a traditional hina doll display.</p>

<p>Makabe is famous for its stone carving. Take home one of these cute lanterns for your own home.</p>

<p>This is an interesting mix of hina doll and mikoshi (portable float).</p>

<p>Hina dolls made of stained glass.</p>

<p>This entire 'room' was created to display a variety of dolls.</p>

<p>Another stone carver has made what is probably the heaviest hina doll display in Japan. Impressive!</p>

<p>You can't tell unless you get up close, but this is an amazing example of Japanese paper cutting.</p>

<p>A perfect mix of tradition & originality. This hina doll display was hidden in a side room of one of the sake breweries.</p>

Every year, from early February to early March, the town of Makabe, in Ibaraki Prefecture, holds a fantastic Hina Doll Festival. Many gorgeous, and often antique, hina dolls are on exhibit. The residents of this town also use their creative minds to design 'original' hina-related displays which are often even more impressive than the originals.

Things to Do in Ibaraki

Sandra Isaka

Sandra Isaka @sandra.isaka

As an intercultural consultant & Japan travel specialist with 20 years in Japan, I love sharing my favorite places with others.