Hinamatsuri ひなまつり

Hinamatsuri is a Doll Festival for girls, which takes place on March 3 to celebrate and hope for the healthy growth of female children. During the Hinamatsuri season, a set of graceful dolls is displayed on a series of red-carpeted shelves on a stepped incline.

The dolls depict an Emperor’s wedding ceremony with the Emperor and Empress on the highest shelf. Three court ladies, five court musicians, two guards, three porters and some furniture are displayed on the lower shelves. Beside the dolls, lanterns called “Bonbori”, diamond-shaped three colored rice cakes called “Hishimochi” and peach trees are also displayed. The tricolor “Hishimochi” and peach blossoms symbolize spring. Consequently, “Hinamatsuri” is also called the Peach Festival because it takes place when peach trees are in bloom.

 

 

Nowadays, you can still see sets of Hina dolls displayed on five to seven tiers in traditional houses, doll stores and inns. In ordinary houses, compact sets of Hina dolls consisting of only the Emperor and Empress and perhaps the court ladies are displayed because of limited space.

These days, traditional townhouses in some local historical districts are open to the public who can view unique family Hina doll collections. Visitors walk from house to house to see Hina dolls as they would be traditionally displayed.