Miho Shimizu is a Japanese freelance writer settled in Shizuoka with her husband and two rabbits. Fascinated with travelling at the age of 18, she has spent most of her long holidays exploring incredible spots around Japan. Also love to listen to music, draw, and read novels over a cup of green tea.
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Did you know that Japan has an array of unique cultural holidays and traditions that take place each year? Although people in Japan still tend to celebrate worldwide events like Christmas and New Year’s, they also have their own unique set of national holidays. Hinamatsuri (Girl’s day) is one of these festivities. Girl’s day is celebrated nationwide every year on March 3rd. If you live in Japan, or have traveled to Japan in the past, it is likely that you’ve heard of this festival and its customs.
So, what is hinamatsuri? And how do Japanese people celebrate it? In this article, we will delve deeper into these questions and give you a list of the best spots to experience hinamatsuri in Japan!
What is Hinamatsuri?
As mentioned above, hinamatsuri is an annual festival that takes place across Japan on March 3rd. It is also known as “Girl’s Day” or “Doll Festival” in English. Celebrants of this festival pray for the health, prosperity and happiness of young girls. Hinamatsuri is the counterpart to Children’s Day (celebrated on May 5th), a similar festival meant for boys.
How to Celebrate Hinamatsuri
Display a set of traditional hina dolls
Families with young girls will display a set of traditional Japanese dolls called hina-ningyo (hina dolls) in their home. It is believed that these dolls can ward off both evil and misfortune. These hina dolls are displayed alongside a prayer wishing for good health and happy marriage to girls in the future. The formation of these hina dolls is designed to resemble the Japanese imperial family and their traditional wedding ceremonies, with the emperor and empress dressed in traditional clothes from the Heian Period. These two dolls are placed on the highest platform of a series called hina-dan.
Each hina-dan is typically comprised of three to seven steps, this formation is believed to ward off bad luck while fostering good fortune for girls. Although it is common for families to display just the two dolls that represent the imperial emperor and empress, there are many types of hina dolls. After this main pair of dairibina (imperial dolls), you can find dolls of servants, children playing instruments, guards, and beautiful furniture.
The hina-dan is traditionally set up from the first day of spring (after setsubun) until mid-March. At the latest, families will set up their hina-dan one week before the festival occurs.
Festive dishes for hinamatsuri
Like many other holidays, hinamatsuri is also a day when people enjoy unique festive dishes. Chirashizushi is the most popular of these dishes, which can be translated as “scattered sushi”. It is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of vinegared rice, a variety of vegetables, and thin egg omelets with seafood scattered on top!
Other special dishes eaten on hinamatsuri include hamaguri clam soup and hishi mochi which consists of green, pink and white layered mochi. Each of these dishes has a special purpose like prayers for good marriage, health and fertility.
The first hinamatsuri is a big deal
The first hinamatsuri for girls is especially important to celebrate. Girls up to one year old dress in beautiful kimonos and celebrate with hina dolls that are often handed down from their mother. Then, the girl is blessed by their parents and grandparents to promote future growth, health, and happiness to come.
Brief History of Hinamatsuri
There are a few theories about the origin of hinamatsuri, but it most likely started in ancient China around the 3rd century. It was later introduced to Japan and eventually became a Japanese tradition known as Momo no sekku (one of the five seasonal celebrations), in the Nara Period (over one thousand years ago).
During that time, the mortality rate of young children was significantly higher than that of today due to infectious disease and the lack of adequate treatment. People began to create small paper dolls and float them down the river in the hope that this would rid their children of bad luck. It was during the Edo Period (1603-1868) that the current custom of displaying hina dolls at home finally became popular.
Best Hinamatsuri Festivals in Japan 2025
While most families celebrate with a hinadan inside their residence, there are various public spots where you can see impressive displays of the hina dolls as well as several (larger) festivals. If you are visiting Tokyo during the time hinamatsuri dolls are on display, you can visit the famous Hundred-Steps Staircase at the Meguro Gajoen building and witness it covered in vintage hinamatsuri dolls from across the region of Kyushu. Although popular, this event is rather small compared to celebrations held throughout other areas of Japan. Here we’ll list the most famous places so you know how to spend your next Hinamatsuri.
1. Tomisaki Shrine (Chiba)
The most famous Girl’s Day event in Japan is held in Katsuura, a small coastal town in Chiba Prefecture. Here, they hold the Katsuura Big Hinamatsuri Festival, an event that colors the town in the festive colors. The main location is at Tomisake Shrine, where about 1,800 dolls are displayed at the stairs of the shrine. In total over 30,000 hina dolls are up on display throughout the town from late February to early March.
Dates: February 22 – March 3, 2025
2. Izu Inatori (Shizuoka)
Located in the eastern part of Izu peninsula, Inatori is a small town which is home to relaxing hot spring spots as well as a hina festival which is held until late March. Susanoo Shrine is one of the main venues which welcomes visitors with a stunning display of hina dolls arranged on the 118 stone steps leading to the shrine grounds. Traditional hina doll exhibits with hand-made hanging ornaments can also be enjoyed at Inatori Cultural Park and Hina Hall Mukai-an!
Dates: To be Announced!
3. Ibaraki (Makabe & Yuki City)
Ibaraki prefecture hosts a number of fun hinamatsuri festivals that can be found all across the prefecture. Head to Makabe Town in Sakurai city which boasts a scenic townscape of traditional Japanese houses and storehouses dating back to the Edo period. This beautiful small town is used as a main venue of Makabe Hina Doll Festival which is held from early February through early March. Yuki City is a peaceful city which is easily accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen. From mid-February to March 3rd, you can join the Yuki City Hina Doll Festival which allows you to explore the lovely city while enjoying the hina doll exhibits!
Dates:
Makabe Hina Doll Festival: Early-February – March 3, 2024
Yuki City Hina Doll Festival: Mid-February – March 3, 2024
4. Seto (Aichi)
Seto is a smaller sized city based in Aichi prefecture, widely famous for the production of pottery and ceramics. It is about a 50 min train ride from Nagoya Station to reach the city. During the early spring season (usually from early February to early March), the entire city features great numbers of hina doll exhibits made of clay. At Setogura Museum, you can see a giant hina doll pyramid comprised of over 1,000 handmade hina dolls!
February 1 – March 9, 2025
5. Tsumago (Nagano)
Tsumago is a well-preserved post town nestled in the old Nakasendo route of Nagano prefecture. It is a popular hiking spot for tourists who want to enjoy the traditional Japanese buildings combined with the natural scenery. If you get a chance to travel there in the early spring season from March through April, be sure to enjoy the impressive hina doll exhibits uniquely displayed at Fureai Hall, which is also available as a free resting area for tourists. Some households and stores will also display their own hina dolls by the windows, so keep an eye out as you walk through the main street of the area!
February – April, 2025
6. Yanagawa (Fukuoka)
Yanagawa is a city located in the southwestern part of Fukuoka prefecture. This lovely city is known for the Yanagawa Hina Doll Festival which is held from mid-February through to early April every year. During the festival, colorful handmade ornaments referred to by locals as “Sagemon” are displayed at local shops and popular tourist spots, welcoming tourists to observe their traditional hina doll displays. Ohina-sama Water Parade is the highlight of the festival, where children dressed in traditional Japanese costume like hina dolls march down the peaceful canal in boats decorated with beautiful Sagemon ornaments!
February – April 2025
Hinamatsuri is a special day for Japanese families with little girls. If you don’t have children, however, you can still enjoy it in many different ways. Trying hinamatsuri, its customs, and the dishes is an enjoyable experience for anyone interested in participating in traditional Japanese food and culture. Be sure to experience Hinamatsuri and its wonders throughout your next trip to Japan in March!
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