The Kumihama Doll Festival starts in January. Centered around the Inaba Family Merchant House, the shops and houses of Kumihama will be displaying their traditional dolls in front windows and entries. The whole town will be turned into an art gallery.

This event takes place every year. Click here if you’d like to read about one from a previous year.

At the Inaba House you can even buy “take hina”, paper dolls in a bamboo setting, to take home. They are a great way to have your own display without going all out and buying the actual dolls. The real dolls are incredibly expensive and are usually passed on as family heirlooms.

This year, Bamboo Lamp Making and Bamboo Doll Making experiences are also available.

Bamboo Light Making: 2,000 yen per person

Bamboo Doll Making: 5,000 yen per piece (limited to 20 pieces), inluding gold folding screens and flower decorations.

Event Details

Dates: Saturday 4th January – Thursday 3rd April

Opening Times: 9:00am-4:00pm

Entrance fee: Free

Closed On: Wednesdays

Location: Inaba Family Merchant House, 3102 Kumihama-cho, Kyotango City, Post Code: 629-3404

Click here for the official website (in Japanese)