Tokyo's Spectacular Hina Doll Festival: Hyakudan Hina Matsuri 2024

A Highlight of Early Spring! Hyakudan Hina Doll Festival 2024 in Tokyo

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo proudly presents the captivating Hyakudan Hina Doll Festival, an exhibition of traditional Hina dolls passed down from the Heian period (795-1185) to the present day!

Hina dolls are a type of traditional Japanese dolls put on display ahead of Girl's Day (Hina matsuri), celebrated on March 3. These dolls embody the parents' wishes for their children to grow healthy and happy.

Hundreds of historical Hina dolls await visitors on display from January 20 to March 10, 2024, within the esteemed cultural property Hyakudan Kaidan at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo.

Following an impressive debut in 2010 and a triumphant run up to 2020, drawing over 630,000 enthusiasts, Tokyo's largest Hina doll exhibition returns after a four-year hiatus.

Prepare for an unforgettable display featuring the iconic Zashiki Hina dolls from Fukuoka's Iizuka City, renowned for their breathtaking scale and historical significance. Guests will witness a tapestry of Hina dolls, including historical treasures, regional delights, and contemporary interpretations by modern artists, alongside intricate decorative crafts. These elements will enchant guests, enveloping them in a resplendent cultural experience.

This exhibition is a nod to the millennial Hina doll tradition dating back to the Heian period, promising a truly immersive experience. Read on to learn some of its highlights.

Delight in the Magnificence of Japan's Largest Hina Doll Display!

Each year, the awe-inspiring Hina doll displays featured in the Iizuka Hinamatsuri Festival are eagerly awaiting Japanese culture enthusiasts.

Originating from Iizuka City's Ito Denemon Estate in Fukuoka, visitors can witness stunning reproductions centered around Kyoto elegance, featuring striking replicas of the Aoi Festival and landscapes from the Heian period, promising to be a truly magnificent spectacle.

Hina Dolls Through the Ages: From the Edo to the Reiwa Era

Uncover unmissable treasures such as Kyoho and Kokin dolls, crafted during the latter years of the Edo era (1603-1868), and regional Hina doll displays.

Additionally, explore elegant Hina dolls by modern artists, whimsical creations by sculptors, and a profusion of wall-to-wall tsurushi kazari (decorative hanging ornaments), converging in a spectacular showcase of Hina dolls and crafts.

An Intricate World of Miniatures

Embark on a journey into a captivating world of Japanese miniatures, with a focus on the enchanting micro Hina doll-related objects and a collection by Yumiko Kawachi, a Hina doll researcher with nearly 30 years of dedication.

Featured in the display are renowned Nanazawaya Hina sets, bean dolls, and wholly palm-sized Hina dolls, alongside marvelously intricate glasswork and porcelain miniature tableware dating from the Edo period to the early Showa era (1926-1989).

Exclusive to online ticket holders, visitors have the opportunity to reserve beautiful limited-edition items such as mother-of-pearl chopsticks, a 10th-anniversary memorial book of the event, as well as incense inspired by The Tale of Genji and traditional hand towels.

Uncover the Legacy of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo

With a legacy spanning over 90 years, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo stands as a unique museum hotel adorned with over 2,500 Japanese paintings and art crafts. Offering 60 rooms fashioned as tearooms, including suites over 80 square meters equipped with steam saunas and jet baths, the venue embodies Japanese refinement.

Through its commitment to hospitality, the hotel presents an array of dining options, including Japanese, Chinese, and Italian cuisines, along with 23 banquet facilities accentuated by a Japanese-style hall. Staying at this hotel or visiting it for dining or an event such as the Hyakudan Hina Doll Exhibition is a chance to enjoy a deeply moving experience of Japanese culture.

Hyakudan Hina Doll Festival 2024

Period: January 20 – March 10, 2024

Hours: 11:00 – 18:00 (Last entry at 17:30)

Venue: Hyakudan Kaidan, a Tokyo-designated cultural property within Hotel Gajoen Tokyo in Meguro MAP

Admission (same-day tickets): adults 1,600 yen, university and high school students 1,000 yen, elementary and middle school students 800 yen. Free admission for preschoolers.

Advance tickets: adults 1,300 yen, university and high school students 900 yen, elementary and middle school students 600 yen.

Online ticket sale in English: https://www.e-tix.jp/100event/en/hina.html

Official website: https://www.hotelgajoen-tokyo.com/100event/hinamatsuri2024 (Japanese)

Information and photo source: PR TIMES

Written by Kate_T