In Japan, displays of hina dolls were traditionally used to celebrate Girl’s Day in early March. The Makabe Hina Doll Festival was started by local people to encourage people to visit the historic town even during the cold Winter months. 

During the festival, local residents and businesses create elaborate displays of traditional hina dolls in their homes and shops, and visitors are free to enter homes as well as shops to see the displays. Many of the dolls have been passed down through families for generations.

The historic area of Makabe is also home to traditonal warehouses known as kura and streets of traditional townhouses, so visitors can truly feel transported back in time during the festival.

Information

• LOCATION・CONTACT

  LOCATION Makabecho, Sakuragawa City

  CONTACT Sakuragawa City Tourism Division Tel: 0296-55-1111

  WEBSITE http://www.makabe-hina.com/

• ACCESS

  By public transport: from Iwase Station on the JR Mito Line, take a bus bound for Makabe Station (around 25 minutes). Alternatively, from Shimodate Station on the JR Mito Line, take a bus bound for Makabe Station (around 30 minutes). By car: exit the Kita-Kanto Expresswy at Sakuragawa-Chikusei IC and travel 20 minutes on Route 50 and Route 41. Alternatively, on the Joban Expressway, exit the expressway at Tsuchiura-Kita IC and drive 50 minutes on Route 125 and Route 41.

• HOURS・CLOSED・ADMISSION

  HOURS Early February - early March

  CLOSED Many shops in the area are closed on Wednesday - visiting on other days is recommended.