A unique handmade souvenir from Zao Onsen

Try your hand at painting kokeshi dolls, a traditional folk craft that has been passed down for generations at Zao Onsen.

Traditional kokeshi dolls are wooden toys with cylindrical bodies and round heads, created as souvenirs from onsen areas of the Tohoku region at the beginning of the 19th century. Today, these dolls are a familiar folk craft in Japan, and are made all over the country. Zao Onsen is one of Japan’s leading ski resorts which is famous for its variety of ski slopes. After a day of playing with snow, explore the historic onsen town where the kokeshi doll is still passed down through generations. At this workshop, you can try painting one in the traditional Zao Takayu style – with a red hat or ribbon on the doll’s head and a chrysanthemum or sakura-patterned kimono – or challenge yourself and design something original.

Making your own kokeshi doll as a souvenir is the perfect experience to create great memories of your trip.