Keeping an ancient tradition alive
The Nagashibina Doll Museum is an attractive timber building with a wonderful Japanese-style garden. The permanent exhibition of ornamental dolls features examples of dolls from over the centuries.
For a small, additional fee it is possible to make one of the straw baskets used as a raft for the dolls during Hina Matsuri Doll Festival.
How to Get There
The Nagashibina Doll Museum is a short walk from JR Mochigase Station on the JR Inbi Line.
A rare event on Girl's Day
Hinanagashi is a traditional event which originated in the Heian period (794-1185). During this event, straw Hina dolls are set afloat in baskets and sent down a river. It is believed that bad spirits are taken away with the dolls and washed out to sea. Since the Edo period (1603-1867) the festival has taken place annually on Girl's Day, on March 3rd.
Today, Hinanagashi is quite a rare practice, but the event still takes place every year in the historic district of Mochigase.
