Hinamatsuri: Japan’s Oldest Traditional Festival Celebrating Girlhood

Hinamatsuri is a traditional festival in Japan that celebrates the health and happiness of young girls. It is also known as Doll's Day or Girl's Day, and it is observed on March 3rd every year. On this day, families display a set of ornamental dolls (hina-ningyō) on a red-carpeted platform (hinadan) that represent the Emperor, Empress, and their court in the Heian period. The dolls are usually very expensive and elaborate, and they may be passed down from generation to generation. The dolls are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to the girls. Hinamatsuri is also called Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival) because peach blossoms are symbolic of the festival and usually start to bloom around this time. Hinamatsuri is one of the five seasonal festivals (gosekku) in Japan, and it has a long history dating back to the Heian era, when noble girls played with dolls and set them adrift in rivers to purify themselves. Hinamatsuri is an important cultural event that honors celebrates, and inspires young girls in Japan.

History and Significance of Hinamatsuri

The connection with intricately crafted hina dolls arose from the early use of the toys as emblems in purification rituals. This tradition of aristocratic families displaying simple dolls on March 3 (or the third day of the third month in the former lunar calendar) to pray for the health and development of their young girls predates Kyoto becoming the nation’s capital but gained traction during the Heian period (794–1185). In some areas, dolls were set afloat in the sea or on rivers in the belief that they carried away any defilement or bad luck attached to the owner in a custom called nagashibina, which is still observed in parts of Nara and Tottori Prefectures. The dolls and regalia became more ornate over time, and by the middle of the Edo period (1603–1868), Hinamatsuri had become a popular celebration throughout the nation.

A related custom observed on the same day was Jōshi. This tradition of ritual purification has ancient roots on the Asian mainland and is believed to have influenced the development of the doll festival.

The association of Hinamatsuri with girls grew more pronounced during the Edo period, as did the connection of Tango no Sekku on the fifth day of the fifth month with boys. Before this, the gender distinctions of the two festivals were less pronounced, with both celebrating the growth of children. One theory posits that the appearance of iris flowers around Tango no Sekku strengthened the association with the growth of young boys as the Japanese name of the flower, shōbu, is a homophone for a term meaning “military spirit.” Meanwhile, Jōshi, in the form of the Hinamatsuri, became an event for girls.

By the eighteenth century, Hinamatsuri had developed many of the ornate trappings that it is known for today. According to one account, on the day before young girls would dress in fine kimonos and offer gifts of sake and special dishes to relatives and customers of merchant houses. Elaborate hina dolls were the highlight of the celebration, but as these grew more lavish the custom drew the scrutiny of the government.

During a reform period starting in 1787, Tokugawa authorities clamped down on what they saw as rampant luxury, including banning large doll displays. However, the edict had limited impact in the face of prevailing social conditions. Infant mortality was a fact of life in the Edo period, and parental desire to assure the health and well-being of their children could not be legislated away. This combined with the native sense of beauty and ornate doll-making techniques of the day make Hinamatsuri a bright and colorful celebration.

A recent development is the belief that dolls must be packed away quickly after the festival for fear of impacting young girls’ chances of finding a marriage partner when they grow up. This superstition dates from the Shōwa era (1926–1989) and is thought to stem from the antiquated view that a mother failing to keep a tidy house would rub off on a daughter, subsequently reducing her value as a bride.

1,000 Years of Hina Dolls

The Hyakudan Hina Matsuri exhibition, which features a collection of dolls from all over Japan, will be held for the first time in four years at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, providing visitors with an enjoyable experience as if they had stepped into the Hina Palace.

Each room of the Hyakudan Kaidan -The Hundred Stairs-, a tangible cultural property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, offers various elegant scenes, including the zashikibina dolls (Iizuka, Fukuoka), which express the elegant world of the Heian period (794-1192) on an overwhelming scale, the Yumiko Kawauchi Collection, a collection of miniature masterpieces, and Hina dolls created by contemporary artists with their diverse sensibilities in addition to the gorgeous decorations of tsurushi kazari hanging ornaments and temari balls.

Visitors can enjoy a refined experience looking at the Hina dolls while waiting for spring, remembering the seasonal festivals that have continuously been passed down from generation to generation, and praying for the healthy growth of their children.

Ticket Information:

General Admission (Adult) – 1,600yen

University Students + Senior HS Students – 1,000yen

Junior HS students + Elementary School Students – 800yen

• Student ID must be presented. Children of preschool age are admitted free of charge.

• Prices include consumption tax.

The exhibition is open every day until 10 March 2024.

Opening hours: 11:00AM – 6:00PM (last entry: 5:30PM)