Okitama / Kaminoyama Region Hinamatsuri Festivals in February / March

Hello All！Below is a translation of Hinamatsuri festivals, also known as Doll's Day or Girl's Day, in the Okitama/Kaminoyama area from the Yamagata Warm & Cozy Winter Tour Campaign. If you're around the area, feel free to check some of them out!

 

Bunkyounomori Nagai - Kozakurakan (Nagai City)

Exhibition Dates: Wednesday, February 7th ~ Monday, February 12th

Time: 9:00 ~ 17:00 (Entry until 16:30)

Photography Allowed

 

Details: This county office was built in November 1878, when Yamagata Prefecture was still ruled by Mishima Michitsune. This is the oldest county office still in use today within the prefecture, and is recorded as a Tangible Cultural Property of Nagai City.

You can see a display of Hinamatsuri dolls, supplied by local people, as well as various handmade goods that makes it feel like spring.

 

Location: 2 Chome-7-28 Koyacho, Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture 993-0085

Holidays: Mondays (If Monday falls on a public holiday, then the following day with also be closed)

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By Flower Nagai Line, 5 minute drive from Nagai Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-88-9365

Website (Japanese Only)

 

Shironezawa (Yonezawa City）

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, March 1st ~ Friday, March 9th

Photography Allowed

 

Details: Shironezawa is a textile manufacturer, with a history dating back to the Edo period that mainly produces casual pongee textiles.

 

Location: 3 Chome-8-20 Chuo, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture

Daily Hours: 10:00 ~ 17:00 *Reservation required

Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 10 minute drive from Yonezawa Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-23-0092

 

Dewa no Orizawa - Yonedawa Mingeikan (Yonezawa City)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 3rd ~ Sunday, March 11th

Photography NOT Allowed

 

Details: Resonating with the heart of the folk art proposed by Yanagi Souetsu, the first director, Yamamura Masashi opened this Folk Art Museum. This is Japan's only museum to exhibit solely primitive cloth and ancient fabric.

 

Location: 1 Chome-1-16 Montomachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture

Daily Hours: 10:00 ~ 11:30, 13:00 ~ 16:00

Holidays: Irregular Holidays

Admission Fees: General 500 Yen, Elementary School 200 Yen *Reservation required

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 8 minute drive from Yonezawa Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-22-8141

 

Tamaniwa Hinameguri (Kawanishi Town)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 24th ~ Sunday, March 25th

Photography Allowed

 

Details: While perusing the old dolls that have survived since the Edo period, listen to an explanation of their history or try some food from local volunteers at this special event held for only two days a year.

 

Location: 6708-5 Kawanishi Town Tamaniwa

Daily Hours: 9:00 ~ 15:30 (Enter by 14:00)

Admission Fees: Adults 1,500 Yen, Elementary/Junior High 500 Yen (Advance Tickets Available for Purchase)

Access: By JR Yonesaka Line, 20~30 minute drive from Uzen-Komatsu Station; By Tohoku-Chuo Expressway, 40~50 minute drive from Yonezawa Kita IC

Contact: Tamaniwa Area Exchange Center  TEL. 0238-48-2130

 

Uesugi Hakushakutei (Yonezawa City)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, February 3rd ~ Tuesday, April 3rd

Photography Allowed

 

Details: This was built in 1896 for Uesugi Mochinori, a feudal lord of the former Yonezawa Castle, and is approximately 180,000 square feet with the mansion floor space being approximately 19,080 square feet. Now, it is recognized as a Tangible Cultural Property and functions as a restaurant serving local food and cuisine with Yonezawa Beef.

 

Location: 1-3-60 Marunouchi, Yonezawa City

Daily Hours: Exhibition 10:00~17:00/ Restaurant 11:00~20:00 (Reservation Required After 14:30)

Holidays: Every Wednesday from Dec - March, No Holidays from April - Nov

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 8 minute drive from Yonezawa Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-21-5121 or Website

 

Kaminoyama Doll Festival 2018 (Kaminoyama City)

 

 

Former Sogabe Family (Samurai Residence)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 17th ~ Sunday, March 25th

Location: 1-7-38 Tsuruhagicho

Daily Hours: 9:30 ~ 16:00

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 15 minute walk from Kaminoyama-Onsen Station

 

Yamadaya (Naragejuku)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 17th ~ Sunday, March 25th

Location: 56 Narage

Daily Hours: 10:00 ~ 16:00

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 20 minute drive from Kaminoyama-Onsen Station

 

Kaminoyama Castle

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 3rd ~ Tuesday, April 3rd

Location: 3-7 Motojonai

Daily Hours: 9:00 ~ 16:45

Admission Fees: 410 Yen

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 12 minute walk or 3 minute drive from Kaminoyama-Onsen Station

 

Kaisendo Museum

Exhibition Dates: Early March to Early April

Location: 4-6-8 Yarai

Daily Hours: 9:00 ~ 16:30

Admission Fees: 500 Yen

Access: By JR Yamagata Shinkansen, 5 minute walk from Kaminoyama-Onsen Station

 

Yamaguchi Family (Nagai City)　*Private Residence

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, March 1st ~ Saturday, March 31st

Photography NOT Allowed

 

Details: The dolls were originally collected as a hobby until the collection grew large enough and was opened to the public, dedicating one part of the Yamaguchi house for this massive display. Its fame is spread through word-of-mouth and the number of visitors increase year by year.

 

Location: 25-34 Funaba, Nagai City next to Yamaguchi Seisakusho

Daily Hours: 9:00 ~ 16:00

Holidays: None

Admission Fees: Free 

Access: By Flower Nagai Line, 5 minute drive from Ayame-Koen Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-84-2830

 

Orion (Shirataka Town) *Private Residence

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, March 1st ~ Monday, April 30th

Photography Allowed

 

Details: This building is a reconstructed part of Arato Hotel, which existed in front of Arato Station during the Taisho Era.

 

Location: 986 Aratoko, Shirataka Town

Daily Hours: 13:00 ~ 16:00 *Reservation required

Holidays: Weekends and Public Holidays

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By Flower Nagai Line, 10 minute walk from Arato Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-85-3663

 

Arato Station Museum (Shirataka Town)

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, February 1st ~ Saturday, March 31st

Photography Allowed

  

Location: 1296-1 Aratoko, Shirataka Town

Daily Hours: 10:00 ~ 16:00

Holidays: None

Admission Fees: Free

Access: By Flower Nagai Line, Within Arato Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-86-0086

 

Ayu Chaya (Shirataka Town)

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, February 1st ~ Saturday, March 31st

Photography Allowed

 

Details: Boasted as Japan"s top fish-trapping tourist space, you can enjoy salted and grilled ayu (sweetfish), ayu set meals, and grilled tofu covered in sweet miso. The building is joined by Michi no Eki, where you can buy specialty products. You can also behold the wind-dried ayu, reminiscent of winter.

 

Location: 661-1 Shimoyama, Shirataka Town

Daily Hours: 10:00 ~ 17:00

Holidays: None

Admission Fees: Free 

Access: By Flower Nagai Line, 5 minute drive from Arato Station

Contact: TEL. 0238-85-5577

 

 

There's  also other snow activities, hot springs, or food-related information on the website (Japanese Only) and pamphlets, so I recommend checking it out!