Nagashibina Doll Museum, Doll museum in Mochigase, Japan
The Nagashibina Doll Museum houses over one thousand Japanese dolls and festival ornaments spanning multiple historical periods, with specimens reaching back to the Edo era. The collection displays the full range of styles and techniques that developed across different centuries of this art form.
Founded in 1986, the museum was established to preserve the Nagashibina tradition, where paper dolls are placed on straw boats and released into rivers. This practice grew from earlier spiritual customs and continues to be observed during the Doll Festival in the region today.
The dolls displayed represent a living tradition tied to the Doll Festival, when communities honor a ritual of floating paper figures down rivers as a spiritual practice. You can see how this custom continues to matter to local people and shapes seasonal celebrations in the region.
The museum is within easy walking distance from Mochigase Station and accessible by car from central Tottori in about thirty minutes. Plan to spend time exploring the gardens and exhibition spaces, which are designed to be viewed at a leisurely pace.
Visitors can participate in workshops to create their own Nagashibina dolls and small straw boats, guided by craftspeople from the local community. This hands-on experience allows you to understand the skill and care involved in making these figures.
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