Tsugaru Kokeshi Museum, Doll museum in Kuroishi, Japan
The Tsugaru Kokeshi Museum is a doll museum in Kuroishi that houses roughly 4,000 traditional wooden dolls. The collection displays the handcrafted wooden dolls made in the northeastern Tohoku region.
The museum was founded in 1988 as a center dedicated to preserving this traditional wooden doll craft. It emerged to document and showcase this local art form that had developed over generations.
These kokeshi dolls display the characteristic wide base and curved body shape specific to the Tsugaru tradition. The painted patterns on each doll tell stories connected to local celebrations and flowers that hold meaning in the region.
The museum is centrally located in Kuroishi and easy to reach. The galleries are well-organized, making it straightforward to walk through and view the collection at your own pace.
The museum displays an exceptionally large wooden doll carved from an ancient tree. This piece demonstrates how craftspeople sometimes use extraordinary materials to create special works.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
