Makabe Hinamatsuri: Hina Dolls in a Historic Edo-Era Town

The Makabe Hinamatsuri — Hina Dolls Adorning a Historic Warehouse Town

The town of Makabe (Makabe-cho) in Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture, spreads across the northern foothills of Mount Tsukuba — a historic warehouse town (kura-no-machi) whose traditions stretch back to the Edo period. Approximately 100 buildings, including merchant storehouses (mise-gura), earthen-walled storehouses (dozos), and physician-gate entrances (yakui-mon), are registered as national Tangible Cultural Properties. The town, with its grid-pattern streets and quietly standing rows of historic buildings, makes visitors feel as though they have stepped back in time.

And every year during the Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival) season — from late January through late February — the town of Makabe transforms. Historic merchant houses, craft workshops, restaurants, and public facilities throughout the town display elaborate sets of traditional hina dolls in their shop fronts, entryways, and display windows. The sight of magnificent hina doll sets — some passed down for generations — arranged in the dignified old buildings creates an atmosphere of extraordinary grace and cultural depth.

The Makabe Hinamatsuri is not merely a display event: walking through the town from one doll arrangement to the next, pausing to speak with shop owners about the history of their dolls, and settling into a local cafe for Makabe's famous granite-quarry culture and local foods, turns the visit into a full-day cultural experience.

Practical Information

• Period: Typically late January through late February (the exact dates vary each year — check the Sakuragawa City Tourism Association website before visiting)
• Access: From JR Shimodate Station (Mito Line), take a taxi or the community bus to Makabe (approximately 15 minutes). By car from the Ken-O Expressway Makabe IC, approximately 5 minutes.
• Admission: Most displays are free to view from outside; some shops charge a small admission to enter their display rooms.
• Combined visit: The Makabe area is also famous for its granite stone industry and has a charming collection of stone craft shops alongside the historic buildings.