Yurihonjo hinakaido
Encyclopedia
, meaning "Yurihonjō city hina doll route,"
is the name of an event held in March in Yurihonjō
City in Akita Prefecture
in Japan, in which visitors can follow a map of public displays of the traditional Hina dolls at over 50 different locations around the city.
, known as the Japanese Doll Festival and celebrated as Girls' Day, is a traditional cultural observance in Japan
, held on March 3, the third day of the third month. In 2005, the new city of Yurihonjō was created as a result of a merger of seven towns and one city. Many households had fine Hinamatsuri doll sets, and so in 2008 the new city organized this Yurihonjō Hinakaidō event.
The Shōnai area across the border from Yurihonjō in Yamagata Prefecture
used to be an important port of call and trading centre for the Kitamae trading ships (北前船, Kitamaebune?). These ships often brought the latest trends and crafts from the imperial capital in Kyoto, among them the traditional Hina dolls, and for over 100 years Shōnai had organised tours with information and maps to enable people to see the beautiful craftwork of the Hina dolls at various places around Sakata, Tsuruoka and the other towns which make up the Shōnai area.
The first Yurihonjō Hinakaidō event, in 2008, was largely based around the Yashima
area, which already had its own small-scale Hina doll display custom. In 2009, the Hina Doll tour of Yurihonjō tried to encompass the different areas of the newly-merged city with over 50 different locations divided into four main areas: Iwaki in the north; Ouchi and Honjō in the centre; and Yashima in the south. There were various other 'side' events including a special train service taking visitors to the Yashima hina doll exhibitiion sites on the .
The event in 2010 was extended further with additional displays at new locations and houses. Tour companies in Sendai offer package tours, such as the national train operator JR East. It has also received coverage in the media such as a feature article in the Sakigake
newspaper. A dedicated blog was also set up by Akita Prefecture to promote the event.
The Yurihonjō Hinakaidō is coordinated by the .
is the name of an event held in March in Yurihonjō
Yurihonjo, Akita
is a city located in Akita, Japan.The city was founded on March 22, 2005 from the merger of the former city of Honjō and the former towns of Chōkai, Higashiyuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Ōuchi, Yashima and Yuri...
City in Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
in Japan, in which visitors can follow a map of public displays of the traditional Hina dolls at over 50 different locations around the city.
Background
HinamatsuriHinamatsuri
The Japanese , or Girls' Day, is held on March 3. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.- Origin and customs :...
, known as the Japanese Doll Festival and celebrated as Girls' Day, is a traditional cultural observance in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, held on March 3, the third day of the third month. In 2005, the new city of Yurihonjō was created as a result of a merger of seven towns and one city. Many households had fine Hinamatsuri doll sets, and so in 2008 the new city organized this Yurihonjō Hinakaidō event.
The Shōnai area across the border from Yurihonjō in Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
used to be an important port of call and trading centre for the Kitamae trading ships (北前船, Kitamaebune?). These ships often brought the latest trends and crafts from the imperial capital in Kyoto, among them the traditional Hina dolls, and for over 100 years Shōnai had organised tours with information and maps to enable people to see the beautiful craftwork of the Hina dolls at various places around Sakata, Tsuruoka and the other towns which make up the Shōnai area.
The first Yurihonjō Hinakaidō event, in 2008, was largely based around the Yashima
Yashima
- People :*Norito Yashima, Japanese actor*Taro Yashima, Japanese-American author and illustrator*Mirai Yashima, character in Mobile Suit Gundam- Other :*Japanese battleship Yashima*Battle of Yashima*Operation Yashima...
area, which already had its own small-scale Hina doll display custom. In 2009, the Hina Doll tour of Yurihonjō tried to encompass the different areas of the newly-merged city with over 50 different locations divided into four main areas: Iwaki in the north; Ouchi and Honjō in the centre; and Yashima in the south. There were various other 'side' events including a special train service taking visitors to the Yashima hina doll exhibitiion sites on the .
The event in 2010 was extended further with additional displays at new locations and houses. Tour companies in Sendai offer package tours, such as the national train operator JR East. It has also received coverage in the media such as a feature article in the Sakigake
Sakigake
Sakigake , pre-launch codename MS-T5, was Japan's first interplanetary spacecraft, and the first deep space probe to be launched by any country other than the USA or the Soviet Union...
newspaper. A dedicated blog was also set up by Akita Prefecture to promote the event.
The Yurihonjō Doll Displays
The Hina doll displays in this event vary greatly in size, history and style. For example, the historical dolls on display at in Yashima; or the comical servant figures at the or the 'oshie' Hina pictures at theThe Yurihonjō Hinakaidō is coordinated by the .
External links
- 「由利本荘ひな街道」が開催中！ Festival page at Yurihonjo City official web site (Retrieved on March 17, 2009)
- The Shonai Hina Doll Tour
- The Yurihonjo Hina Doll Tour
- Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival)