Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri)
雛祭り
A traditional festival praying for the health and happiness of girls, marked by tiered hina dolls.
- This year
- Mar 3 (Tue)
- March 3
History
雛祭り grew from Heian-period purification customs and doll play (hiina asobi). By the Edo period, elaborate doll displays for girls were common among townspeople. Peach blossoms (momo no sekku) associate the day with spring and protection. It is not a national holiday, but it remains one of Japan’s most visible seasonal traditions.
How it is observed
Families display hina ningyō on stepped platforms, eat hishi-mochi and chirashi-zushi, and drink shirozake. Public exhibitions appear in department stores, museums, and inns.
Travel tips
Look for doll displays in hotels and museums through late February and early March. Inaka towns and castle cities often have especially beautiful sets. Shops remain open — treat it as a cultural stop, not a closure day.
Related shrines & temples
Places often visited around this day — open a shrine page or search the directory.