Yurihonjo Hinakaido (由利本荘ひな街道) (otherwise known as Machinaka Hina Meguri (由利本荘町中ひなめぐり))
is the name of an annual traditional doll display festival in Yurihonjo City in Akita Prefecture in Japan.
The Japanese Doll Festival (雛祭り, Hina-matsuri), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3, the third day of the third month. Traditionally, families with daughters display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形, hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period. The dolls are placed on platforms with a red decoration sheet called a hi-mōsen.
The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. People believed the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi (雛流し, lit. "doll floating"), in which straw hina dolls were placed on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking bad or evil spirits with them. The Shimogamo Shrine (part of the Kamo Shrine complex) in Kyoto) celebrates the Nagashibina by floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children.
The Shonai area across the border from Yurihonjo in Yamagata Prefecture used to be an important port of call and trading centre for the 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.
For many years Shonai has organised tours with information and maps to enable people to see the beautiful craftwork of these Hina dolls at various places around the city. Many of them are in immaculate condition and date back hundreds of years, having passed down from generation to generation.
From the end of February until the beginning of March there is a bus tour which takes visitors around the various homes and buildings where the traditional Hina Dolls are on display. Some of the most notable displays are in the Honma Art Museum (本間美術館, Honma Bijutsukan), Soumaro Tea House (相馬楼茶間, Soumarou Chama) & Chido Museum (致道博物館, Chidou Hakubutsukan).
In 2006 the new city of Yurihonjo was created as a result of a merger of 7 towns and 1 city. Many of these towns already had their own small-scale hina doll displays, most notably in Yashima. In 2008 the first Yurihonjo Kaido took place, largely based around the Yashima area.
In 2009 the Yurihonjo Hinakaido tried to encompass the different areas of the city with over 50 different locations divided into four main areas: Iwaki in the north; Ouchi and Honjo in the centre; and Yashima in the south. There were various other 'side' events including a special Ohinakko (おひなっこ列車) train service taking visitors to the Yashima hina exhibitiion on the Yurikogen Railway (由利高原鉄道). The Hina doll displays vary greatly in size, history and style. For example, the historical dolls on display at the Ooi House (大井家) in Yashima; or the comical servant figures at the Ouchi Denshokan (大内伝承館) or the 'oshie' Hina pictures at the Iwaki Local History Museum (岩城歴史民俗資料館, Iwaki Rekishi Minzoku Shiryoukan)
The Yurihonjo Hinakaido (由利本荘ひな街道) is coordinated by the Akita Prefecture Yuri Regional Development Office (秋田県由利地域振興局).
The displays in the 5 public halls run from 7th February until 19th April. The exhibitions are open daily from 9am until 4/5pm, except Monday when they are closed. In most cases the admission is free but there is a small admission charge at the 2 museums in Kameda and Iwaki.
The Machinaka Hina Meguri (町中ひなめぐり) runs from March 1st 2009 until March 22nd. There are over 50 locations, in shops, hotels and officies, where people can drop by and see traditional Hina Doll displays, often dating back in the same family for hundreds of years. Maps are available which give details of each of the locations.
A symposium on February 22nd will invite guests associated with the Shonai Hinakaido and draw on the role of the Hina Kaido in Shonai local tourism.
Kameda Castle Sato Yasohachi Art Museum (亀田城佐藤八十八美術館, kamedajou Sato Yasohachi Bijutsukan) [1]
Iwaki Local History Museum (岩城歴史民俗資料館, Iwaki Rekishi Minzoku Shiryoukan)
Ouchi Denshokan (大内伝承館)
Honjo Kyodoshiryoukan (本荘郷土資料館)
Yashima Kyodo Bunka Hozon Denshu Shisetsu (矢島郷土文化保存伝習施設)
