Iwatsuki: Strolling Through the Doll Town

Iwatsuki Ward in Saitama City has been Japan's leading doll-making region since the Edo period. About 100 workshops specializing in hina dolls and May dolls are gathered here, where visitors can observe craftsmen's handiwork up close. In doll-making experience classes, you can create your own kimekomi dolls or tsurushi-bina with your own hands. Every March, the "Iwatsuki Doll Town Street Corner Hina Tour" is held, where gorgeous hina displays line the streets throughout the town. The cherry blossoms at Iwatsuki Castle Ruins Park are also magnificent, making it perfect for spring strolls. Just 15 minutes from Omiya on the Tobu Urban Park Line.