Searching for Hina Dolls in Iwatsuki, the City of Dolls

Iwatsuki Ward in Saitama City is a city of dolls with a history spanning from the Edo period. Along the Nikko Onari Kaido, about 30 doll manufacturing and sales shops are lined up, where you can purchase hina dolls, May dolls, Ichimatsu dolls, and more directly from craftsmen. The appeal is being able to see the warmth of handmade craftsmanship and intricate techniques up close, which you won't find in mass-produced items. Viewing and purchasing are possible even outside of seasonal festival periods, and some shops offer doll-making demonstrations. It's a shopping experience where you can encounter Japanese traditional crafts.