murmurMakabe Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival)
Sakuragawa City · Historic town center of Makabe and surrounding area
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Sakuragawa Tourism Association · Last checked: Oct 10, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Feb 4 – Mar 3, 2026 （Ended）
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually early February
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Dates are announced each year by the organizing committee (Feb 4 – Mar 3 in 2026)
- Venue
- Historic town center of Makabe and surrounding area
- City
- Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki
About
For about a month from early February to Girls' Day on March 3, hina dolls fill the historic streets of Makabe in Sakuragawa. They are displayed in more than 100 shops and homes, and the event now draws around 70,000 visitors. Viewing and entry are free; the fun is in wandering the old townscape and looking in at each display. On some weekends and holidays the centre is closed to cars. Many shops are closed on Wednesdays, so plan your day accordingly. It all started at the end of 2002, when a group of residents looking for ways to revive the town wanted to welcome visitors during the cold months; the idea of displaying hina dolls around town took shape, and the first event was held in February 2003.
Sources
- OfficialSakuragawa Tourism Association www.kankou-sakuragawa.jp
- OfficialIbaraki Prefecture Tourism (Kanko Ibaraki) www.ibarakiguide.jp
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.