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Makabe Machi


 

shikaku Access

Drive north on Rt.408 (Higashi-Odori). Turn right and then left so that you go toward Mt. Tsukuba. Stay on the road (Rt.14) passing the road to Mt .Tsukuba until you come to the "Ta" intersection (at 15.9km from KEK).You can park your car near festival place.

Public transportation is not a considerable option for this, unless you are willing to take whole day for just getting there. You might as well take a bicycle although it is a bit painful distance. The "Rin rin " road ( bicycle only, used to be a train track ) north will get you very close to the festival.

Only during the Doll festival period (February 14 to March 3 for 2009) bus service is available between Tsukuba Center and Makabe [pdf]

 

shikaku Hinakazari Festival

   http://www.makabe-hina.com/  (Japanese)

makabe

"Hina" means a doll here. The little town some 18km north of KEK, started the festival since 2003 .Many family keeps Hina dolls which are displayed on a tiered platform on and beforeMarch 3rd. The dolls represents empereor, empress, attendants and musicians in ancient court dress (of around Heian period: 794-1185).This custom of displaying the dolls of emperor's court became popular in mid Edo era (1603-1867), when Emperor's power was lost and samurai worriers (General Tokugawa's family) took over the contol of Japan. The costoms is said to have originated from chinese custom.

Anyway, if you go to Makabe, you can see very old to modern Hina dolls displayed in over 100 houses, open to public in day time. You can see the dolls in ancient costume of Japan. (free of change) The festival will be held between early February and March 3rd. from 10:00 am to 17:00.

 

shikaku Map

makabemap