Hinamatsuri is held on March 3rd. For families with daughters, it's a busy day with preparations such as setting up the Hinadan and preparing chirashizushi. It's even more difficult if your child is lively. So, this time, we'll suggest a Hinamatsuri where you can celebrate in a kimono and let your child play. We've looked into basic information about Hinamatsuri, visiting Meiji Shrine in Shinjuku, one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo, and finding spots where you can have so much fun that you'll fall asleep from playing, so please use this as a reference.

 

 

A general explanation of Hinamatsuri

・What is Hinamatsuri?

The purpose of Hinamatsuri is to celebrate and pray for the healthy growth of children. People celebrate by displaying Hina dolls and offering them hishi-mochi rice cakes, white sake, and peach blossoms. The Hina dolls are meant to stand in for children and protect them from illness and injury, and to pray for their healthy growth. They are generally put up from the beginning of spring after Setsubun until February 24th. Incidentally, the reason the Hina dolls are put away immediately after the festival is over is because it is meant to convey the message that "if you can't put them away properly, you won't be able to become a good bride."

 

・What do you eat on Hinamatsuri?

Standard treats include chirashi sushi, auspicious conch shells, hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes), hina arare (rice crackers), white sake, amazake (sweet sake), and toukashu (peach blossom wine).

 

●Why celebrating in a kimono is recommended

・I'm sure there are some children who look at the Hina dolls displayed at home and ask to wear such cute clothes. If you surprise them by dressing them in Japanese clothes, they will feel like princesses. Moving around in a kimono, which they are not used to, will take up a lot of energy, so they will surely sleep soundly at night.

 

●Kimono rental is available for people of all ages

For mothers who think they will only wear it once and don't plan on reusing it, we recommend renting a kimono. Kimono Rental VASARA also offers kimonos for children up to 90cm tall. With the Children's Standard plan, you can rent a set including dressing for an online reservation price of 3,900 yen (excluding tax).

 

You can see kimonos for children here. ↓

https://vasara-h.co.jp/kimono/

 

You may be worried that you might get the kimono dirty, but if you add the 300 yen option called the Anshin Pack 300 at VASARA Kimono Rental, we will guarantee cleaning and repair costs up to 50,000 yen. This is perfect for a daughter who often spills food.

 

There are 21 VASARA kimono rental stores nationwide. Please feel free to visit the store nearest you.

Please check the store information here. ↓

https://vasara-h.co.jp/shop/

 

Please take a look at the hanging dolls at Keio Plaza Hotel.

 

 

Decorating the Hina dolls and doll stands at home can be quite a time-consuming process, so show your children some beautifully displayed Hina dolls outside instead of inside the home.

Keio Plaza Hotel has Hina dolls and decorated Hina dolls that you can see for free. It's about a 15-minute walk from the VASARA Kimono Rental Shinjuku Station store, so it's just a short walk away.

On display at the Keio Plaza Hotel are dolls from Shintaro Dolls, which are recognized by Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto as the only authentic successors of Kimekomi dolls, and about 6,800 of these impressive ornamental decorations. Your daughter will surely be delighted.

 

In addition, delicious meals will be available exclusively for Hinamatsuri. For more details, please click here.

https://www.keioplaza.co.jp/event/hinalunch

 

●Pray at Meiji Shrine

 

It is best to take a bus or a taxi from Keio Plaza Hotel to Meiji Shrine. It is a one-meter taxi ride, so it will be cheaper if you are traveling with your child.

A regular visit to the shrine is enough, but it might be a good idea to participate in the "Jingu no Mori Hinamatsuri Children's Tournament" held from 9:30 on March 3rd. This event allows you to try on "Nagashi Hina" dolls, receive prayers, and participate in craft experiences, all for free. Applications must be made by phone, so please contact us if you are interested. By the way, please note that if you participate in this event, it will be difficult to celebrate in a kimono due to the time it takes to get dressed.

Please see here for application details.

http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/event/2.html

 

●Let's have fun at Shinjuku Gyoen

 

Taking a taxi from Meiji Shrine to Shinjuku Gyoen is also a good way to get there. It will only cost you one meter. Shinjuku Gyoen has a large lawn area, a large greenhouse, and Japanese, English, and French style gardens, so there are plenty of things to see. It's been getting warmer recently, so it might be nice to spend the day here having a picnic. Finally, you can return your kimono to the VASARA Kimono Rental Shop in front of Shinjuku Station, which is only a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoen. It's also easy to go back.

 

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our recommended route plan for celebrating Hinamatsuri in Shinjuku. It's easier than preparing at home and is perfect for creating memories with the whole family. Our kimono rental shop, VASARA Shinjuku Station, is often used for summer fireworks festivals, so if you enjoy Hinamatsuri, we hope you'll use it again in the summer.