{"id":168660,"date":"2025-02-04T18:48:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?post_type=event&p=168660&lang=en"},"modified":"2025-03-14T16:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T07:47:58","slug":"yanagawa-hina-festival-2025","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/event\/yanagawa-hina-festival-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Yanagawa Hina Festival 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dazzling Tradition of Sagemon at Yanagawa’s Hina Festival<\/strong>
\nEach year, from early February, the city of Yanagawa becomes a vibrant tableau of tradition and celebration with its Hina Festival. This event is highlighted by the display of Hina dolls and the unique hanging decorations known as “Sagemon,” signifying wishes for the healthy growth of girls. The entire town participates in this festive occasion, transforming Yanagawa into a picturesque scene of cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

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Sagemon, Yanagawa’s Distinctive Hina Decoration<\/strong>
\nSagemon decorations are a distinctive tradition of the Yanagawa region, symbolizing items that are hung (sage) to celebrate. Originating in the late Edo period, the custom began when families celebrated a girl’s first seasonal festival by creating and hanging small items made from fabric scraps. These decorations typically include forty-nine fabric crafts shaped like auspicious figures such as cranes and rabbits, alongside two Yanagawa marbles, all displayed with Hina dolls. Embedded within each Sagemon are the heartfelt wishes of mothers, grandmothers, and relatives for happiness and health.<\/p>\n

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Yanagawa Hina Festival Sagemon Tour<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Dates: February 11 (Tue., hol.) to April 3 (Thu.), 2025
\n\u2022 Location: Central Yanagawa City, Fukuoka, from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station to the Okinohata area.
\n\u2022 For a guide to the Sagemon tour, refer to the official 2025 map (PDF)<\/a>
\n\u2022 Yanagawa City\u2019s website, marking the 31st “Yanagawa Hina Festival Sagemon Meguri<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

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Must-Visit Sagemon Spots<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Okinohata Sagemon Park<\/strong> (83 Inarimachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>):
\nAdorned with the warrior banners of Tachibana Muneshige and Ginchiyo and a 100m long Sagemon scroll, the park illuminates with lanterns by night, creating a magical atmosphere.<\/p>\n

2. Yanagawa Shopping Street<\/strong> (from “Kyomachi” intersection to “Tsuji Machi” intersection<\/a>) and Yanagawa Yokamon-kan<\/strong> (13-1 Kyomachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>):
\nThe streets glow under the Sagemon lights, and the Yanagawa Yokamon-kan showcases the largest Sagemon decorations, representing the pinnacle of this local craft.<\/p>\n

3. Tachibana Residence “Ohana”<\/strong> (1 Shinhokamachi,, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>):
\nAdmission: \u00a51,000 for adults, \u00a5500 for high school students, \u00a5400 for elementary and junior high school students.<\/p>\n

4. Yanagawa City Tourist Information Office<\/strong> (35 Okinohata-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>)<\/p>\n

5. Hakushu Kitahara Memorial Hall<\/strong> (55-1 Okinohata-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>):
\nAdmission: \u00a5600 for adults, \u00a5450 for students, \u00a5250 for children.<\/p>\n

6. Former Toshima Residence<\/strong> (49-3 Ondo-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>):
\nAdmission is \u00a5100, free for visitors to the Hakushu Kitahara Memorial Hall.<\/p>\n

Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty and tradition of the Yanagawa Hina Festival, a celebration that brings together the community and visitors in honoring cultural heritage and the hopes for the future.<\/p>\n

\"Yanagawa<\/p>\n

Sagemon Meguri 2025: A Guide to Yanagawa’s Hina Doll Festival Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Feb. 11 (Tue., hol.), starting at 10:00 AM<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Opening Ceremony & Parade<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Location: Hiyoshi Shrine (6-1 Sakamoto-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka<\/a>)
\n\u2022 Details: The festival kicks off with a prayer ceremony at Hiyoshi Shrine, followed by a vibrant parade. Participants dressed as the Emperor and Empress dolls, three court ladies, and five musicians, along with children pulling carts, make their way from Hiyoshi Shrine to Fujiyoshi Elementary School.<\/p>\n

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Mar. 9 (Sun.) from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yanagawa Kimono Day<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Offer: Visitors in kimonos receive a lottery ticket of Yanagawa souvenirs (first 100 visitors) and discount entry tickets to tourist facilities when visiting the Yanagawa Tourist Information Office.<\/p>\n

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Mar. 16 (Sun.) <\/del> Mar. 20 (Thu., hol.)<\/span>,<\/span> 11:00 AM to 12:20 PM<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hina Doll Water Parade<\/strong>
\n*Due to forecasted rain, the water parade has been postponed to Mar. 20 (Thu., hol.)<\/span>
\n\u2022 Route: From Okinohata to Mihashira Shrine
\n\u2022 Highlights: The parade’s most exciting moment with children and mothers in elaborate costumes on “Donko” boats. A must-see event that attracts crowds along the shore. In case of rain, postponed to March 20 (Thu., hol.).<\/p>\n

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Apr. 3 (Thu.), starting at 10:00 AM<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Floating Hina Festival<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Location: Moat in front of Suito Yanagawa (Yanagawa Civic Cultural Hall)
\n\u2022 Event: The grand finale where children set paper Hina dolls with written wishes afloat on the moat.<\/p>\n

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Rental Cycles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Explore Sagemon spots and unique tourist attractions like the Ariake Sea’s reclaimed lands with convenient rental cycles.<\/p>\n

Yanagawa City Tourist Information Office<\/strong>
\n\u2022 \u00a5800 per day (revised rates as of February 11, 2025)
\n\u2022 35 Okinohata-machi, Yanagawa<\/a>
\n\u2022 0944-74-0891<\/a><\/p>\n

Daito Enterprises<\/strong>
\n\u2022 \u00a5500 per day
\n\u2022 8-9 Jogu-machi, Yanagawa<\/a>
\n\u2022 0944-72-7900<\/a><\/p>\n

Kyushu Live – Livestream<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hina Doll Water Parade <\/strong>(Mar. 17, 2024)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/-RxZcYhcIqw?si=MzGzF7llK6maeyMz<\/a><\/p>\n