Official Website of the Saitama Convention & Visitors Bureau - Saitama Convention and Visitors Bureau

Paulownia lumber (kiri) has been produced in the area around Iwatsuki since long in the past and the production of dolls made of paulownia sawdust mixed with glue and hardened has flourished here. It currently ranks at the top in Japan both in quality and quantity and, besides dolls for the Boys’ and Girls’ Festivals, so-called Edo kimekomi dolls as well as dancing and costume dolls are shipped nationwide.

Togyoku Doll Museum This doll museum developed based on the outstanding Togyoku collection. The collection is diverse and the exhibits include imperial court dolls, hina (Girls’ Festival) dolls, hagoita (battledore) dolls, samurai (Boys’ Festival) dolls, costume dolls, puppets, windup mechanical dolls and the superb works of contemporary master dollmakers as well as dolls from overseas. In addition, besides a doll workshop for observing doll making and a shop that sells small Japanese style articles, there is also a workshop for hands-on experiences in actually making ema (horse picture tablets), dolls and other items.

Tokyu Doll Museum The exhibit boasts of some 1,000 dolls including the Iwatsuki ganso kamishimo hina doll as well as tachibina, Kaneibina, Genrokubina, Kyohobina and other dolls from long in the past and works by contemporary dollmakers. The doll making process, small articles and other items are also on display. In addition, there is also a shop that sells small Japanese style articles and an area for real experiences on a reservation basis.