Hina dolls that are gently looking over the rushing Kuma River

Hot spring

Kuma River, one of the three most rapid rivers in Japan, and Hitoyoshi City, a hot-spring castle town. Looking around to find the signs of a lost ancient puppet

A 700-year-old Japanese heritage, nurtured by Hina Matsuri and Sagara

Hitoyoshi Craft Park Ishinokoen (Hitoyoshi City)

Hitoyoshi Kuma, a historical castle town where many cultural assets that tell the 700-year history of the Sagara Clan can be found.
”Kuma River Boat Cruise” is a cruise down the Kuma River, one of the three most raid rivers in Japan, on a wooden boat. Many other tourist attractions are available, including hot springs and national treasures, such as Aoi Aso Shrine.
Individual Hina dolls are exhibited at more than 100 places, giving the whole street the colors of Hina dolls
Like always, this year’s theme is ”Hinamatsuri that pleases all girls and women” and there will be various limited services for female visitors being offered.
At Hitoyoshi Hina Street (Kokonoka Town and Itsuka Town), visitors can decorate Hina dolls in shop windows and inside the shops to enjoy both Hina Matsuri and shopping.
In addition, with various ancient buildings ranging from a blacksmith, a miso and soy sauce storehouse, a mountain product storehouse, etc. the Hitoyoshi Hina Street (Kajiyamachi Street) gives the feeling of an old castle town that is lined up with Hina dolls.
Visitors to the Hitoyoshi Craft Park at Ishino Koen can try a hands-on experience in making original items, such as ”Hina battledore”, ”clay Ohina-sama”, ”Ohina-sama strap”, ”Ohina-sama glass”, ”Kumamon-bina”, etc. In addition, unique and interesting Hina dolls made by skillful craftsmen are also worthy to be seen.
Furthermore, not only seeing Ohina-sama, visitors can also enjoy many foods and sweets that use delicious ingredients from Hitoyoshi and Kuma area. ”Hina Gozen” and ”Hina Kaiseki”, which are lunch menus served by the Hitoyoshi Hot Spring Okami Association Sakura, are well-known, as well as the ”Hina Stay Pack”, a bargain stay plan.
Enjoy spring in Hitoyoshi Kuma where all girls and women will be pampered. We hope you will have a wonderful time and enjoy the local hospitality in this beautiful town.

National Treasure Aoi Aso Shrine

The Hitoyoshi Kuma area is unique because it was governed by the Sagara Clan for about 700 years, from the Kamakura Period to the Meiji Restoration.
The Sagara Clan respected various cultures, such as Um-Sum Carta and Kuma Shochu, and also adopted new technologies, such as the use of a city’s architectural style at temples and shrines, and preserved and inherited various temples and shrines with historical and cultural values, such as the National Treasure Aoi Aso Shrine and the Buddha statue as important objects of faith.