From About.com:
March 3 is Japanese Girl's Day called hina matsuri (hina doll festival) or momo no sekku (peach flower festival). A set of hina dolls wearing ancient kimono is displayed at homes of Japanese girls. An ohina-sama doll (the Empress) and an odairi-sama doll (the Emperor) are set on the top shelf. Then, sannin-kanjo dolls (three court women), gonin bayashi dolls (five court musicians), and more dolls, and hina-arare (rice crackers) and hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) are placed on other shelves. It's the day to pray for girls' happiness and health, eating special food, such as chirashi-zushi (colorful sushi), clam soup, sakura mochi (sweet rice cakes), and more.At the Yokohama Doll Museum, the hina dolls (Girls’ Day dolls) are exhibited from February to March every year. See link for more information about the displays, hours and admission prices. From the Minato Mirai Line: 2 minutes walk from Exit #4 of Motomachi/Chuukagai Station.
Excerpt. Read more at gojapan.about.com
* The Stripes Kanto link will automatically update to the latest edition. Expect this to occur on the Wednesday prior to the Friday publication date. If you'd like to read the article and missed the online version or the paper copy, let me know - I am now saving the online files.
