Kanto · ChibaCultural
Tens of thousands of hina dolls fill this seaside town for Doll’s Day, most strikingly cascading down 60 stone shrine steps.
Overview
Hinamatsuri, Japan’s Doll’s Festival, is usually a modest home display, but the coastal town of Katsuura in Chiba turns it into a town-wide spectacle. Around 30,000 hina dolls are arranged across shrines, temples, shops and public spaces, making it one of the largest displays of its kind in the country.
The signature sight is the 60-step stone stairway of Tomisaki Shrine, banked from top to bottom with tiered rows of dolls.
When & Where
The 2026 edition runs from February 21 to March 3 in central Katsuura. Main venues include Tomisaki Shrine, the Katsuura Art and Culture Exchange Center, Kakuo-ji temple and the central shopping street.
Nearest station: JR Katsuura Station on the Sotobo Line.
Getting There
Katsuura sits on the Pacific side of the Boso Peninsula, about 90 minutes to two hours from central Tokyo via the Sotobo Line (a limited express from Tokyo Station shortens the trip). The main displays are a 10-minute walk from Katsuura Station and easy to reach on foot.
What to Expect
Beyond the famous shrine steps, dolls appear in shopfront windows, along arcades and inside community halls, so the whole town becomes an open-air exhibition. On clear evenings the Tomisaki Shrine display is lit up, and the stairway glows above the harbour town.
Tickets & Access
Viewing the displays is free. Katsuura is also known for its long-running morning market, worth pairing with a doll-festival visit.
Tips for Visitors
The Tomisaki Shrine steps are the must-see, and are photographed best in late afternoon or during the evening light-up. Weekends are busiest; a weekday visit gives you the stairway with fewer crowds. Note that the outdoor step display is packed away in bad weather.
Access and Map
| Dates | February 21 – March 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Tomisaki Shrine and central venues, Katsuura, Chiba |
| Access | ~10 min walk from JR Katsuura Station (Sotobo Line) |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Katsuura City Tourism Association |
Source: Katsuura City Tourism Association
Image: Photo: Soica2001 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
