Dolls festival in Yanagawa city

March 3rd is the official date for the girls festival, but in Yanagawa it lasts about a month.
We went there on a weekday end of February and found the place still quiet; shopkeepers all ready full of anticipation.  I focussed on the displays of hina dolls outside, the brightly colored silk costumes in a spring green background and natural light.

  

Handmade silk balls are one of the traditional decorations on dolls' festival. These are exhibited on the 2nd floor of the tourist center.

A gondolier waiting for customers

It was still cold. There stray cats found a warm spot inside a sweets shop

The end of the afternoon