Urakawa Hinamatsuri

This dramatic outdoor festival transforms the 101 stone steps leading up to Urakawa Shrine into a massive hina doll display platform, lined with dolls donated by local residents. The shrine sits on a hilltop overlooking the sea, making the combination of ocean views and hundreds of dolls on the stone steps a truly spectacular sight. The event has become a beloved harbinger of spring in Hokkaido's Hidaka region. Visitors can also enjoy traditional miko (shrine maiden) dances and receive limited-edition goshuin (shrine seals). As an outdoor event dependent on weather, the display days are limited, but the beauty on clear days is extraordinary.