Hinamatsuri a.k.a. Doll's Day

As the snow is slowly melting away within the Takayama city, hints of spring can be found here and there, and we are seeing more sunlight now after being almost deprived of it for two whole months. Before the sakura blossoms in April, Takayama city also has something to offer, at a time when the temperature during the day is more suited for taking a stroll outdoors. What I am referring to is the Hinamatsuri,  or Doll's Day, which falls on March 3, a festival celebrated throughout Japan. In Takayama, the festival will run for more than a month, from March 1 to April 3, during which dolls representing a range of roles, including emperor, empress and musicians, in beautiful traditional court dress will be displayed in a variety of locations within the city. Don't miss your chance to take a close look at these beautifully dressed dolls as they will only be on display within the specified period. Don't count on people offering a longer display as superstition has it that leaving the dolls beyond March 4 will lead to a late marriage of a daughter: who would want that?