Handmade decorations for Hinamatsuri. Ideas for decorations to celebrate the Peach Festival.
Also known as the Peach Festival, Hinamatsuri is a traditional Japanese event celebrated on March 3, when people display Hina dolls to pray for girls’ health and growth.
While it’s customary to set up a full Hina doll set, some people may feel, “I want to display Hina dolls, but I don’t have any.”
In this article, we’ve gathered ideas for handmade items to decorate for Hinamatsuri.
We’ll introduce classics like Hina dolls, as well as items displayed alongside them, such as hishimochi (layered rice cakes) and temari balls.
Enjoy making handmade Hinamatsuri decorations that let you have fun with sewing and crafting.
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Handmade decorations for Hinamatsuri. Ideas for decorations to celebrate the Peach Festival (1–10)
Japanese-style wreath
A glamorous Japanese-style wreath made with fabric features Japanese-patterned cloth as the key point.
For the base, use a willow wreath from a 100-yen shop and green foliage like goldcrest, which you often see during the Christmas season.
First, cut the foliage and attach it to the wreath.
For the flowers, use larger blooms in different colors, such as dahlias and spider chrysanthemums, and smaller ones like snowballs and hydrangeas, using only the heads by removing or cutting them.
The best part is that, despite involving no complicated steps—basically just cutting, inserting, and gluing with a hot glue gun—you can achieve a luxurious look.
folding fan
A glamorous, glittering fan is essential for hina doll displays.
You can make one with origami, so give it a try! Prepare floral-patterned or gold origami paper.
With the patterned side facing inward, make vertical creases to divide the paper into eight equal sections.
Then fold it in half with the back side out, and layer the folds to form a fan shape.
Finally, fold it in half from the center and glue it together—your origami fan is complete.
The folding method isn’t too complicated, so it’s a great activity to try with children!
temari (Japanese handball/embroidered decorative ball)
Temari balls have long been loved as toys for girls and are now cherished as handicrafts as well.
They also carry parents’ wishes for their children’s healthy growth and a happy life, making them perfect for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).
Traditionally, making a temari involves a complex process: wrapping thread around a core many times and then adding patterns with stitching.
However, you can easily make one by attaching cute patterned fabric or washi paper to a Styrofoam sphere available at 100-yen shops.
Give it a try and create temari balls in a variety of patterns!
Handmade decorations for Hinamatsuri. Ideas for decorations to celebrate the Peach Festival (11–20)
paper fan
Decorating with cute paper fans will brighten up your room.
Paper fans are accordion-folded, circular decoration items.
You often see them at party venues, right? Let’s arrange those in designs suited for Hinamatsuri and finish them up.
Try using washi-patterned paper that evokes Japanese history or red paper that recalls Hinamatsuri.
By the way, sometimes a hole may appear in the center, but you can fix it by attaching a backing sheet on the reverse side.
Origami Hina Dolls
Here’s an idea for folding a Hina doll (Ohinasama) with origami.
If you fold the body and the crown separately, it will look more realistic.
The choice of paper is also important.
You can pick your favorite colors, but using Japanese-patterned origami is recommended for a more refined, traditional look.
Once you’ve finished, try making the Odairisama (the Emperor doll) next.
Displaying them together enhances the Hinamatsuri atmosphere.
For that one, it’s best to use origami in colors that complement the Ohinasama.
Photo frame
Here’s an idea for a photo frame that can be displayed compactly.
In this project, you create the Emperor and Empress dolls (odairi-sama and ohina-sama) using tsumami-zaiku inside the photo frame.
It looks lovely in a traditional style, but you could also make it cute by using animals or other motifs.
I also recommend putting thought into the background.
By arranging beads in a balanced way, you can create a sense of depth in the frame.
Once you learn this idea, you’ll likely be able to adapt it for other seasonal events as well.
hair accessory
Many people want to dress up and celebrate Hinamatsuri (the Doll’s Festival).
One idea we’d like to introduce is making your own hair accessory.
First, prepare a simple base hairpiece and decorate it.
You can even buy hair accessories at 100-yen shops.
Next, use tsumami-zaiku (folded fabric craft) to create motifs that evoke Hinamatsuri—such as flowers or rabbits—and attach them.
Decide what kind of hair accessory you want to make and gather the materials.
A unique, handmade hairpiece can also serve as an accent to your outfit.