Photo by Zao Kokeshi Museum
Photo by Roger Smith
Photo by Roger Smith
Located a stone’s throw from Togatta Onsen, the Zao Kokeshi Museum boasts boasts a collection of kokeshi dolls 5,500 strong—the largest in Japan! Kokeshi are a traditional craft that originated in the hot springs regions of northern Japan. Characteristics such as the shapes and facial features of the dolls are unique to each region. At the Zao Kokeshi Museum, you can wander through displays of kokeshi from all over the Tohoku region. If you time your visit right, you may be lucky enough to witness a kokeshi artisan at work. Visitors can also try their hand at painting their own original kokeshi.
WEBSITEhttp://kokeshizao.com/
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AreaMt. Zao