Karakuri Ningyou

Kimonobox · 11 January 2010 · 1 min read · 2,187 views · 1 comment · Good to know ↓

Good to know

Karakuri ningyo (mechanical dolls): good to know

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027

Added by Shibuya246, separate from the original post above. Facts are checked every quarter against the sources below.

What it is: Wooden mechanical dolls from the 17th to 19th centuries, moved by gears, springs and pulleys. Small zashiki karakuri, like the famous tea-serving doll, were toys for the elite.
Where to see it: The Karakuri Exhibition Hall in Inuyama, Aichi, holds performances with live commentary at weekends.
When: The Inuyama Festival is on the first weekend of April (4-5 April in 2026). Thirteen floats each put on a karakuri doll show, and lanterns light them after dark.
Tip: Inuyama Station and Inuyama Yuen Station on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line are about 15 minutes' walk away. The festival is cancelled in rain.

Best time

Inuyama Festival floats parade on the first April weekend.

Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.

Zak 11 January 2010
I'm really amazed by those karakuri ningyou's. I've seen ones on the television that can load and shoot arrows all by itself. Complicated mechanics.