Create your own paper Tanabata dolls in a special family-friendly workshop led by expert doll makers Mimura Takahiko and Mimura Shūko of Belleamie Doll Shop in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.

Tanabata is a summer festival celebrating the legendary meeting of two stars, Orihime, a weaver, and Hikoboshi, a cowherder. Separated by the Milky Way, the pair are only able to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.

While Tanabata is widely celebrated in Japan on 7 July, people in Matsumoto refer to the old lunar calendar and typically celebrate it a month later in August.

Across Japan, Tanabata is marked with colourful bamboo decorations. In Matsumoto, families have also observed a distinctive local tradition since the Edo period (1603–1868), hanging handmade dolls of Orihime and Hikoboshi from the eaves of their homes.

The workshop begins with a short talk introducing the history of Matsumoto’s Tanabata dolls and their significance in the city’s Tanabata celebrations. Participants then create their own pair of paper dolls to take home and display as a decoration for Tanabata.

This workshop forms part of a wider programme exploring the history and culture of Matsumoto including a talk on the historical significance of Matsumoto Castle on Thursday 30 July and a talk and demonstration on the city’s Oshi–e-bina doll-making tradition on Friday 31 July.

The event series is presented as part of the Spotlight on Local Japan Programme, organized in collaboration with Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), which accepts applications from potential collaborators based in Japan to co-create cultural events presenting Japan’s regional diversity at Japan House London

Tickets for the event are non-refundable. Please read our Terms and Conditions for Event Tickets before purchasing your ticket.

Please note that filming and photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.

 

About the instructors

Mimura Takahiko and Mimura Shūko (Belleamie Doll Shop)

Mimura Takahiko and Mimura Shūko are doll makers at Belleamie Doll Shop in Matsumoto, a family-run studio which first opened in 1957. Continuing a legacy established by Takahiko’s parents, they specialize in the creation and restoration of Matsumoto Oshi-e-bina and Tanabata dolls, crafts deeply embedded in local culture. Their work has been featured in museums, media and global touring exhibitions, contributing to the recognition of Matsumoto Oshi-e-bina as a designated Nagano Prefecture Traditional Craft in 2025.