Nestled in the hills east of Koriyama city, this traditional village refuses to forget the traditions that molded it, with Edo-era artisans preserving toymaking techniques that can be viewed from their still-active workshops.

Takashiba Dekoyashiki is located in the hills to the east of Koriyama city. A world away from the latter’s modernity, Takashiba is a craft village that refuses to lay down its tools. Goods and cultural influences from Kyoto flowed into the Tohoku region, and Kyoto’s Fushimi dolls spread there along with them. This inspired the creation of similar dolls across Tohoku, and for this reason, the doll-making tradition of Takashiba Dekoyashiki is said to follow the lineage of Kyoto’s Fushimi dolls. Fast forward to the present day, and such traditional techniques have not been discarded; rather, the historic toymaking processes remain the beating heart of the community.

Visitors can tour these workshops and enjoy painting experiences, discovering the warmth and artistry of Tohoku’s folk traditions. For example, Daisuke Hashimoto is the 11th-generation artisan of the Hikoji workshop, where his father also still works and even performs the local Hyottoko odori dance. At Hikoji, visitors can purchase traditional Miharu-goma and hariko that represent the animals of the zodiac. Visitors can then paint their own hariko, immersing themselves fully in the traditions that have sustained the spirit of this revered craft village for over 300 years.