Hinamatsuri or Girl’s Day in Japan is celebrated with special foods, such as chirashi sushi, clam soup, and strawberry daifuku.
March 3rd is Girl’s Day in Japan and we celebrate Hinamatsuri or Doll Festival (雛祭り), wishing and praying for the future happiness of all girls.
The families who have girls will display their special Hina Dolls or Hina Ningyo (雛人形) on this special occasion. The miniature Hina Ningyo above was gifted by my best friend from Osaka long time ago, and I look forward to decorating with this ornament out every year.
When a baby girl is born, her parents or grandparents buy a set of Hina Ningyo or they pass their own set down to the girl. These dolls are dressed in costumes originally worn in the royal court during ancient times, and are displayed on a terraced stand shown below (image courtesy of Wiki).
My Other Recipes
10 Popular Menus for Hinamatsuri
In addition to the doll display, the Japanese also eat spring- and pink color- theme foods and sweets on this day to celebrate.
1. Chirashi Sushi ちらし寿司・五目寿司・ばら寿司
The Japanese typically eat Chirashi Sushi on Girls’ Day. It’s colorful and pretty, perfect for girls! I also have a quick recipe with premade Chirashi Sushi Mix that is widely available in Japanese/Asian grocery stores.
2. Temari Sushi 手まり寿司
These colorful and beautiful sushi balls are called Temari Sushi, and they are perfect for celebrating Girl’s Day! It’ll be a fun to set up a DIY Temari Sushi Party for your children or girls!
3. Chirashi Sushi Cake & Chakin Sushi ちらし寿司ケーキと茶巾寿司
If you want to make your regular chirashi sushi a bit more special, you can make this Chirashi Sushi Cake! It might look difficult to make but trust me, it’s really easy!
4. Inari Sushi 稲荷寿司
If you are looking for a finger food recipe, Inari Sushi is a perfect dish! Check out the recipe to see how I prepare this recipe. It’s slightly different from the traditional method. 😉
5. Ushio-jiru or Clam Soup うしお汁・はまぐりのお吸い物
Ushio-jiru is a clear soup made with seafood such as white fish or clams, and seasoned with only salt and sake. Clear Clam Soup is the most popular soup to go with chirashi sushi. I have a Clam Soup recipe that has miso flavor.
6. Sakura Mochi 桜餅
For desserts, you can enjoy spring-theme sweets such as Sakura Mochi. The salt pickled cherry leaf gives nice contrast to the sweet red bean mochi.
7. Strawberry Daifuku Mochi いちご大福
Another popular dessert is Strawberry Daifuku. Tangy and sweet strawberry wrapped with sweet red bean paste and soft and chewy mochi. Japanese strawberries are in season during spring, so this spring-theme dessert is perfect for Girl’s Day!
8. Hanami Dango 花見団子
Hanami Dango is enjoyed during cherry blossom viewing and these three-color rice balls (Sanshoku Dango) is a popular treat in spring!
9. Mitarashi Dango みたらし団子
Classic Mitarashi Dango is much easier to make compared to Sanshoku Dango. Enjoy the savory sweet glaze on top of chewy dango mochi!
10. Hina Arare 雛あられ
On Hinamatsuri, kids enjoy eating these rice crispy snacks called Hina Arare. The rice crackers are coated with sugar but it’s not too sweet and has a nice crisp texture. You can purchase these colorful treats in Japanese grocery stores.
ENJOY HINAMATSURI!
We hope you enjoy these Hinamatsuri menu I put together. Happy Hinamatsuri! ????
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Mar 1, 2013.
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Dina
i didn’t know about girl’s day. thanks for sharing! what a great holiday!
Kimmi
This is such a delightful celebration; thanks for including the background about Hinamatsuri. The menu that you put together is so cute — I wish I had the luxury to enjoy those dishes! Maybe I’ll go out and treat myself to something special tonight… ^^
Nami
Thank you Kimmi! Yes! Girls get to celebrate on this day. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
[email protected]
Girl’s Day!! That is super cool! Japanese girls are the prettiest women on this planet. Happy Hinamatsuri!
Denise [email protected] Brazil To You
What an interesting day and tradition, Nami!
By the way, what is the name of the first dish (made from rice and shrimp, and topped with a gorgeous edible flower)? It is gorgeous!!! Happy girl’s day for you and your daughter!!!
Nami
Thank you Denise! I edited so the link for the recipe is below the photo.
https://www.justonecookbook.com/recipes/chirashi-sushi-cake-and-temari-sushi-and-giveaway-winners/
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
What a fun holiday! And great roundup of recipes. I want to make them all, especially the inari sushi. That is my favorite!
Cristina
What a beautiful and informative post, Nami. Happy Hinamatsuri to you too! The Chirashi Sushi Cake is a work of edible art!!
Nico's Serendipity
That’s a beautiful tradition! and beautiful food!
Nazneen | Coffee and Crumpets
Y’all have the neatest traditions in Japan! I learn something fascinating every time you post Nami. All the dishes look great as usual. Happy Hinamatsuri to you and your daughter!
Nazneen
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Happy Hinamatsuri! What a festive and happy post full of delicious pictures. I know you and your beautiful girl will do something special over the weekend. Enjoy and have fun!
Orchidea
Oh… How nice celebration! And the food looks amazing… I would really like it eat all the dishes you have shown.
Ciao
Nandita
It’s so nice to have a festival especially for girls. Loved the pictures in this post nami. They look so colourful and festive 🙂
Nami
Thank you Nandita! 🙂
A_Boleyn
What a lovely tribute to young girls. I’m sure it’s a joyful celebration especially with the delightful dishes you’ve shown. Dango and mochi are 2 desserts I’ve wanted to try for a long time. Maybe someday.
Julia Yuko Lee
Thank you Nami, for sharing these recipes. They are so beautiful to look at! I have made barasushi and strawberry mochi before, but your recipes and photos help refine my technique so it will look much prettier! I appreciate you sharing your older posts since I am new to your blog…
Nami
Thank you so much for the kind words Julia! I’m not the most detailed person so I probably hide the flaw well or my camera does a good job. 😉 I made 3 separate attempts to take good looking strawberry daifuku pictures too. Thanks again!
Linda | The Urban Mrs
Wow – this is so awesome, I never knew there’s a girl’s day in Japan, but I love chirashi sushi and I will enjoy it anytime of the year. Happy girls’ day to your daughters.
The Squishy Monster
I had no idea…happy girl’s day, Nami! Wonderful recipes =)
Rowena (Apron and Sneakers)
Happy Hinamatsuri! Do only young girls celebrate it or adults are included? It’s such a wonderful tradition Nami! This reminds me somehow of the Festa della Donna (Women’s Day) which is every 8th of March and all the women receive mimosa flowers.
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen
What a wonderful celebration! Happy Girls’ Day Celebration and thanks for sharing this sushi recipes. I applaud you for these important holidays, they bring the families together! Thanks also for the kind comments and blog visits – it’s always a treat when you come to visit me, Namiko. Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy and wish you lived closer, too! All the best to you and your family 🙂
albertocook
I love this!
[email protected]
What a lovely celebration Nami! What a special day 🙂 And the Menu is even more special. Spectacular!
Liz
Nami, I love that Japan celebrates a girls day! Very cool! And, of course, you have so many delectable dishes that would be perfect for this occasion. Beautiful…every single one of them!
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings
Nami, only the best and prettiest are for cutest girls on Doll’s Day! Your creations past and present are all works of art! You are such a talented and skilled cook / food stylist / recipe writer / blogger / photographer / bento-maker / friend / mommy / wife…I don’t know how you do it! Hats off to you and I mean it!
torviewtoronto
this looks wonderful regards Akheela
Chef and Sommelier
Hi Nami! Thanks for sharing with us such interesting Japanese celebration and culture.
Is there an equivalent boy’s day?
Nami
Yes, Boy’s Day is May 5th. It’s a national holiday and also called Children’s Day. 🙂
Chef and Sommelier
That’s not quite fair? National holiday for boy’s days but not for girl’s? Haha…
Hotly Spiced
I love the idea of this. What a great way to honour girls/women. I have just picked up Alfie from a party. He went to Hiro’s party, a boy in his class who is new to the school having just arrived from Japan. He doesn’t speak much English but apparently he and Alfie are getting along beautifully! I will mention your blog to his mother xx
yummychunklet
What a great way to celebrate!
GourmetGetaways
What an amazing set of images!! Everything looks so fresh and delicious, Mr GG peered over my shoulder and thought I was looking at a restaurants shot. Just gorgeous, lovely story too 🙂
Eha
Being the mother of two girls who both have been to Japan since theri childhood and absolutely love the place, may I say a big ‘thank you’ for this lovely set of photos and explanation! Girls’ Day: heavens above – of course . . . what a gentle delight . . .
Baby Sumo
Hi Nami, thanks for sharing about this Hinamatsuri Girls Day. Something new for me, I love all the food that u can make for this special day esp your temari sushi and chirashi sushi cake!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love learning about new holidays. I wish we had a girl’s day here! 🙂
hui
happy girl’s day! thanks for compiling this yummy and gorgeous menu! i’m heading to my favorite japanese supermarket tomorrow and i’ll be looking out for a chirashi mix and inari ^^ though i really wish i dared the very pretty strawberry daifuku mochi ^^
nipponnin
キャアーかわいい! 他のお寿司なども美味しそう！
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
That sushi cake is so cool, Nami!
Belinda @zomppa
How awesome that there is a special day – a great excuse to loading special food!
Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover
Thanks for sharing ! Your Temari sushi is absolutely beautiful!
Monet
What a fun tradition/holiday. I had never heard of this before….I always learn something new and beautiful here! And all the food you shared looks just perfect. A great way to celebrate. Thank you for sharing!
Rosa
A wonderful event! Those dishes look amazing.
Cheers,
Rosa
mycookinghut
All the lovely dishes! They are making me very hungry!
Charles
Couple days late but happy hinamatsuri! 🙂
Looks like a lot of fun with lots of great food! I never knew about this custom before – do boys get a day too?
Wish we’d adopt it in the west… I remember every year on mother’s day I’d ask my parents why children never get a day, to which they’d always reply: “Every day is children’s day, darling!” – grrrrr :p
Balvinder
I didn’t know about this tradition in Japan, I think we should have this all over the world.
Lynna
Happy Hinamatsuri to you too, Nami! 🙂 What an adorable holiday! I`m loving all the recipes you linked too, especially the Inari!
Leigh Anne
Nami, I just found your website tonight and you’ve inspired me to make lots of yummy goodies for my girls tomorrow. We were planning on making mochi and manju for Hinamatsuri but the strawberry daifuku looks amazing!
Nami
Hi Leigh! Thank you for writing! I am happy to hear you found some dishes from my site that you want to give a try! I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
Bam's Kitchen
Happy Hinamatsuri Day. At first I thought this doll collection was yours, pretty impressive. Did you bring some with you to the States? All of your dishes are beautiful. When I lived in Yokohama I had the wonderful opportunity of being invited to someones home to celebrate this event. We had scattered sushi and many beautiful dishes but not any as pretty as yours. Stunning photography Nami-san. If I happen to run across special Sakura (cherry blossom) leaves to wrap mochi, I will let you know. Take Care, BAM
Ramona
What a beautiful holiday. We need that kind of holiday here in the USA to empower our girls. I would celebrated any day with your beautiful food. 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Sissi
I am no longer a small girl, but I wouldn’t mind celebrating this day every year all my life if it means having such delightful food! (By the way, I love the mini “fork” at the last photo; I can very well visualise myself using it to take the dango balls off the skewers…). Looking at the last photo, I have been wondering… do the children in Japan also drink tea? I still remember how a French friend was shocked when I said I drank tea since the age of maybe 6… Of course it was weaker than adults’ brown tea, but I don’t recall it as a step towards adolescence or adulthood (not like drinking coffee which was a sign of being adult 😉 ).
Happy Hinamatsuri!
[email protected]
Great celebration! Happy Girl’s Day! Thanks for the info, and all the great links. The food styling (and photography) on that top picture is wonderful.
mjskit
Happy Hinamatsuri to you and your family! What a great tradition! I love the display of dolls and everything surrounding this wonderful tradition. And of course, your suggested dishes for this celebration are wonderful. Each is so simple and beautiful. Can I come to dinner? 🙂
Kim Bultman | a little lunch
Nami, that is such a positive, uplifting tradition. Girls everywhere could benefit from a day set aside for celebrating them! I also like your sushi “rose” — well, ALL of the food you served!
Rhonda
Inari is one of my favorite things ever! I love the soft sweet and tangy taste of it.
Daniela
What a beautiful presentation and I’m sure it tastes great too!
I enjoy as well the information about the celebration,it’s a real fun holiday.
Yelena
Back in Russia we had International women day on March 8. But it’s similar to Valentines’s Day in US. I love Japanese traditions, you know it all ready, it’s so beautiful and so much meaning to every step. I did not know about the doll display. Very interesting Nami, thank you!
Holly | Beyond Kimchee
I didn’t know there is such a tradition in Japan. What a wonderful celebration? I like all the meal ideas you presented above. They all look scrumptious! Beautiful photography, too!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
What a fun tradition! Happy girls day to you and your family 🙂
The Ninja Baker
素敵！Your chirashi and temari sushi are exquisite, Nami-san! I’ve been seeing and enjoying =) sakura mochi in Japan. The scent of the sakura leaf wrapped around the wagashi is heavenly. とにかく、おめでとうございますcongratulations on your gorgeous Girls’ Day creations =)
Gourmantine
I knew obviously about mothers, fathers and grandmothers (celebrated in France) days, but had no idea about one for girls, so a little belated happy hinamatsuri to your beautiful little girl 🙂
ChopinandMysaucepan
Dear Nami,
I love your presentation of the chirashi sushi. It looks beautiful and delicious even without any tuna or salmon. Never knew you can even have a chirashi sushi cake!!
Happy Hinamatsuri!
ashley - baker by nature
What an amazing holiday to know about, Nami! Girl power!
chicago foodie girl
I LOVE the idea of Girl’s Day! It’s such a lovely holiday… and such a lovely menu to celebrate!
[email protected]
Oh what a great holiday 🙂 I remember my teacher telling me about it when I learned Japanese in High School many years ago hehe ~ I’ve always wanted one of those dolls at home. My grandfather was a captain of a cargo ship and during the war, his ship was in Japan so my uncle is born in Japan and they left a year later 🙂 and my grandmother bought one of these dolls and still has it today in her room 😀
Shema George
This menu looks fabulous.. Happy Girls day to you too!!
Ella-Home Cooking Adventure
We celebrate Girl/Mother Day on March 8, but don’t really have a ritual of the day. Just small gifts as appreciation and love. Great selection of recipes as always:).
Diana
Oh how I remember celebrating girls day in Los Angeles in Little Tokyo as I was growing up. My favorite was dango and chicken teriyaki on a stick with all the sweets I can eat. I still have my small doll collection that my mother started for me 58 years ago. Thanks for sharing this day with everyone.
Nami
Hi Diana! Thank you so much for writing and sharing your story! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this post! 🙂
Hannah
What a marvelous holiday, Nami! Thank you for sharing about it. And such a beautiful menu! I hope you and your daughter enjoyed a wonderful girl’s day celebration!
Lail | With A Spin
Belated Happy Hinamatsuri! Didn’t know about this celebration, thanks for sharing.
All these food reminds me of my Japan trip and the delicious food I had the pleasure to try.
Asmita
What a great holiday! All your food looks awesome! I really wish I was your neighbor!
Jill Colonna
What a wonderful celebration and it’s very fitting since I’ve just become an Auntie again to another beautiful niece! Love all of your suggestions to celebrate in style, Nami.
Linda
Was picking up sakura mochi at Shuei-Do in San Jose J-town and noticed that the Nijiya across the street had the cherry and oak leaves. Maybe the Nijiya near you also has it too? Would be fun to try your recipe for this holiday favorite!
Nami
Hi Linda! You saw Nijiya selling cherry and oak leaves?? Really!!! I am going to check! I go to Nijiya all the time and how did I miss this opportunity… Thank you so much for letting me know! 🙂
Akemi
Hi Nami! I really love the recipes you post. I’m half Japanese and half Chinese and I love to experiment making Japanese food and trying out variations of my favorite dishes. I work at a Japanese supermarket in Berkeley called Tokyo Fish Market and we just started carrying Sakura leaves. So if you’re ever in the east bay you should stop by 🙂
Nami
Hi Akemi-san! You are like my daughter – half Chinese and half Japanese. 🙂 I’ve never had a chance to visit Tokyo Fish Market before but I should check it out! Thank you for letting me know about sakura leaves! So during end of March they start carrying.. I need to remember. Maybe I was looking for it too early. Thank you so much for writing!
By the way, Tokyo Fish Market is one of the few stores who carry my favorite rice from Far West Rice “Komachi”. The rice is only sold on some stores in the Bay Area, so I’m happy that Tokyo Fish Market is one of them! 🙂
Laura @ Family Spice
Oh yeah, girls rock! I’m still gaga over your Temari Sushi – so lovely!
Elisa Zita
Hello I am Italiana and I love the recipes you have put together I eat japanese foods as the diet is refreshing and very healthy my dream is to go to japan to live Thank you yes I now about the dolls so sweet Arigato! Sayonara .
Nami
Hi Elisa! Thank you so much for following my blog! I hope you can visit Japan one day. Thank you very much for writing! 🙂
Sasha
I forgot about hinamatsuri! (Like every year) Ah, but this reminded me……I’ll go set up our dolls now! (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ
Nami
Hi Sasha! Hope you had a wonderful Hinamatsuri! 🙂
John/Kitchen Riffs
Happy Hinamatsuri! Fun celebration. And fun collection of recipes you’ve listed to help us in our celebrations. 🙂 Thanks!
Tina Chua
Hi Nami
I’m Tina again.I’m thinking of cooking your miso salmon soon.When i read your recipe u said to marinade 3omins-1 hr maximum.But when i read your recipe for miso cod, u marinated it min overnight.Why is there such a great difference in d marinating time for the 2 fish ?Both of them are also oily fish.
Nami
Hi Tina! Traditionally, Misozuke 味噌漬け is a way to preserve the fish for a long time, which is why you marinate the fish with miso for a long time. However, this recipe is just for marinating and cooking. 🙂
mjskitchen
What a fun custom and a great excuse for enjoying Nami’s fabulous food1