Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Hosts Hina-matsuri Girls’ Doll Festival Exhibition
6,800 Magnificent and Ornate Decorations and Incense Displayed

 TOKYO - Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (KPH), one of Japan’s most prestigious international hotels located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will host a special exhibition entitled “Hina-matsuri (Japan’s Traditional Girls’ Doll Festival)” where 6,800 magnificent and ornate handmade dolls and other traditional decorations will be displayed and be held in the lobby from February 1 to March 29, 2018. The exhibition this year will also have a special corner highlighting the history and tradition of Japanese incense culture.

Incense burner made of Wajima lacquer

 Incense arrived during the Asuka Period of Japan (From 592 to 710) originally as part of the Buddhist religion from overseas. Over time, incense became an intrinsic part of daily grooming of Japanese, and later became an important part of Japanese artistic culture helping to reflect the mood of its song and seasons. In the Heian Period (From 794 to 1185), aristocratic Japanese began mixing various incense materials to be used as perfumes for clothing, to be given as presents and to become an intrinsic part of aesthetic Japanese culture. During the Kamakura Period (From 1185 to 1333), Japanese samurai warriors commonly used fragrant wood in their daily lives, and it developed to become an independent cultural art form. To reflect the various incense smells used during these various time periods, the long established “Yamadamatsu Incense-wood Co., Ltd.” in Kyoto and Kyoto City will participate in this exhibition to provide rare traditional craft items and fragrant woods to introduce the history of incense culture in Japan to our guests. In addition, applications of incense culture including lacquer items from Wajima and earthen ware from Karatsu made by famous artists will also be displayed. Also, displays showing how incense was used in famous Japanese literature such as “The Tale of Genji” and “Kokinshu” will be shown.

 The hanging decorative art ornaments are specially hand stitched using finely woven silk cloth from old kimonos by the quilt artist Mitsuyo Matsuo and the some 90 members of her “Himarwari” Art Group expressly for the Keio Plaza Hotel exhibition. The handiworks carefully crafted for this exhibition symbolically reflect the hopes for the health and happiness of children. Also, the different decorations created for this exhibition have various symbolic meaning such as monkeys with the capability to ward off calamities, mandarin ducks reflecting love between spouses, and pillows representing children who sleep well and grow healthily. Also, traditional wooden Mataro dolls from Kamikamo Shrine in Kyoto will also be displayed alongside the magnificent 3.3 meter high hanging decorative art ornaments in the third floor main lobby area to welcome guests to our hotel. Our guests from around the world are awestruck by the grandeur of this central exhibit, which offers the perfect opportunity for guests to take pictures as memories of this exhibition.

 During the course of this exhibition, ten of our restaurants will serve specially prepared “Hina-matsuri” menu items. Also, we will host special “hanging ornament handicraft” workshops, lectures on “culture of Japanese incense”, and special lunches where the aesthetic affect of incense upon food and meals will be demonstrated. We will also host special workshops for our guests to learn about the Japanese culture of fragrant sachets commonly carried by Japanese women.

Date: From February 1 (Thursday) to March 29 (Thrusday), 2018
Venue: 3rd Floor Main Lobby, other Locations within Our Hotel
Admission: Complimentary

• Hanging Art Items Using Finely Hand Woven Silk Cloth from Old Kimonos
  ^* In cooperation with Mitsyo Matsuo and the Himawari Art Group
  About 6,800 colorful hanging decorative art ornaments will be on display.
• Mataro Doll Display
  Traditional wooden Mataro dolls from Kamikamo Shrine in Kyoto will also be displayed alongside hanging decoration.
• Incense Culture Exhibition
  ^* In cooperation with Yamadamatsu Incense-wood Co., Ltd., Organization of Cultural Inheritance, and Kyoto City
  Featuring on each period of incense culture, traditional craft items and incense wood will be display to show the history of incense.
• Incense Culture Art Item Exhibition
  Wooden and painted color art items by artist Mikiko Hayashi, Wajima Lacquer art items provided by Wajimya Zenni shop, carved wooden lacquer items by artist Tatsuya Matsumoto, Karatsu Earthenware by 14th Generation Tarouemon Toubou Co.,Ltd.
• Worldwide Incense Exhibition Viewed through Dynasty Literature
  ^* In cooperation with Akio Kobayashi
  Displays showing how incense was used in famous Japanese literature such will be shown.
Scented sachet Workshop
^* In cooperation with Yamadamatsu Incense-wood Co., Ltd.
Date: February 15 (Thursday)
Time: 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Fee: 1,000yen incl. participation fee, materials, and tax
^* Approximately 8 people can attend each workshop

For Exhibition and Workshop Information: +81-3-5322-8061 (Lobby Gallery Direct Line)

• Special “Hina-matsuri” Menus
  ^* Special menu items served until March 31
  To be served at ten restaurants, including our traditional Japanese kaiseki, Japanese cuisine, tempura, French and Italian, Chinese, Korean and other dining and lounge facilities. Chefs at each of these facilities will prepare special menu items in the image of Girls’ Doll Festival.

For Restaurant Information: +81-3-3344-0111 (Restaurant Reservation)