Daruma dolls are often purchased at the start of the new year, and they're believed to bring good fortune and success. They serve as a great visual reminder of any resolutions you might be working on—the custom involves coloring in one eye of the daruma when a goal is set, and the other once it's achieved.
If you're looking for a way to get your hands on a daruma, the Sakai Daruma Market is a good place to start. Running for almost three decades now, the event takes place on the streets surrounding the Sakai City Hall in Ibaraki, and has a huge variety of daruma dolls to browse and purchase. The festival originally started in efforts to help revitalize the town, so know that your visit (and any purchases!) will help the local community.
Along with the myriad of daruma dolls for sale, the event also includes a variety of other fun activities to check out. There will be a host of difference stage performances showcasing everything from traditional taiko drumming to Eisa dancing, various food options to enjoy, and other stalls selling local items.
While there is no admission fee to enjoy the atmosphere of the event, be sure to bring some yen if you plan on making any purchases.
Getting there
For those who opt to drive, the event takes place approximately 10 minutes from the Sakai-Furukawa IC on the Ken-O Expressway.
For those visiting via public transport, the event area can be reached in around 40 minutes by bus from Tobu Dobutsu Koen Station on the Tobu Skytree Line, or the same travel time from Koga Station on the JR Utsunomiya Line.
Kim Bergström @kim.b
Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here. 🍵🌼🌸
