This pair of omiyage kokeshi dolls hails from Hakone (箱根), a famed hot spring and scenic resort area in Kanagawa Prefecture, beloved for its natural beauty, historical significance, and traditional craftsmanship.
Both figures wear traditional kasa (笠) straw hats, giving them the charming appearance of traveling pilgrims or rural villagers—a nod to Hakone’s history as a stop along the old Tōkaidō route. Their faces are delicately painted with serene, content expressions, exuding a sense of peaceful simplicity.
The rounded bodies are decorated with hand-painted motifs unique to the region, including gourds (瓢箪), fans, paper charms, and calligraphy—elements often associated with good fortune, traditional art, and seasonal poetry. These motifs give the dolls a narrative quality, suggesting a story or travelogue captured in folk art form.
Typical of many Showa-era kokeshi made as souvenirs, these dolls reflect the warmth and nostalgia of Japan’s domestic travel boom, when families brought back keepsakes from spa towns like Hakone. Lightweight and charming, they were often sold at roadside stations, inns, and gift shops around onsen resorts.
Size: 6 x 6 x 6cm (Each)
