Saw this photo on Mainichi Daily News which really intrigued me. This is a very cool “mountain” of “hina” dolls clad in ancient court costume, which are believed to protect young girls from evil.

More than 1,400 traditional dolls are on display here on this 5.74-meter-high, 26-step terraced shelves in the lobby at Konosu City Hall, Saitama Prefecture, in celebration of Hinamatsuri.

Hinamatsuri 雛祭 is a traditional festival held on March 03 annually, whereby red platforms are used to display a set of dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

When I first learnt about such a custom in my Japanese studies class, I only saw photos of platforms with a few tiers. Now this is really amazing.

Now wouldn’t you think they should move on with the times and build a pyramid of figurines instead? =P