Usaburo Kokeshi

Great place to both shop and learn

If you like kokeshi dolls, I highly recommend a visit to the Usaburo Kokeshi factory in Gunma Prefecture. Here, you can see kokeshi artisans at work, book classes to paint your own kokeshi doll (harder than it looks!), or simply shop for ready-made retail pieces. The kokeshi dolls here run the gamut from traditional style ones to modern kokeshi that are Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars themed to name just a few. Well worth the trip - we tacked it on to a visit to Fukiware Falls which was a beautiful nature experience, too.