Tochigi Doll Float Museum とちぎ山車会館

Tochigi City's mangificent festival floats

Tochigi City's Aki Matsuri is held every other year and most of the city's floats are housed in the massive concrete museum building in the center of town. From the outside, you might think the structure is out of proportion with the antique kura storehouses around it, but you understand the reason why when you see the floats - they are towers of intricate woodcarving, lavish tapestries, and imposing effigies. The museum's theater puts on a recreation of the festival atmosphere with a digital presentation and turntables that rotate the three floats on display so you can gaze in awe at the trappings.