Kyoto marks Girls' Day

Video. Kyoto marks Girls' Day

People in Kyoto turned up to the historic Shimogamo Shrine on Saturday to mark Girls' Day.

People in Kyoto turned up to the historic Shimogamo Shrine on Saturday to mark Girls' Day.

March 3 is Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day, in Japan. Families with young daughters often display a set of hina dolls on a tiered staircase.

At the UNESCO World Heritage shrine, a man and woman dressed in ancient court-style costumes played the roles of Odairi-sama, or Emperor doll, and Ohina-sama, or Empress doll.

They placed paper dolls into reed baskets, which they set afloat on a stream.

Children from a local kindergarten also put paper dolls into the water and sang a song celebrating the festival.