March 3 - is a bit of a festival day in Japan - it's Hina Matsuri, or Doll Festival/Girls Day. Usually when a girl is born (or on her first Doll's Day her granparents gift her a set) in Japan, her doll collection is started, and these collections are often passed down through generations. They are representative of the ancient high court, and strictly for "viewing/admiring", not playing. Girls Day is when prayers are said for young girls health, growth and happiness; they will be dressed in formal kimono (mostly) and make a visit to the local shrine. Parties will be held back at home, with the girls still dressed in their finery, to admire each others' doll collections, drink sweet sake and eat specially made sushi, mochi, and wagashi (which usually are made as offerings to the dolls).

        The doll collections are often displayed in the tokonoma - home altar area - or other place of honor, of the main room of the home, and arranged on a step/tier display stand covered in red. The Emperor and
Empress are at the top with the lower stages holding the other members and attendants of the court. The display will usually have peach blossoms dedicated to it as well (symbolizing wishes for happy marriages).

        It's thought that the custom comes from an ancient Chinese practice of girls making paper dolls and then floating them down a stream to carry away bad luck. In the Japanese custom, the doll display begins to emerge
in the middle of February with the full display complete by the third day of the third month. However - once today is over, the dolls don't linger - since the superstition is that if the dolls are not put away promptly, the family will have difficulty in marrying off their daughters.

        Here's a link to the Tokyo Tourism site with doll display information -  http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/webmaga/2005spring/hina.html