Google Arts & Culture 「Made in Japan：日本の匠」 Folk toys of Tottori prefecture

The origin of nagashibina ("dolls sent adrift") can be traced back to the Heian period (794–1185). The custom of making nagashibina dolls was brought to the eastern part of Tottori prefecture around the Edo period (1603–1868). On March 3 of the lunar calendar each year, pairs of male and female paper dolls are placed on sandawara (straw mats) along with hishimochi (lozenge-shaped rice cakes) and twigs of peach tree, which are then placed on the water of Sendai-gawa river to float away. Symbolically, people imbue the dolls with their misfortunes and ailments, and they pray for peace and health as they send the dolls off down the river.