Japanese dolls

I wanted to buy a kind of Japanese doll for my daughter on my previous trip to Japan but did not dare to buy as I was afraid it would be damaged in my bag.

I know there are wooden dolls called kokeshi, but wonder if there are other dolls.

Took a picture of a doll in a second hand store in Harajuku area, not sure what kind of doll it is.


https://pasteboard.co/fDhH9E7yLCuG.jpg

A nice traditional doll like that is supposed to come with a firm box and proper paper stuffing. Sometimes, second-hand items (not just dolls but of any kind) doesn't have the box just because the former owner lost it. But usually it does. As long as you have the box and the stuffing, you don't have to worry about "damaging it in your bag". But remember that many locals believe that second-hand dolls would carry the spirit of the original owner.

So, what was your question?

Oh, yes the question, completely forgot about that.

Where would it be possible to buy new dolls like that? I am not supersticious but don't want to take a risk of course buying second hand dolls (as I was frightened by dolls myself as a kid).

I remember seeing dolls like that at sale outside Himeji castle in the souvenir shop, not sure if it was new or used though, unless it was on display and were sold in boxes like you mention (I would probably not have been able to fit in the box unfortunately due to limited size of my suitcase).

...more to say, is there any proper word for these kinds of dolls?

I guess what you're looking for is a genre called "nihon-ningyo" which literally means "Japanese dolls". One would typically buy them at department stores. You may have to order in advance.

But the realistic ones would cost you a fortune. Perhaps you'd want to look for the sub-genre called "ki-me-ko-mi ningyo" 木目込人形 which is explained below.
https://www.japanesewiki.com/culture/Kimekomi%20Ningyo%20dolls.html

Here are some examples of kimekomi-ningyo.
https://netshop.kyugetsu.com/view/category/nihon05?page=5&sort=price
https://kimekomi.jp/products/list?category_id=28

I hope it helps.