KYOTO -- Dollhouses have a long history in the West, but in Japan they are mainly the work of hobbyists.
A Kyoto-based firm that makes miniature models for museum displays is now hoping to nurture a domestic dollhouse market and carve out a niche.
Sankei Co. in Ukyo Ward has been mainly resurrecting traditional Japanese architecture in miniature for museums. It hopes to tap this expertise to sell Japanese-style dollhouses to the general public.