Dreaming of Dolfie Dream Towa (First recommendations/how did you know they were the one?)

imo, the best first doll is whatever the heck you REALLY want.

BJDs are expensive. it's better to simply get what you really want for your first doll rather than go for a doll just because it's supposedly "better" for beginners.

your first doll will go through a lot, and you may even learn they're not for you. but that's what first dolls are for! so tl;dr the best beginner first doll is whatever your first doll happens to be.

my first doll was a Dream of Doll DOC Zen. i still have him! dream of doll doesn't exist anymore which makes me feel old about it, lol

 

My first BJD was Karin, who was released along side Towa so I might bit a bias.... but go for Towa! In my opinion it's always best to get what you love over getting something that *might* be better.
I find Volks' Dollfie Dream line to be great, especially with the new frame. They're pretty sturdy, and you can adjust how stiff or loose the joints are.
Vinyl stains easier than resin, so make sure to look into getting a stain protection bodysuit (on Etsy, or on Volks' website), and/or getting Volks' "Dream Rescue". My Karin wears a metal necklace that stains her neck a bit so I use Dream Rescue every once in a while to clean it up.

ETA: I picked Karin for the same reason you're looking at Towa. I just love her face! I knew I'd regret not getting her if she was discontinued.

 

I'm a seasoned DD owner and honestly, the best "first doll" is always going to be the doll that you love and want to do things with! Your doll should bring you joy, whether it's a $50 basic doll that comes with nothing or a $1500 doll with all the fullset bells and whistles. Sure, Towa is a standard character model, but that's not a bad thing! Lots of people in the vinyl side start out with the standard character models, and many owners with intricate fullset dolls will swing back and pick up a couple at later dates anyway (I've been eyeing Towa myself for a couple of years, if I'm being honest). The standards are standard because they're cute and appeal to a wide audience, in my opinion.

I'm a big fan of DDs, especially on the new f3 frame, so I don't think you'd be going wrong by bringing home Towa. F3 is pretty sturdy and has good poseability, especially compared to the old DDII or original DDS bodies. Seconding Meggiekarp on the "Dream Rescue" advice (also called Remove Zit if you're looking for a generic) and a protective bodysuit, since vinyl does tend to stain quickly and easily. I'm always spot treating my white skin Mariko Sensei! Be mindful about leaving her exposed to any surface with dark/vivid dyes, stains, or paints, they'll suck up color from almost anything, including cloth and furniture. I like to leave my girls in white or other pastel colored clothing and sit them on white towels or napkins if they're going to be sitting on my dark coffee table or bookshelves.

My first doll was a Luts Kid Delf Cherry, but honestly, I sort of settled for her because of her price point and she has long since moved on (turns out I'm not an MSD person, but she now lives with one of my irl best friends, so I still see her from time to time). I don't regret her, though! She taught me a lot about the hobby and my personal tastes, so she still served her purpose.

 

You should know that dolls aren't inherently "bad" or "good/fancy/unique"!
If you like one and it's not a recast - go for it!

 

The only thing that matters is that you love her. She may not be "unique" on the market but she's unique to you. I too just bought my first doll. I compared dolls and companies for months. Decided to buy this one, then that one as soon as I could afford to. Then one day I was on line and saw a doll in stock at Denver Doll Emporium and that was it! I was in love and that was my doll. Up until then I'd never even heard of the company. When you find a doll that's right for you, you just know.