HOME Hokkaido Hokkaido Noboribetsu / Lake Toya National Ainu Museum and Park
  • National Ainu Museum and Park
  • National Ainu Museum and Park
  • National Ainu Museum and Park
  • National Ainu Museum and Park
  • National Ainu Museum and Park

National Ainu Museum and Park

ウポポイ(民族共生象徴空間)National Ainu Museum and Park

Description

The Ainu are the indigenous peoples in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, especially in the areas of Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. Beginning with the Ainu language, their religious views hold that souls reside in everything in the natural world and these have led to the development of a unique culture as witnessed in their festivals and home activities, old traditional dances, unique embroidery patterns, and crafts such as woodcarving.

”Upopoy,” which was born as a base for Ainu culture, is a national Ainu museum, a national symbiosis park, and a memorial facility with spacious lawns offering comfortable places to relax.

You can experience firsthand their traditional lifestyle in a recreated Ainu village (called a Kotan), enjoy traditional dances and mukkuri (mouth harp) performances in the hands-on exchange hall, and eat traditional food in the hands-on learning hall, and actually try your hand at traditional instruments. Here you will find many ways to actually experience Ainu culture through a variety of programs.

*Open hours vary depending on the season and the day of the week.
*Please check the website for schedules and tickets.
*Part of the program contents may be changed or canceled due to COVID-19 measures.

Location Information

  • Address

    2-3 Wakakusa-cho, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido, 059-0902

  • Nearest Station
    Shiraoi Station
    ・ Muroran Main Line
    10 minutes on foot
  • Phone Number
    0144-82-3914
    Available languages
    only in Japanese
  • Hours
    Weekdays 9:00am - 6:00pm
    Weekends & Holidays 9:00am - 8:00pm
  • Closed
    Monday
    *New Year’s holiday
    *Closes the following day when a regular closing day and Monday
  • Public Site
    Official Site
Original source: The Foundation for Ainu Culture

Recommended Spots in Area

  • Visiting
  • Lodgings
※ The above information was correct at the time of updating, but there may be changes to actual prices. Please confirm the current prices when visiting.