Kamuy Lumina is the latest experience in the Lumina Night Walk series, and was created by the top-level Canadian multimedia and entertainment studio, Moment Factory. The company has ten different projects around the world, and Kamuy Lamina is the first in the series to take place in a national park. Holding this event in a national park which had been designated for nature conservation, meant that there were many hurdles to be overcome. However, the program was created with consideration for the environment and features the theme of “coexistence with nature.” Kamuy Lumina was developed via cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, the Forestry Agency, and the Maeda Ippoen Foundation, which owns and manages the forests around Lake Akan.

As for the Bokke Nature Trail where the experience takes place, guests can visit sight-seeing spots where they can view natural phenomenon nearby, such as mud volcanoes, volcanoes formed by a volcanic activity where gasses and water vapor are released deep from within the Earth, and untouched old-growth forest. Due to the park’s high number of visitors during the day, all equipment used in Kamuy Lumina is taken down after the final show every day in order to not ruin the natural scenery. For equipment that cannot be moved, they are camouflaged with nearby fallen leaves and branches.

The Ainu are the indigenous people of Hokkaido who have an ancient oral tradition known as “Yukar” (Ainu Oral Saga). The story of Kamuy Lumina is a yukar from the Akan Ainu people. It tells the story of a god in the form of a jay bird who saves everyone from a great famine. The Ainu people themselves were involved in the creation of the modern arrangement of this story.
Part of the profit is utilized for natural environment protection activities, promotion of Ainu culture, maintenance of the forest and lake, and development for Ainu culture.

Kamuy Lumina starts 30 minutes after sundown. Showtimes vary during September, October, and November, so please see the official website for details.

Receive your “Rhythm staff” at the entrance. The staff is modeled after the Ainu staff. When in designated areas, narration and music will flow from the rhythm staff. It also shines various colors representing each part of the story. In order to conserve nature as much as possible on the Bokke Nature Trail, there is almost no lighting installed. In their stead, the rhythm stick lights up while walking through the pitch-black forest.

The following is a simple explanation of Kamuy Lumina:
The Ainu people have coexisted with nature and animals and revere them as Kamuy (gods). However, humans have neglected their manners and etiquette for the Kamuy, and they have stopped revering animals. The Kamuy are angered by this and have stopped sending food in the form of fish and deer to the human world. The Owl, the protector of the Ainu, is worried about people suffering from famine, and decides that he wants to give the Ainu one more chance. That is where the being with the most beautiful singing voice in all of the forest, the Jay Bird, is chosen to be the Kamuy’s representative in the human realm. The Owl requests the humans to support the Jay Bird with the rhythm stick. As for what happens when you keep rhythm with the rhythm stick, you’ll have to go and try it out for yourself!

Deer and fish are gradually starting to return home to the world of the Kamuy. Living Marimo (moss ball) appear in Lake Akan and play a rhythm to save the humans. In the stillness of the forest, the shining lights are wonderfully enchanting.

The enchanted forest twinkles with blue light as the holy gate that connects the worlds of the Kamuy and the Ainu, the “Kamimado”, appears. Just beyond the gate, the angry voices of the Kamuy echo out at humans who do not show respect for animals and have neglected their prayers. This scene packs a lot of impact!

With the teachings of the Kamuy in hand, The Owl continues to appear as you move through the forest. Urge the animals to return to the human realm by keeping rhythm with the rhythm sticks. Watch the figures of animals return to the forest one after another as you follow after the audible voice of The Jay Bird. And then, the story comes to an end.

The show is narrated in Japanese, but the video is clear and the story is easy to understand, so guests can enjoy without being able to understand Japanese. Program books are distributed at the exit in five different languages, Japanese, English, Chinese (Traditional & Simplified), and Korean, allowing guests to look back on the story. This book was created without using staples. The reason being is that, in the event a book is dropped and forgotten, the environmental impact is minimized.

There is a hamburger shop which sells Kamuy Lumina t-shirts near the entrance. It also has limited-time special offers for guests, so please be sure to stop on by. The souvenir shop of this hot springs town also sells official goods including baseball caps and mug cups. We recommend getting one as both a souvenir and a memory of your trip.

Address: 5-20 Akankoonsen 1-chome, Akancho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido (Akan Sightseeing Cruise Company “Marimo-no-Sato Pier”)
Phone Number: 0154-65-7121 (Akan Adventure Tourism Corp.)
Hours of Operation: September: 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, October: 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm, November: 4:45 pm to 9:30 pm.
Tickets:
Adults (Junior high school students and up) Advance: 2,700 yen Walk-up: 3,000 yen
Children (Elementary school students) Advance: 1,350 yen Walk-up: 1,500 yen.

*Free admission for preschool children.
*Advance tickets are sold on the Kamuy Lumina official website and at hotels in the Akan Lake area. Walk-up tickets are available for purchase at the Kamuy Lumina ticket booth.
*A special bundle ticket is also available for guests who would like to see both “Kamuy Lumina” and “Lost Kamuy”. These sets are available for purchase from the Kamuy Lumina ticket booth, the Lake Akan Ainu Theater Ikor ticket booth, and at hotels in the Akan Lake area.
Access: Approximately one hour by car from the Tancho Kushiro Airport (via Japan National Route 240), or approximately 3.5 hours by car from the New Chitose Airport. (Via the Doto Expressway)

A popular tourist attraction is the “Akanko Onsen,” a stretch of onsen hot springs that lines the shore of Lake Akan. To the west, approximately 120 people live in an Ainu kotan (village) where the culture and life of the Ainu people still continue to this day. There are more than 20 antique and folk craft stores that sell woodcrafts and accessories, and restaurants. In addition, guests can watch ancient Ainu dance performances and puppet theatre shows at the nearby the Lake Akan Ainu Theater “Ikor.”

Here at Ikor, “Lost Kamuy” is where a performance that fuses together ancient Ainu ceremonial dance, contemporary dance, 3-D digital imagery, sound design, and more, and is put on by creators who are active in both Japan and abroad.

The theme of Lost Kamuy is “coexistence between the Ainu and the Hokkaido wolf.” For the Ainu people, who revered both nature and animals, the Hokkaido wolf was known as the hunting god (Horkew Kamuy). However, the Hokkaido wolf declined in numbers and has gone extinct. The story offers three different points: why did the Hokkaido wolf have to go extinct, what sort of relationship did the Ainu people and wolves have, and what should they think about going forward.

The sounds of flowing water and chirping of birds heard throughout the performance were recorded around Lake Akan. The forest that appears in video throughout the performance is a recreation of the Hikari-no-mori forest. The performers who play roles of the wolves in the show went to the actual Hikari-no-mori forest. There, they gained a sense of the forest’s atmosphere and created their performances.

There is plenty to enjoy at Akan in addition to Kamuy Lumina! The area is great for a relaxing vacation with its many hotels and hot springs. This fall take a chance on a moving digital art experience that lets you get up close with Ainu culture.

Address: 7-84, Akankoonsen 4-chome, Akancho, Kuchiro City, Hokkaido (Lake Akan Ainu Theater “Ikor”)
Phone Number: 0154-67-2727
Show Times: 3:00 pm and 9:15 pm each day (2 Performances)
*Show Run Time: About 40 Minutes
*November Showtimes: Starting in November, there will be one performance per day at 9:15 pm.
Tickets:
Adults (Junior high school students and up) Advance: 2,200 yen
Children (Elementary school students) Advance: 1,600 yen
Access: Approximately one hour by car from the Tancho Kushiro Airport (via Japan National Route 240), or approximately 3.5 hours by car from the New Chitose Airport. (Via the Doto Expressway)

Text by：minna no kotoba sha