Hi Hokkaido travelers,

Are you the kind of person who likes to learn about the history of your travel destinations? Well, I wasn’t at all.

As a big nature lover, I used just to go full-on outdoors when I traveled. But my perspective changed, when I joined a history tour when I visited Lucerne, Switzerland a few years ago. I learned many historical stories and fun facts about the city that I couldn’t have known otherwise. When you learn about the history and culture, your trip becomes more memorable, and you feel closer to the city.

So, why not learn about Hokkaido’s history when you visit here? An important part of it is the Ainu, an indigenous people of Hokkaido. While their way of living was long oppressed since the Japanese invasion in the late 1800s, many traditions and cultural elements in Hokkaido today reflect Ainu influence. Efforts to promote Ainu’s cultural heritage have been on the rise in recent years.

💡 The Ainu have…

• A long history of hunting and trading across the sea around Hokkaido until the 1600s
• A distinct culture, language, and spiritual beliefs
• A traditional way of living in harmony with nature - animals, plants, mountains, and rivers

💭 Did you know?

The names of many towns in Hokkaido come from the Ainu language. For example…

• Sapporo means a dry, great river
• Otaru means a river running through sandy beach
• Shiretoko means the end of the earth

✅ Want to learn more about Ainu?

Visit museums in Hokkaido. Here are from famous ones to lesser-known locations.

• Biratori - Kayano Museum: The late Mr. Kayano was an Ainu descendant himself and devoted his life to passing the Ainu culture onto future generations - he collected items and documents on the Ainu culture, opened Ainu language classes for kids, and became the first Ainu member of the National Parliament. Now his son manages this museum continuing his father’s spirit.
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• Asahikawa - Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum: A private museum established in 1916. Mr. Kawamura was a chief of a local Ainu community and invested all his personal fortune in the museum to protect the Ainu culture.
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• Shiraoi - Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park: A cultural complex newly opened in 2020. Although some might find it too “touristy”, this is the biggest Ainu-related learning facility with many programs & workshops available.
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• Akan - Ainu Kotan (village): A small museum, a theater of the traditional Ainu performance, and handmade craft shops. Akan is home to the biggest Ainu community today.
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• Sapporo - Hokkaido Museum: A comprehensive exhibition of Hokkaido’s history and culture, including a large section dedicated to the Ainu

Happy trip planning!

Best,
Yuuka