Ainu Culture Walking Guided Tour
through Central Sapporo

Departure time 09:00 am / Estimated return time 4:00 pm

There are many place names derived from the Ainu language all across Hokkaido, and the name “Sapporo” is thought to be derived from the Ainu sat-poro, which means “large and dry”, or sari- polo-pet, which means “its reed bed, large, river”.

This walking tour traces the past and present of Ainu culture with Ms. Kikue Harada, a guide who is also active as an Ainu singer. We will meet at Sapporo Station in the city center at 9:00 am, and explore the area around the station and Hokkaido University, which has remnants of sites near rivers and springs where the Ainu once lived.

At the opening of the tour, we will appreciate the works of contemporary Ainu artists exhibited at Sapporo Station with explanations and commentary from Ms. Harada. The Ainu have a rich and varied culture, including their own language, distinctive decorative patterns, songs and dances, and many other cultural treasures. In recent years, the Ainu have created new cultural expressions with modern sensibilities, still in keeping with their traditions.

The Ainu used to live a comfortable life around the Sakushukotoni River, which flowed through what is now the campus of Hokkaido University. Hokkaido University is a comprehensive university which started out in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College. It is believed that there was an indigenous village here more than 1,000 years ago, based on discoveries of salmon traps, earthenware and stone tools, seeds of cultivated plants, and other artifacts that have been made on the premises. We will walk along the Hokkaido University Central Lawn, viewing its many shikerebe (Amur cork) trees, which are used as herbs in Ainu cuisine, and then move on to the Hokkaido University Museum.