Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Based on the idea of “A journey to the forest, to the mountains, and to the lake, take another journey around Lake Shikotsu”, the museum uses models and large photographs to introduce the nature of Lake Shikotsu in a fascinating way, including the current state of the volcano, which is still active, the ecology of the creatures that live around Lake Shikotsu, and the world beneath the lake.

This is a private canoe tour centered around the Chitose River headwaters, the only outlet for Lake Shikotsu water that is relatively unaffected by wind and waves. In addition to having a guide accompany the guests in the same canoe, it is also possible to have the guests ride in pairs in one canoe while the guide rides in another canoe.

This is a museum where you can learn about and experience the lives and culture of the Ainu people. The museum is divided into four sections, each of which displays and introduces resources such as clothing, hunting tools, and ritual items.

Nibutani in the town of Biratori is a region where many of the residents have Ainu roots and continue to pass on Ainu culture. This is a special program where you can learn about traditional Ainu lifestyles and wisdom from a guide, and also think together about diverse values and cultural inheritance.

Before entering the forest, you will pray as the Ainu people do. Enjoy a leisurely stroll while listening to descriptions on the way of life of the Ainu people, who obtained all of their daily necessities from nature.

The Nibutani area is home to a number of workshops run by artisans who continue to preserve traditional crafts such as Nibutani Ita (wooden trays) and Nibutani Attus (textiles). Visit the artisans and experience Ainu craftsmanship for yourself.

Enjoy dishes based on traditional Ainu cuisine, made with wild vegetables and salmon, as well as ohaw soup, all of which have been given a modern twist.

The Nibutani Dam Case is a case in which the plaintiffs, who were members of the Ainu people, brought a lawsuit against the legality of the project approval for the dam construction and the decision to expropriate the land. They won the case, and this was the first time that a court had recognized the Ainu as an indigenous people.

This museum displays over 1000 items, including Ainu folk tools collected over 40 years by the museum's former director Shigeru Kayano, as well as folk tools and paintings from indigenous peoples around the world.

Inside the chise (house), you can watch traditional dances and songs performed by young Ainu people. By taking part in the Ainu dances and talking with the performers, you can gain a deeper understanding and awareness of indigenous peoples and traditional cultures.