National Ainu Museum

This is an outdoor facility with interactive and educational exhibits, better known under the Ainu name, “Upopoy”. The name Upopoy means “singing in a large group,” symbolizing the facility’s mission to provide a place for people to gather and learn as a community. Upopoy offers visitors an insight into the history and culture of a people that very few people outside of Japan have ever heard of.

Upopoy opened in 2020, is Japan's northernmost national museum. This museum has a permanent collection, covering 6 topics related to Ainu people and culture: Language, Universe (spirit and customs), Life, History, Work and Exchange ( Interaction between the Ainu and other peoples). In the main exhibition hall, you are free to visit and delve deeper into Ainu culture at your leisure. A highlight is Tempatempa (meaning "to touch and feel" in Ainu), an interactive space where you can deepen your understanding of Ainu culture through models, depth paintings, and puzzles based on puzzles on 6 themes of the eternal collection.

The special exhibition room displays the latest research results on Ainu culture and many other topics, including other indigenous peoples and cultures of Japan. The museum's theater features two short films, providing an overview of the Ainu history and spirit as well as the Ainu heritage in museums around the world.

Outside the museum is Ainu National Park. Lush greenery and wide walking paths encourage visitors to reflect on the importance of Ainu culture in the context of living in harmony with nature. As you explore, be sure to stop by the many experience centers for an up-close look at Ainu craft, food, life and music.

At the southern end of Upopoy is the Cultural Exchange Hall (uekari cise), where visitors can enjoy traditional music and dance performances, including the "ancient Ainu ritual dance" that has been Recognized by UNESCO as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This dance is accompanied by performances of mukkuri (bamboo lips) and tonkori (5-stringed zither). These performances are also held outdoors at Cikisani Square, where Lake Poroto makes for a beautiful natural setting. A short walk from the Cultural Exchange Hall is an art studio where you can cook and taste Ainu dishes as well as learn how to play mukkuri and tonkori.

Further north, you can watch Ainu woodcarving, embroidery, and weaving demonstrations, and listen to brief educational commentary at the Crafts Workshop (ikar) usi) in the park. You can also join the art studio and try your hand at these crafts for yourself.