Asahikawa | Ainu Cultural Experience: Curator-Led Museum Tour, Traditional Crafts & Mukkuri Workshop
Itinerary Details
Discover the Ainu Connection with Nature
For the Ainu people, nature is deeply connected to everyday life, culture, and spiritual beliefs. During this guided experience, you’ll learn how generations of Ainu communities lived alongside the forests, rivers, and wildlife of Hokkaido, developing unique traditions, tools, clothing, and ceremonies shaped by their environment.
Led by the deputy curator, the tour offers valuable insight into Ainu history, cultural values, and ways of life, providing a deeper understanding of one of Japan’s most distinctive Indigenous cultures.
Explore the Historic Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum
Founded in 1916, the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum is Japan’s only privately operated Ainu museum and an important center for preserving and sharing Ainu culture.
Explore renovated exhibition spaces showcasing more than 500 artifacts, each offering a glimpse into Ainu history, craftsmanship, and daily life. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on cultural activities, including playing the traditional mukkuri (Ainu mouth harp) and creating Ainu-inspired paper-cutting artwork.
This immersive experience offers a meaningful introduction to the traditions, creativity, and cultural heritage of the Ainu people.
Itinerary
Curator-Led Museum Tour and Cultural Discovery
Welcome and Introduction to the Museum
Meet at the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum, where the deputy curator will introduce the history of the museum and its role in preserving Ainu culture for more than a century. Learn about the significance of the Ainu people in Hokkaido’s history and the museum’s ongoing efforts to share their cultural heritage.
Guided Tour of Ainu Cultural Artifacts
Explore the museum’s collection alongside the deputy curator and discover traditional Ainu clothing, household items, hunting tools, and ceremonial objects. Through detailed explanations and stories behind each artifact, gain a deeper understanding of Ainu craftsmanship, daily life, and cultural traditions.
Hands-On Cultural Activities and Tea Gathering
Ainu Paper-Cutting and Mukkuri Workshop
Take part in hands-on cultural activities inspired by Ainu traditions. Create your own Ainu-inspired paper-cutting artwork and learn how to play the traditional mukkuri (Ainu mouth harp) under the guidance of museum staff. These interactive activities offer a fun and memorable way to connect with Ainu culture.
Herbal Tea and Cultural Conversation
Conclude your visit with a cup of traditional herbal tea while enjoying an informal conversation with the deputy curator. This relaxed gathering provides an opportunity to ask questions, reflect on what you have learned, and gain further insight into Ainu culture and contemporary life in Hokkaido.
Important Information & Cancellation Policy
Important
Information &
Cancellation Policy
Important Notes
Operating Hours
The museum is closed every Tuesday during the winter season (December through April).
Please check availability in advance and avoid selecting closed dates when making your reservation.
Getting There
Parking is available on-site for guests arriving by car.
If using public transportation, we recommend taking a bus or taxi from Asahikawa Station.
Language Information
Guided tours are conducted primarily in Japanese.
Guests who require interpretation support are encouraged to have basic Japanese communication skills or arrange their own interpreter if needed.
If you require a Mandarin- or English-speaking guide, please add it as an optional add-on. The fee is JPY 10,000.
Cancellation Policy
- A 5% system processing fee applies to all cancellations made for personal reasons.
- 7 days or more before the experience date: 30% cancellation fee
- 3–6 days before the experience date: 50% cancellation fee
- Same-day cancellation or no-shows: 100% cancellation fee
