Shiraoi Travel Guide

  Ainu Museum
by aukahkay
 
  • Ainu Museum
      Ainu Museum
    by aukahkay
  • Lake Porotoko
      Lake Porotoko
    by aukahkay
  • Ainu Museum
      Ainu Museum
    by aukahkay
  • Ainu Museum
      Ainu Museum
    by aukahkay
  •   Things to Do
    by cheesecake17
 

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Porotokotan
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aukahkay 883 reviews
Ainu Museum
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The Ainu are the native inhabitants of Hokkaido and there are a few museums in Hokkaido showing some of their lifestyle and goods. The Shiraoi Ainu Museum, also called Porotokotan, exhibits the Ainu culture and lifestyle in an outdoor reproduction of a small Ainu village and also various tools and other goods inside a museum. There are performances of traditional Ainu dances held at various times throughout the day. The exhibits include five thatched houses, a museum, a botanical garden and an animal barn. The museum is popularly known as Porotokotan, which means a large lakeside village.

Written May 25, 2008

Website: www.ainu-museum.or.jp

Related to:
 Arts and Culture
 Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
 Family Travel

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Poroto Kotan
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akikonomu 467 reviews
Ainu dance

This is the Ainu village which has a good Ainu museum - showing the lifestyle and history of the Ainus (Hokkaido's indigenous natives) and Ainu buildings (which are mostly farmhouses).

You can also experience a performance of the Ainu dances and music. I was entranced by a instrument performance, where the lady used an instrument that resembled a small catapult and produced twanging noises through her lips. The effect was as though some old Ainu man was chanting mysterious rites in the wild (very chilling).

Written Jul 15, 2004

Address: Shiraoi

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Road Trip
 Arts and Culture

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Map of Shiraoi