Facility Information

Museum
National Ainu Museum

Japan’s northernmost national museum and the first one dedicated to the history and culture of the indigenous Ainu people.

The Ainu are an indigenous people from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. The name “Ainu” is derived from the word aynu, which means “human being” in the Ainu language. The Ainu language, culture, and history are distinct from those of Wajin (ethnic Japanese), the ethnic majority in Japan. The National Ainu Museum’s objectives are to build a society where Ainu pride is recognized, raise awareness of Ainu history and culture, and help to forge a future for Ainu culture. The exhibitions are designed to explore Ainu history and culture from an Ainu perspective.

an=ukokor aynu ikor oma kenru
National Ainu Museum
Facility Overview

Theater

Fitted with 96 seats and a large high-definition screen, the theater shows short films introducing various aspects of Ainu culture.

Permanent Exhibition Room

The permanent exhibition explores six themes from an Ainu perspective: Language, Universe, Lives, History, Work, and Exchange.

Special Exhibition Room

The special exhibition room displays exhibits relating to studies and research into the culture of the Ainu and other indigenous peoples and also hosts exhibitions on a range of other topics.

Museum Program

- Museum Program
Exhibits (4/1-10/31)
- National Ainu Museum
The exhibits in the permanent exhibition room explore six core themes from an Ainu perspective: Language, Universe, Lives, History, Work, and Exchange. The special exhibition room hosts exhibitions covering a wide range of topics, including Ainu culture and the culture of other indigenous peoples.
- Museum Program
Theater Programs “Ainu History and Culture” (4/1-10/31)
- National Ainu Museum
In this film, animals closely associated with Ainu culture look back on the time when humans first settled the Japanese archipelago and explain the history and culture of the Ainu people. It's easy to understand for children and adults alike.
- Museum Program
Theater Programs “Ainu Crafts Gain Worldwide Attention” (4/1-10/31)
- National Ainu Museum
Today, museums in Europe and the United States house some 10,000 Ainu artifacts. This film features Ainu collections displayed at museums in Russia, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, and highlights present-day relations between Ainu and researchers in various countries.