常見問題（FAQ）

As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of visitors permitted entry to Upopoy and the National Ainu Museum is currently restricted. While admission tickets may be purchased at Upopoy on the day, tickets cannot be issued once the park has reached full capacity for the day in question. For this reason, buying tickets in advance is strongly recommended. Click here for details (reservations can be made from 28 days before the date on which you intend to visit). A separate timed-entry pass is also required in order to enter the museum exhibitions (reservations can be made from 28 days before the date on which you intend to visit).

Entry to the permanent exhibition is included in your admission to Upopoy, but you need to purchase a special exhibition ticket to see the special exhibition.
In the unlikely event that the exhibition floor is full, you may be asked to wait before entering because priority is given to school groups. You can reserve a timed-entry museum pass in advance on Webket to ensure that you get to see the exhibition on a specific date and time.

You can enter the museum without a timed-entry pass. However, in the unlikely event that the exhibition floor is full, you may be asked to wait before entering because priority is given to school groups. You can reserve a timed-entry museum pass in advance on Webket to ensure that you get to see the exhibition on a specific date and time.

Tickets purchased through Webket:
Tickets can be canceled by accessing your purchase history through your Webket account (a cancellation fee will apply when canceling within two days of the date of admission).

Tickets purchased at convenience stores:
Cancel you ticket(s) by contacting the JTB HTA Sales Center on or before the date of admission, then mail your ticket(s) to the JTB HTA Sales Center in Kumamoto City (postage costs are to be borne by the customer). Please include your name, contact information and details of the bank account into which you wish the refund to be paid. Your refund, after the cancellation fee and any applicable bank fees have been subtracted, will be paid into the specified bank account (a cancellation fee will apply for any cancellations made after the time of purchase).

You can use electronic and paper coupons to purchase tickets for admission to Upopoy and the One Year Pass. Please note that, while electronic coupons are also accepted at all stores and restaurants at Upopoy, some stores and restaurants are unable to accept paper coupons.

You must pay to enter Upopoy even if you hold one of the aforementioned membership cards. Entry to Upopoy includes admission to the National Ainu Museum. *While entry to the permanent exhibition is included in admission to Upopoy, you need to purchase a special exhibition ticket to see the special exhibition.

The exhibits introduce the history and culture of the indigenous Ainu people through six themes: Language, Universes, Lives, History, Work and Exchange.

Each screening is about 20 minutes long.
There are two films: Ainu Crafts Gain Worldwide Attention and Ainu History and Culture.

Program reservations for school groups are accepted. See the school group reservation page for details.
There are currently no programs available for other groups.

The museum exhibits and traditional performing arts held in the Cultural Exchange Hall are suitable for group visits.

The boarding area to the west of the park can be used for boarding and disembarking.
We plan to provide parking information for buses and coaches at the boarding area.

There is a restaurant with approximately 30 seats and a food court with approximately 90 seats at the Entrance Center. There is also a café with approximately 10 seats at the Gateway Square. If you intend to eat as a group, please contact the relevant café or restaurant in advance. Please note that tables in the food court cannot be reserved in advance.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and eat in the rest areas in the park. When bringing your own food, please take any waste home with you. Please note that rest areas cannot be reserved in advance.

There are various locations throughout Upopoy where group photos can be taken.

1. The Lawn Square, with the traditional cise (houses) of the Kotan (Traditional Ainu Village) in the background

2. The Cikisani Square, with either the National Ainu Museum or Lake Poroto in the background

3. In the vicinity of the Kotan with the traditional cise in the background (this area is recommended for smaller groups)

Please note that there is no signage designating areas for photographs.

Tour conductors and bus guides can use rest areas such as those found in the Entrance Center.

Local emergency medical services are provided by Shiraoi Municipal Hospital (3-1-1, Hinode-cho, Phone: 0144-82-2181 *English-language support provided when available). Patients may be transferred to medical facilities in nearby municipalities or other areas based on the judgment of medical staff. Firefighting services are provided by the Shiraoi Fire Department (call 119 for emergency services). In the event of an earthquake, tsunami or other natural disaster, the designated evacuation area is the hill behind Upopoy, near the memorial site (617-4, Aza Shiraoi). Click here for the location of the memorial site.

The parking lot inside the park has 10 motorcycle spaces and 55 bicycle spaces near the entrance to the parking lot.

The are two vending machines at the Cultural Exchange Hall, two at the Workshop, two at the Crafts Studio, four near the outdoor restrooms and one in the administration office.

See the Restaurant and Food Court page for details.

First-aid stations are available at the museum and at the Rental Items desk.

[National Ainu Museum]

・Guidance information is provided in braille and audio formats for visitors with visual impairments.
　*Descriptive captions and panels in the museum are not printed in braille.
・Flashing lights are installed to act in addition to alert sounds for visitors with hearing impairments.
・Facilities such as multipurpose toilets and stairless access are available for visitors with restricted mobility.

[National Ainu Park]

・Tactile paving blocks leading from the pedestrian entrance to the Lakeview Plaza entrance and restrooms have been installed for visitors with visual impairments.

*Multipurpose toilets at Upopoy are fitted with facilities for ostomates. Multipurpose seats are also available in the Entrance Center, Cultural Exchange Hall and museum.

Nursing rooms are available in the Entrance Center and museum.
There are no plans for a nursery at this stage.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the park.

Information at Upopoy is displayed in several languages in order to allow as many visitors as possible to enjoy learning about and experiencing Ainu culture. Refer to the visitor information page for details.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere in Upopoy, including the parking lot. This is in accordance with the provisions for the prevention of passive smoking in the Health Promotion Act.

Museum goods and other items can be purchased at the shop at the Entrance Center or at the Museum Shop.

Visitors are welcome to bring food with them and eat in the Lawn Square or at the tables and chairs in the two tents inside the paid area.

Wheelchairs are available from the Entrance Center (20 wheelchairs) and the museum (8 wheelchairs). Speak to a member of staff for details.

Strollers are available from the Entrance Center. Speak to a member of staff at reception for details.

Animals other than service dogs are not permitted to enter Upopoy, including the parking lot.

Re-entry on the same day is permitted. If you wish to re-enter, please ask for a re-entry ticket at the entrance gate before leaving and present this re-entry ticket to a member of staff upon re-entry.

We are unable to collect baggage for visitors.

The following payment methods are accepted.
・Cash
・Credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay)
・Compatible IC transit cards (Suica, Kitaca, etc.)
・IC cards (Rakuten Edy, iD, WAON, nanaco, QUICPay)
*QR code and barcode payments are not accepted

There is a pick-up and drop-off area in front of the Lakeview Plaza.
Click here for details.

Wheelchairs and strollers cannot be reserved.

There are no guides at Upopoy. There is a free multilingual audio guide app that can be used on smartphones and tablets, and museum audio guide equipment can be rented for a fee.
Click here for details.