My name is MAKO
Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido | Born and raised in Obihiro, Hokkaido | Lover of Sapporo Classic beer and fresh sashimi | Passionate about road trips and camping | Always chasing beautiful scenery
Why Was Upopoy Created?The Short Answer
Upopoy was created as Japan’s national center for learning about, preserving, revitalizing, and developing Ainu culture.
It opened in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, in 2020. Its purpose is not only to protect the past, but also to help Ainu culture continue into the future.
Why You Should Care
When travelers think of Hokkaido, they often imagine snow, seafood, lavender, and beautiful nature.
But there is another story that is essential to understanding the island.
The Ainu are an Indigenous people of northern Japan, particularly Hokkaido. They have their own language, history, traditions, music, crafts, and ways of understanding the natural world.
Upopoy gives travelers a chance to learn about that culture from perspectives centered on Ainu people themselves.
And importantly, Ainu culture is not only something from the past.
It is still being practiced, taught, and passed on today.
The Story Behind It
Why Did Japan Create Upopoy?
The creation of Upopoy was connected to a major change in how Japan officially recognized the Ainu people.
In 2008, both houses of Japan’s National Diet adopted a resolution recognizing the Ainu as an Indigenous people.
The following year, a government council proposed creating a national center where people could learn about Ainu history and culture and where Ainu traditions could be supported and passed on.
That center eventually became Upopoy.
It opened in Shiraoi on July 12, 2020.
The name “Upopoy” means “singing together in a large group” in the Ainu language.
This name fits the center well.
Upopoy is not simply a place where you quietly look at old objects.
You can hear language, songs, stories, and music. You can watch performances and craftsmanship. You can also learn how traditions are being continued today.
Why Was Upopoy Needed?
Ainu communities experienced major changes after modern Japanese settlement and government policies expanded across Hokkaido.
Traditional ways of life were restricted, land and resources were lost, and discrimination affected Ainu communities for generations.
Language and cultural traditions also became harder to pass on.
That is why Upopoy is not simply about “preserving old culture.”
Its role includes research, education, cultural transmission, language, traditional arts, crafts, and the development of Ainu culture for future generations.
This is an important way to understand the center.
Upopoy is not a museum about a culture that disappeared.
It is a place connected to a culture that is still alive.
Why Is Upopoy in Shiraoi?
Shiraoi already had a long connection with Ainu cultural activities before Upopoy was built.
In 1965, an Ainu cultural facility known as Poroto Kotan began operating near Lake Poroto.
Later, the Ainu Museum opened in 1984 and spent more than 30 years presenting exhibitions, traditional performing arts, and cultural programs.
When Upopoy was created, it inherited much of the experience and knowledge that had already been built in Shiraoi.
So Upopoy did not suddenly appear in a random Hokkaido town.
It grew from decades of cultural work already taking place beside Lake Poroto.
What Makes the National Ainu Museum Different?
The National Ainu Museum is Japan’s first national museum dedicated to Ainu history and culture.
Its permanent exhibition is organized around six themes:
- Our Language
- Our Universe
- Our Lives
- Our History
- Our Work
- Our Exchange
Notice one important word:
“Our.”
The museum emphasizes perspectives from Ainu people themselves instead of presenting them only as people observed by outsiders.
That changes the experience.
You are invited to listen to how Ainu people describe their own history, language, and culture.
Upopoy Is More Than a Museum
Do not leave after visiting the museum.
Outside is the National Ainu Park, where you can experience culture in a different way.
Visit the Reconstructed Kotan
A reconstructed traditional village includes cise, traditional Ainu houses.
Here you can learn about homes, tools, boats, food, songs, and everyday life.
Watch Ainu Performing Arts
At the Cultural Exchange Hall, visitors can watch traditional songs and dances.
You may also hear instruments such as the mukkuri, a traditional mouth harp.
See Traditional Crafts
At the Crafts Studio, you can see techniques such as wood carving and embroidery.
Some programs also allow visitors to try cultural activities themselves.
This is where the idea of a living culture becomes clear.
You are not only looking at finished objects.
You are seeing traditions still being practiced and taught.
Why Upopoy Is About the Future, Not Just the Past
This may be the most important point to remember.
It is easy to visit a cultural museum and think:
“People used to live like this.”
But that is not the best way to understand Upopoy.
Ainu people live in Hokkaido and elsewhere today.
People continue to teach the language, create crafts, perform music and dance, research history, and find new ways to express Ainu culture.
So Upopoy is not only about preserving history.
It is also about helping culture move forward.
That is why this place matters.
My Recommended Itinerary for Visiting Upopoy
Upopoy is one of the easiest cultural attractions to visit from New Chitose Airport. Located in Shiraoi, it’s only about 40–50 minutes by car, making it perfect for the first or last day of your Hokkaido trip.
Day 1 – Discover Ainu Culture
- Arrive at New Chitose Airport
- Rent a car or take the train to Shiraoi
- Visit Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park)
- Watch traditional Ainu performances
- Explore the museum and lakeside park
- Stay overnight in Shiraoi or Noboribetsu Onsen
If time allows, enjoy a dinner featuring Shiraoi Beef, one of Hokkaido’s finest wagyu brands.
Day 2 – Explore More Before Returning
After breakfast, you can choose one of these options before heading back to the airport:
- Relax at Noboribetsu Onsen
- Visit Jigokudani (Hell Valley)
- Return to New Chitose Airport
This itinerary combines Hokkaido’s Indigenous culture, delicious local food, and one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts in a relaxed two-day trip.
Why I Recommend It
- Less than an hour from New Chitose Airport
- Learn about Ainu culture in depth
- Combine with Shiraoi Beef and Noboribetsu Onsen
- Perfect for the first or last day of your trip
Did You Know?
- “Upopoy” means “singing together in a large group” in Ainu.
- Japan’s National Diet recognized the Ainu as an Indigenous people in 2008.
- Upopoy opened in 2020.
- The National Ainu Museum is Japan’s first national museum dedicated to Ainu history and culture.
- Shiraoi had an Ainu cultural museum for decades before Upopoy was built.
FAQ
Is Upopoy Only a Museum?
No. It also includes the National Ainu Park, reconstructed traditional houses, performing arts, crafts, cultural programs, restaurants, and shops.
How Long Should I Spend at Upopoy?
Around 3 hours is enough for the main highlights.
If you want to explore slowly, watch performances, and join activities, allow half a day.
Is English Available?
Yes. The National Ainu Museum provides English explanations and multilingual support for many exhibits.
Is Upopoy Worth Visiting From Sapporo?
Yes.
It is especially worthwhile if you want to understand Hokkaido beyond food and scenery.
Visit It Yourself
Location
Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido
Best Season
Year-round
Summer is pleasant for walking around Lake Poroto, while winter gives the park a very different Hokkaido atmosphere.
How to Get There
JR Shiraoi Station is about a 10-minute walk from Upopoy.
Approximate travel time:
- Sapporo → Shiraoi: about 65 minutes by train
- New Chitose Airport → Shiraoi: about 40 minutes by train
Estimated Visit Time
3–5 hours
Admission Fee
General admission fees and opening hours may change.
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Official Website
Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
Final Thoughts
Upopoy was created because Ainu culture is an essential part of Hokkaido’s story.
But that history and culture have not always been properly understood or respected.
That is why Upopoy is about more than displaying beautiful clothing, houses, and crafts.
It is a place to learn about history.
To hear language and music.
To see traditions being passed on.
And to understand that Ainu culture is not simply part of Hokkaido’s past.
It is also part of Hokkaido’s present and future.
Visit Upopoy before or during your Hokkaido trip, and you may begin to see the island differently.
Its forests.
Its rivers.
Its place names.
And the people whose history is deeply connected to this land.
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