AINU Cultural Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan)
Hokkaido · Japan
The tour will begin here at The Ainu Cultural Center. Your guide will take you through the 1 hour tour of the Ainu Center Museum(exhibition room). Here, you will learn of the lifestyle, history, and art of the Ainu people, the indigenous people who first settled Hokkaido and developed a unique culture. This facility is the first of its kind in Japan to focus on original inhabitants and allows visitors to actually feel, touch and experience first-hand traditional Ainu craftworks(over 300 items) made by Ainu artisans.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Sapporo Peer-kah Koh-tahn, a name that translates from the Ainu language as the Beautiful Village. As we stand here in the shadow of the mountains in Sapporo's Minami-ku, we are entering a space dedicated to the…
Listen in the app2The Art of Wood and Spirit — Carvings and Aesthetics
As we begin our journey within the exhibition hall, we are immediately confronted by the extraordinary wood carvings that characterize Ainu artistry. These works are far more than mere decoration; they are functional artifacts…
Listen in the app3Textiles of the Earth — Bark Fiber and Salmon Skin
Moving into the textile section, we encounter the most representative of Ainu costumes: the 'At-tush.' These garments are a marvel of material science and indigenous ingenuity. They are crafted from the inner bark of the elm…
Listen in the app4The Hunters' Legacy — Tools and Tactics
The Ainu were traditionally a hunter-gatherer society, and their tools of the trade were as diverse as the environments they inhabited. Here we see an array of hunting implements, including the formidable crossbows and…
Listen in the app5The Domestic Sphere — Cooking, Cribs, and Community
We now turn our attention to the artifacts of daily domestic life, which offer a more intimate look at Ainu society. Look at the large porridge bowls and the specialized dippers. …
Listen in the app6Maritime Sovereignty — The Restored Itaomacip
Before we head outside, we must examine the 'Ita-oh-mah-chip,' a traditional restored boat that represents the Ainu's maritime prowess. While we often think of the Ainu as mountain or forest dwellers, they were also skilled…
Listen in the app7The Chise — Living Within the Thatch
Stepping out into the garden area, we find the reconstructed 'Chise,' or traditional Ainu dwellings. These structures are the physical manifestation of the Ainu lifestyle. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our tour of the Sapporo Peer-kah Koh-tahn, I hope you carry away a profound appreciation for the resilience and complexity of the Ainu culture. What we have seen today—from the waterproof salmon-skin boots to the…
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What is AINU Cultural Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan)?
AINU Cultural Center (Sapporo Pirka Kotan) is a place in Hokkaido · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Hokkaido · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 42.9686, 141.2190 |
| Last updated |