National Ainu Museum
The is a museum located in Shiraoi, Hokkaidō, Japan. The museum's mission is "to promote a proper understanding and awareness of Ainu history and culture in Japan and elsewhere out of respect for the dignity of the indigenous Ainu people, while contributing to the creation and development of new aspects of Ainu culture". History. It was originally scheduled to open on April 24th, 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the opening was rescheduled several times. It officially opened on July 12, 2020. It will serve as one of the three main facilities of Upopoy (meaning  singing in a large group), alongside the National Ainu Park, and a memorial site on high ground on the east side of where Ainu services are held. The new National Museum supersedes and replaces the former Ainu Museum, which closed on the 31st of March, 2018 to make way for the new museum. The former museum was nestled beside a traditional Ainu village, a kotan. This traditional village remains in place on the west side of the grounds for visitors to experience a taste of traditional Ainu life. Exhibits. Exhibits are displayed according to six principal themes: the Ainu language , Ainu history, Ainu views of the world, Ainu livelihoods (hunting, gathering, fishing, farming), Ainu lifestyles (food, clothing, shelters, music, dance), and Ainu trade and exchange with surrounding peoples, including projected "multicultural coexistence" in the Japan of the future. Access and parking. It is located about 1 hour by car from Sapporo and about 40 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport.