Abashiri City Local Museum

The Abashiri City Local Museum opened in 1936 and is one of the oldest museums in Hokkaido. Located in Abashiri City, the northeasternmost point of Japan, it offers insights into the rich nature of the Sea of Okhotsk and the history of Abashiri from ancient times to the present. Inside the museum, visitors can see lifelike taxidermy specimens. These include marine animals such as the northern sea lion, seals, and sea dogs that inhabit the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as animals like the Ezo brown bear, Ezo deer, and Hokkaido red fox found in the forests of Hokkaido. There are also local plants on display, providing information about the vast nature of the northern land. Additionally, the museum introduces the unique northern culture of the Abashiri region, from the Paleolithic era 10,000 years ago to Ainu culture. In the exhibition area that showcases the pioneering history of Abashiri from the Edo period to modern times, the development of Abashiri is presented in an easy-to-understand manner, covering topics such as the settlement of Japanese people, road development during the Meiji era, and the opening of railways in the Taisho era. The striking building with a red circular roof was designed by Yoshiyasu Tanaka, a protégé of the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In 2019, it was designated as a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. There are many highlights worth seeing both inside and outside the building.

Opened in 1936, this historic museum offers insights into the rich nature and history of Abashiri. The taxidermy specimens of the animals from the northern lands are worth a look. The museum building is registered as a tangible cultural asset of the country.