🗺️ Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples北海道立北方民族博物館

The Northern Peoples Museum, which opened in 1991, is not only the only one in Japan but also one of the few in the world. It primarily introduces the culture of the "Northern Peoples" living in the Northern Hemisphere, including the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, the Eskimos from Greenland in the east, and the Sami people from the Scandinavian Peninsula in the west. In the permanent exhibition area of the museum, precious materials related to the "Northern Peoples" are displayed by theme, including clothing, food, dwellings, transportation tools, beliefs, and rituals. Through numerous actual exhibits, such as clothing made from reindeer hides, garments made from the intestines of northern elephant seals, and the semi-subterranean houses of Eskimos living in the northern coastal regions of Alaska, visitors can understand the history of how the Northern Peoples used their wisdom and ingenuity to survive in harsh environments. There is also an experience area where visitors can try on Ainu clothing. Put on these outfits that are rarely seen in daily life and feel the "culture of the Northern Peoples."

Japan's only rare museum. Learn about the culture and history of "Northern Peoples" from around the world. Audio guides are available for free in five languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Photography is allowed inside the museum, but please be mindful not to disturb other visitors.