With the pandemic bringing tourism to a standstill for almost two years, both visitors and locals have had a chance to reflect and reevaluate the value of travel. Places that were previously overwhelmed by tourists have adopted new policies to balance visitor traffic sustainably, while visitors themselves are seeking destinations which allow for genuine and respectful cultural exchange. As the world begins to move forward, we have an opportunity to travel more conscientiously, offsetting our impact on the environment and local communities while engaging in cultural experiences that benefit not only us, but the places we visit. In this new paradigm, one destination in Japan stands out for its unique culture and the lessons we can learn from it.
The Ainu Culture of Hokkaido
The Ainu are indigenous people who live mostly on Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido, and whose culture is deeply rooted in respect for nature. With a culture distinct from mainland Japan, the Ainu have their own language, beliefs, and traditional crafts. One core tenet is the idea that kamuy (spirit-deities) exist all around us in nature, and through manifesting in the wind, mountains, rivers and other natural phenomena, protect and nourish us. Ainu also live by a concept of “urespa” or “growing together.” While they nourish and respect the land, they also reap the fruits of the land, using native materials such as furs, feathers, and natural fibers for clothing and eating according to the cycles of nature. This belief in the sacredness of nature helps inform respectful and sustainable ways of interacting with it.
At Lake Akan, in Kushiro, Hokkaido, you can take a forest walk with an Ainu guide and learn how to see the forest as the Ainu do (www.en.anytimeainutime.jp/tour/forest-time). Starting with a ceremony called “kamuy-nomi” which honors the forest deities and prays for safe travels in the forest, you will experience the wonder of the woods and the majestic scenery of Mt. Oakan while learning about Ainu beliefs and folklore. You will also get to try playing the “mukkuri,” an Ainu instrument made from bamboo which expresses the sounds of nature.
©Akan Ainu Crafts Cooperative
For another take on Ainu folklore at Lake Akan, visit the Kamuy Lumina night walk for an unforgettable immersive experience which blends ancient Ainu tales with contemporary projection mapping technology (www.japan.travel/national-parks/parks/akan-mashu/see-and-do/kamuy-lumina-a-magical-night-walk). This hour-long nighttime journey in the forest is a retelling of the Ainu “Tale of the Owl and the Jay Bird” through interactive projection mapping, light, sound, and video.
Ainu culture is also replete with its own unique crafts, clothing, and dance. In fact, Ainu traditional dance has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The best place to learn more is Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum in Shiraoi, Hokkaido—a little over an hour outside Sapporo (www.japan.travel/en/spot/2038/). There, you can enjoy performances of traditional music and dance, as well as classes on Ainu cuisine and craft, and visit a reproduction of a traditional Ainu village.
Ainu culture and beliefs can teach us a lot about interacting with the natural world respectfully and sustainably and supporting the local Ainu community through visiting and learning from Ainu guides will contribute to the preservation of their unique culture.