Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples
A Fascinating Journey into Arctic Life and Culture in Abashiri
As Japan’s only ethnographic museum dedicated to northern regions, this world-class institution invites visitors to step into the resilient cultures shaped by the Arctic and subarctic worlds.
Opened in 1991, the museum presents the diverse cultures of northern peoples ranging from Greenland to Scandinavia. Its themed exhibitions explore ways of life forged in extreme environments, from reindeer herding to sea mammal hunting. Visitors come face to face with remarkable authentic artifacts, including clothing crafted from seal intestines and canoes made of birch bark—powerful testaments to human ingenuity and adaptation.
A highlight of the museum is the section devoted to Okhotsk culture, a history unique to Hokkaido. Through immersive audio-visual displays, visitors can hear the sounds of traditional instruments and admire the intricate beauty of northern designs. In the museum’s quiet, evocative atmosphere, the lives of those who thrived in the sub-zero world seem to quietly come alive.
In Abashiri, overlooking the Sea of Okhotsk, immerse yourself in a timeless journey through the northern world, where prehistory and the present meet at the edge of the Arctic.
- * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
- Category
- With friends
- World Heritage sites, Jomon culture, Ainu culture
- Museums, science museums, art galleries, archives
- History, culture, art
- Couple
- Family
- Travel style
- Travel Inspiration
- Ideas for a rainy day
- Nearest airports
General Information
- Postal code
- 〒093-0042
- Address
- 北海道網走市字潮見309-1
- Telephone Number
- 0152-45-3888
- Open
- 9:30-16:30 (Jul.-Sep. 9:00-17:00)
- Closed
- Mondays, The New Year's holiday, and other temporary closures
*No closing days from Feb. and Jul.-Sep. - Prices
- There is an admission fee (Please refer to the official website.)
- Car Park
- 100 spaces, free
- Directions
- ●By car: About 20 minutes from Memanbetsu Airport
- Website
* Information on facilities is subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.
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