Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum
Japan’s oldest Ainu cultural museum
Established in 1916, this historic museum in Asahikawa has dedicated over a century to preserving and sharing Ainu culture. Visitors can explore the spiritual beliefs and daily lives of the Ainu people through an extensive collection of traditional tools and captivating musical performances.
This museum, the oldest of its kind in Japan, was founded by Kawamura Kaneto, the eighth-generation head of an influential Kamikawa Ainu family. Kawamura was a remarkable figure who served as a pioneering railway surveying engineer from the Meiji to the Showa eras. Inside, the exhibits showcase precious ancestral artifacts alongside the actual surveying equipment Kawamura used during his career. These sturdy, wooden items silently tell the story of indigenous life and the history of Hokkaido's development.
Step outside to find a reconstructed "Cise," a traditional Ainu house thatched with bamboo grass. As you enter, the nostalgic scent of bamboo fills the air, and the smoke-stained interior offers a tangible sense of how people lived in the past. Beyond the exhibits, the museum provides a deep, sensory connection to the land’s spiritual roots. You can listen to the unique, vibrating tones of the "Mukkuru" (a traditional bamboo mouth harp) or admire the intricate patterns of vibrant Ainu embroidery.
- * 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
- Solo trip
- Couple
- Family
- Travel style
- Travel Inspiration
- Ideas for a rainy day
- Adventure Travel
- Nearest airports
General Information
- Postal code
- 〒070-0070
- Address
- 北海道旭川市北門町11丁目
- Telephone Number
- 0166-51-2461
- Open
- 9:00-17:00
- Closed
- Open daily (May–November), closed Tuesdays (December–April)
- Prices
- paid
- Car Park
- 10 spaces, free
- Directions
- ●By car: About 10 minutes from Hokkaido Expwy Asahikawa-Takasu IC
●By car: About 20 minutes from JR Asahikawa Station - Website
* Information on facilities is subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.
