Lake Akan Ainu Village

OVERVIEW

Delve into the culture of the indigenous Ainu people in their village near Lake Akan and enjoy sweeping views of Japan’s largest wetlands from the Kushiro Marshland Observatory. Although you will get an inkling of the Ainu lifestyle by browsing the village – one of their largest settlements on Hokkaido Island – watching a traditional Ainu dance performance will provide a deeper understanding. The dance is so culturally revealing that UNESCO added it to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. You will pause at a particularly scenic overlook on Lake Aran before continuing on to the Kushiro Marshland Observatory. Feel free to browse the museum exhibits inside for an overview of the flora and fauna that flourish within the marshland. From the rooftop observation deck, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding wetlands, which seem to stretch forever. For those who wish to get a closer look, the Satellite Observatory, a 20-minute one-way walk, offers a magnifying telescope view, but the wooden path may be closed due to snow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Become immersed in the culture of the indigenous Ainu people in one of their villages.
• Enjoy a panoramic view of nearby Lake Aran from an elevated lookout.
• Gaze out over Japan’s largest wetlands from a rooftop observation deck.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.