The Ainu are an Indigenous people of Hokkaido, with a distinct language, cultural identity and spiritual traditions. Historically, their way of life was closely connected to nature, including the forests, rivers and sea, which provided food and materials. Ainu spirituality traditionally recognizes kamuy, spiritual beings associated with elements of the natural world and animals. Their cultural heritage includes distinctive embroidery, wood carving, oral storytelling and traditional dances. Despite historical discrimination and assimilation policies, Ainu communities continue to preserve and revitalize their language, traditions and cultural identity.
KEY INFORMATION
Dates: 27 April-6 May 2027
Price: € 2,695 per person
Duration: 10 days
Start: Hakodate, End: Sapporo
Group Size: 6-8 participants
HOKKAIDO
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, is renowned for its vast natural landscapes, rugged coastlines and rich marine life. Its forests, mountains, volcanic lakes and wetlands provide habitats for diverse wildlife, while its surrounding waters meet the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.
Chasing the Sakura front north from Hakodate to Sapporo
27 April
Arrival in Hakodate
Arrive in Hakodate, a historic port city in southern Hokkaido. Explore the Motomachi district, where Japanese and Western architectural influences reflect the city’s role in the opening of Japan to international trade during the nineteenth century. Visit the Hakodate City Museum of Northern Peoples, subject to its current opening arrangements. Its collections provide a useful introduction to Ainu material culture and the wider history of northern peoples.
28 April
Goryōkaku and Hakodate’s cherry blossoms
Visit Goryōkaku Park, a star-shaped former fortress surrounded by a moat and renowned for its cherry trees. Explore the historic grounds and, if visibility permits, view the geometric layout from the Goryōkaku Tower.The cherry blossom season in Hakodate often falls around late April to early May, although the precise dates vary annually.
29 April
Matsumae Castle and the southern cherry blossom route
Travel to Matsumae, at the southern tip of Hokkaido, to visit Matsumae Park. The park contains around 10,000 cherry trees representing numerous varieties, with successive flowering periods that can extend the viewing season. The historic castle provides the setting for one of Hokkaido’s best-known spring landscapes. Walk through the park and its historic precincts, taking time to appreciate the relationship between the former castle town and the seasonal landscape.
30 April
Journey to Shiraoi: entering Ainu cultural territory
Travel north to Shiraoi, on the Pacific coast, where the National Ainu Museum and Park is located. This is the main transition from the historic port towns of southern Hokkaido to a deeper exploration of Ainu history and culture. On arrival, take a walk around Lake Poroto, beside which the museum complex is situated.
1 May
Upopoy: The National Ainu Museum and Park
Spend a full day at Upopoy – the National Ainu Museum and Park, the principal national centre for learning about and supporting the revival of Ainu culture. The aim is to understand Ainu culture as a living heritage, maintained and reinterpreted by Ainu people today.
2 May
Nibutani: the Ainu culture of the Saru River
Travel inland to Nibutani, in Biratori, an important centre of Ainu cultural heritage associated with the Saru River basin.
Visit the Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, whose collections document Ainu material culture, traditional knowledge and craftsmanship. Look for objects associated with wood carving, textiles, domestic life and traditional river travel, including dugout canoes.
3 May
From Nibutani to Sapporo
Travel to Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital. After the rural landscape of Nibutani, the city offers a different perspective on the island’s history: urban development, migration, the expansion of modern Japan and the place of Ainu people in contemporary society.Cherry blossom viewing may still be possible in Sapporo in late April or early May, although timing depends on the year’s weather.
4 May
Sapporo Pirka Kotan: an introduction to living Ainu culture
Visit Sapporo Pirka Kotan, the Sapporo Ainu Culture Promotion Center in the Koganeyu area, south of the city centre.
The centre presents Ainu objects, clothing, tools and cultural practices in an accessible setting. Its exhibitions and activities can help visitors connect the historical material studied at Upopoy and Nibutani with the wider contemporary Ainu cultural revival.
5 May
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Hokkaido’s history and spring blossoms Begin at the Hokkaido Museum, where the natural and human history of the island provides context for the development of Ainu society and the later colonisation and modernisation of Hokkaido. In the afternoon, visit Maruyama Park and the grounds of Hokkaido Shrine. These are well-known places for cherry blossom viewing in Sapporo, and their wooded surroundings provide a quieter contrast to the city’s urban centre. |
6 May
Sapporo – Departure on a return flight home
Transfer to the airport for the return flight, bringing the journey through Hokkaido region and Ainu cultural territory to an end.
What’s included:
✓ Specialized guide
✓ Transfers mentioned in the itinerary
✓ Accommodation in the hotels throughout the journey
✓ Visits and experiences mentioned in the itinerary
✓ Permits
✓ Collective equipment
What’s Not Included:
✗ Flights & airport taxes
✗ Visa, if required
✗ All meals and beverages
✗ Insurance
✗ Any additional activities
✗ Entrance fees to national parks, archaeological sites and museums
✗ Personal gear
✗ Tips
