Japan’s northernmost national museum and the first one dedicated to the history and culture of the indigenous Ainu people.

The Ainu are an indigenous people from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. The name “Ainu” is derived from the word aynu, which means “human being” in the Ainu language. The Ainu language, culture, and history are distinct from those of Wajin (ethnic Japanese), the ethnic majority in Japan. The National Ainu Museum’s objectives are to build a society where Ainu pride is recognized, raise awareness of Ainu history and culture, and help to forge a future for Ainu culture. The exhibitions are designed to explore Ainu history and culture from Ainu perspectives.