Anytime, Ainutime! Cultural Guides
The Ainu believe that life is possible through the blessings we receive from everything that surrounds us, including the forests, rivers, and lakes, as well as family and friends. That is why they always respect nature, value their possessions, and interact with others with a caring heart.
Anytime, Ainutime! offers tour programs led by Ainu guides (and Lake Akan Ainu Kotan residents) who share their culture on three different aspects: the forest, the lake, and craft-making. You can experience Ainu culture firsthand through traditional Ainu crafts or the Ainu way of life while enjoying the nature of Lake Akan.
By learning the Ainu way of life, you may fifi nd yourself suddenly wanting to thank someone in your life, or sharing more heartwarming moments with them. Through these tour programs, it is our hope that you will discover something that will enrich your life. We also sincerely hope that these life lessons from the Ainu will serve a purpose in your life, even after you return to your daily grind.
Experience Ainu culture through tour programs led by Ainu guides
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tour1: Forest Time (Forest Walk Short Course)Feel the Spirit of the Ainu Living with the Forest（Your own private tour）
Visit a forest that has sustained the lives of the Ainu. Learn their beliefs and listen to the sound of the mukkuri.
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tour2: Lake Time (Forest Walk Long Course & Mukkuri Making)See the Sights of the Lake Cherished by the Ainu（Your own private tour）
Make a musical instrument and take a walk inside a forest to see the magnificent scenery cherished by the Ainu.
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tour3: Forest of Light（Forest Walking Tour）A journey to meet the Kamuy in the forest（Your own private tour）
See the sunlight filtering through the trees in the Forest of Light, and experience timeless nature and Ainu culture passed down across generations.
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tour4A: Craft Time (Embroidery Making)Enrich your Spirit through Ainu Embroidery（Your own private tour）
Discover the joy of needlework and the spirit of the Ainu through Ainu embroidery passed down through generations.
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tour4B: Craft Time (Wood Carving)Feel the Wood and the Craftsmanship of the Ainu（Your own private tour）
Experience the art of wood carving and create your very own item carved with an Ainu pattern.
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tour4C: Craft Time Eraser Stamp MakingExperience Ainu culture through patterns（Your own private tour）
Make an eraser stamp with an Ainu pattern. Learn about Ainu culture and mentality through Ainu patterns.
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Food Time (Option)Savor the blessings of nature through Ainu cuisine
Passed down through generations, Ainu cuisine makes use of the blessings of the lakes and mountains.
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Meet the Ainu guides who will accompany you on your journey
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Akira TokoHe has sought to learn more about Ainu culture since his childhood. He aims to share the wisdom of the Ainu through his work in cultural preservation, wood carvings, and management of a cafe.
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Kengo TakiguchiA wood carver who strives to steadily improve his techniques. He also makes use of his English proficiency to work as a cultural guide, conveying the charms of Lake Akan to visitors.
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Kayoko NishidaHer fascination with Ainu patterns led her to pursue embroidery. For her, embroidery is not about how well you can make it, but about putting your feelings into every stroke of the needle.
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Ryuji HirasawaHe learned to embrace his Ainu roots with the help of his grandfather. He hopes to spark interest in Ainu culture by offering wood carving programs.
Deepen your understanding of the culture of the Ainu
The hot springs in Lake Akan were an important part of the lives of the Ainu.
Rather than as a place to bathe, it is believed that they used the hot springs for recuperation and the treatment of wounds.
They also used it to extract fibers from plants and weave clothing.
