A place to explore Hokkaido Ainu culture

The Ainu – the indigenous people of Hokkaido – have spent centuries resisting assimilation efforts to preserve their traditions. To truly understand the Ainu’s deep spiritual culture of being closely connected to the natural world, Nibutani Valley is an ideal place to visit.

Nibutani is a small but vibrant area located in the town of Hiratori, Saru-gun, Hokkaido. Parts of Heatori Town, including Nibutani, are designated as important cultural landscapes. Nibitani is more than just a historical site, it remains a living center of Ainu craftsmanship, with master craftsmen passing on their skills to younger generations. Hiratori Town is the only area in Hokkaido officially recognized as a traditional craft production area.

From state-designated crafts such as intricate Nibutani Date (wooden pallets) and Nibutani Artus (barkcloth) vs. divine power (god), life in Nibutani centers on the inheritance of Ainu identity. Read on to learn how craftsmanship, spirituality, and everyday life are intertwined in this extraordinary community.

Nibutani Valley: The spiritual pillar of Ainu culture

At the heart of Ainu culture is a deep reverence for nature and the belief that everything, from animals and rivers to even simple hearth fires, has a soul called a “kamuy.” The Ainu have a simple yet profound reciprocal relationship with these gods. The gods came to the human world with gifts—a bear for meat, a tree for wood—and humans reciprocated with gratitude and enthusiasm. This communication occurs through prayer integrated into daily life. A symbolic offering was Inoa shaved wooden stick that serves as a spiritual messenger between humans and gods.

While Ainu culture is spread throughout Hokkaido, Nibutani is a unique center where traditional practices continue to thrive.

CIP (canoe)

you will find rebuild Cisse (Ainu thatched dwellings), Craftsman’s way — an “artisan street” — and a series of legendary rituals such as traditional dances, oral performances up Literature and the annual Cipsanke ceremony celebrate the launching of a hand-carved canoe crafted using traditional Ainu techniques. As the canoe is lowered into the river, participants express gratitude for nature’s blessings and pray for a safe and smooth journey.

Nibuti’s current wood carvings

Everyday Traditions: Living Crafts of Nibutani Valley

For the Ainu, handicrafts are more than decoration. From wood carvings to embroidery, they represent an applied art form – combining everyday practicality with patterns inspired by the natural world. These patterns vary from region to region, and in Nibutani Valley, local craftsmen inherit the region’s unique traditional designs. Today, contemporary craftsmen continue this tradition, designing these patterns on wood, fabric, and other materials, while also adding their own creative interpretations. Each piece is special and contains wishes for the user’s safety and happiness.

Nibutani is especially famous for its crafts, as two of its traditional arts have been designated as official traditional crafts by the Japanese government: Nibutani Ban and Nibutani Atus—crafts that are still made today using techniques passed down from generation to generation in the Nibutani area.

Nibutani Date

Wood carving has long been a skill mastered by the Ainu, and Nibutani Ita (meaning tray) is an iconic craft of the region. Made of wood as beautiful as Japan Guithe surface of each tray is decorated with intricate patterns.

rotate morevnoka spiral and sharp ayusnoka thorns, and Siknoka The eye shape is inspired by the natural world, where ramlamnokar (Micro Scale Patterns) are often used to fill gaps between patterns. The designs are not meant to completely fill the surface – rather the balance between carved and uncarved space is left to the artist’s sensibility – and this harmony itself is part of what makes each piece so captivating.

Nibutani Artus

In contrast, textile work and embroidery have traditionally been the domain of Ainu women. Nibutani Attus refers to textiles and clothing made from them. The durable fabric is woven from the inner bark fibers of local elm and linden trees.
Weaving takes a lot of time and effort, and in Nibutani, craftsmen still collect raw bark from the mountains and continue the craft using the same looms they used a century ago.

Highly breathable, quick-drying and durable, it was an important trade item with Honshu during the Edo period and was still praised as a quality product of the Saru River Valley throughout the Meiji period.

The resulting robe (amoeba) is decorated with delicate embroidery and appliqués. There are many theories as to why these patterns were embroidered, some say they were spiritual shields. The Ainu believe that evil can enter the body through openings, so the collar, cuffs, and hem are sewn with intricate and beautiful patterns designed to ensure the safety of the wearer.

Main attractions of Nibutani Valley

The Ainu culture of Nibutani Valley is not a relic of the past; It’s an ongoing tradition built on gratitude, respect and art. To truly appreciate a living tradition rooted in respect for nature, a visit to Nibutani Valley is highly recommended. We recommend two key locations embodying heritage and ongoing cultural expression:

Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum

This museum is an excellent place to start, with a collection of more than 4,000 artifacts, including everyday tools and the extensive collection of the late Ainu leader and researcher Shigeru Kayano. Inside, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the Ainu worldview through exhibits that introduce the world of Kamui, oral traditions such as Yukar, and scenes from daily life and crafts. There are several reconstructed traditional Ainu houses built outside, where you can watch craftsmen display their craft from May to late October.

Urespaping Ainu Crafts and Heritage Center

The center is located along the Artifact Path and is the core of contemporary Ainu craftsmanship. Here, you can watch artisans carving or weaving in real time and experience traditional skills in action. In the surrounding Nibutani Kotan area and along Takumi no Michi, there are several craft shops offering authentic, ethically sourced Nibutani Ita and Nibutani Attus products, ensuring your support directly helps keep these traditions alive into the future.

More information

Address: Nibutani Kotan 055-0101, Nibutani 55-60, Hiratori-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido
Inquiry: Nibutani Ainu Crafts Office, [email protected]
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