Summary
A special exhibition at Hokkaido Museum uses crafts, photographs, documents and descendants' accounts to explore modern Ainu life in the Saru River region.
Hokkaido Museum is presenting a special exhibition on Ainu history and material culture in the Saru River region from July 11 to September 6, 2026.
What happened
The exhibition, titled Living Along the Saru River: The Sarunkur in the Modern Era, focuses on Ainu communities in the river basin extending from the Hidaka Mountains to the Pacific coast.
Rather than displaying crafts without context, the exhibition highlights objects whose makers and users are known. It connects these works with photographs, documents and the words of descendants to examine how people lived through the rapid social changes of the modern period and how those histories continue into the present.
Key details
- Dates: July 11 to September 6, 2026.
- Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last admission at 4:30 p.m.
- Venue: Special Exhibition Room, second floor of Hokkaido Museum.
- Closed on Mondays, except July 20; the museum is closed on July 21.
- Organizers include Hokkaido Museum, the Foundation for Ainu Culture and the National Museum of Ethnology.
Why it matters
The exhibition places Ainu crafts within the lives and relationships of specific people. This approach helps visitors understand the Saru River region not only as a center of cultural heritage, but as a living community shaped by continuity, adaptation and memory.
For international readers
Visitors should check the museum’s official exhibition page for admission information, access details and any guidance on available languages before traveling.
Source: Hokkaido Government
Source Details
| Source | Hokkaido Government |
|---|---|
| Original Title | 北海道博物館 第12回特別展・令和8年度アイヌ工芸品展「沙流川に生きる－サルンクㇽの近代 Nupursar kotan ta: sinrit orwano tan te pakno」 |
| Original Published | 2026-07-01 |
| Region | Sapporo |
| Target Reader | travelers |
| Review Status | needs_review |
| Risk Level | normal |
| Original Source | Hokkaido Government |
Editor Note
公開前に観覧料金、休館日、アクセス、展示タイトルのアイヌ語表記、外国語案内の有無を北海道博物館公式ページで確認してください。