[Upopoy] Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido | “Upopoy 5th Anniversary Special Event” will be held!
Ainu Cultural Foundation Press release: September 26, 2025 To Members of the Press [Upopoy] Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido | “Upopoy 5th Anniversary Special Event” to be held! Various events will be held from October, including an expansion of free admission days Upopoy (Symbolic Space for Ethnic Coexistence, hereafter “Upopoy”), operated by the Ainu Cultural Foundation (Chuo-ku, Sapporo; Chairman: Teruki Tsunemoto), will celebrate its 5th anniversary on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Since its opening, the park has welcomed over 1.6 million visitors. To express its gratitude to the support and cooperation of the local Hokkaido community and others, the park will be holding a “Upopoy 5th Anniversary Special Event” from October 2025 to the end of March 2026. Overview Part 1: Held for 3 consecutive days! Free Open Day (November 1st-3rd, 2025) Free Open Day, which is usually held on Culture Day, November 3rd, will be held for three consecutive days, from November 1st (Sat) to 3rd (Mon, Culture Day). In addition to the regular program of exhibitions, performing arts, and craft experiences, we will also be offering special events exclusive to this day. Part 2: Offering new winter special programs (held sequentially from December 2025) We offer seasonal experiences such as experiencing the winter life of the Ainu people and sky lanterns. Part 3: Holding a special multicultural coexistence event (February 2026) From Sunday, February 1st to Saturday, February 14th, we will be holding Multicultural Coexistence Week, where we will introduce the charm of Ainu culture through programs that collaborate with traditional Japanese culture, indigenous peoples from around the world, and various other genres of music. Part 4: Limited-time admission discount (from October 2025) For a limited time, we will be offering a web discount on one-day tickets, and we will also be publishing a family discount (various types, 200 yen discount per person) in our public relations paper, “Hokkaido.” Upopoy 5th Anniversary Special Event Details (1) Free Admission Day November 1st (Sat) – November 3rd (Mon, National Holiday) Inside the Park This year, it’s three days long! There’s lots of special excitement! • Traditional performing arts performance • Enjoy different performances of singing, dancing, oral literature, and musical instruments. You may even get to join in the dancing! • Experiences Bow and arrow experience using authentic tools inspired by mountain hunting, experience playing the traditional Ainu instrument, the mukkuri (mouth harp), free coaster embroidery experience, etc. • Free ILOHAS (first come, first served) wristband distribution • Fluffy play equipment for children available for a limited time • Food truck, stamp rally in collaboration with popular manga, etc.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-630ff4d7489102a14f98d30ee5d41ee3-2835×2126.jpg (2) Discounted admission fee: Mid-October (planned) – March 31st (Tue) To show our appreciation, we’re offering a limited-time discount! • We are offering a one-day ticket online discount from the official Upopoy website, a one-day ticket online discount from Jalan.net, and a family discount (200 yen discount per person for each type) published in the Hokkaido newsletter. • Admission fee (1-day ticket) with online discount (tax included) Adult (general) 1,000 yen High school student (general) 400 yen Junior high school students and below Free Experience programs incur additional fees. One person with a disability and one caregiver are admitted free of charge. Please present your disability certificate or other proof of disability upon admission. (3) Winter Experience at Upopoy! Extensive winter programs available at the park. Experience Ainu culture through a winter-only event while experiencing the great outdoors, including the frozen Lake Poroto! • Recreating the Ainu people’s winter lifestyle in a traditional Kotan area • A fantastical experience of floating sky lanterns in the midst of Hokkaido’s bitterly cold winter night sky (scheduled for February) • Other winter-specific experience programs are also planned.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-cc88b2fd3eb4790064547c43cc100f04-3900×2600.jpg (4) Multicultural Coexistence Week l Ainu Traditional Performing Arts x Japanese Traditional Performing Arts Collaboration February 1st (Sun) A collaboration between traditional Ainu and Japanese performing arts! A collaborative event between traditional Ainu and Japanese performing arts will be planned. In addition to a talk show by the heirs of each tradition, there will also be a performance. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-bce6ee8eca5bbe4e83d4eea54f90f84f-3900×2600.jpg (5) Multicultural Coexistence Week International Symposium February 7th (Sat) and 8th (Sun) National Indigenous Museums from around the world gather together! We will be holding an international symposium, inviting directors from Native American museums in Finland, Australia, and the United States. Presentations introducing each museum are also planned.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-77f1223695e3adbee0e96a62e70a0dd9-3900×1758.jpg (6) Multicultural Coexistence Week lUPOPOY Music Festival 2026 Saturday, February 14th Ainu music and world folk music at Upopoy! Live performances by Ainu music artists and ethnic music groups from around the world.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-13ae5849e0a416b7598ce4338f63b3d5-3900×2600.jpg *The image shows the performers of the UPOPOY Music Festival 2025. (7) 5th Anniversary of the Vienna World’s Fair and the Ainu Collection, July 5th (Sat) Until November 16th (Sun) Materials that were sent to Berlin, Germany, are returning to Hokkaido for the first time in approximately 150 years! This exhibition will showcase the formation of the Ainu collection and its historical background, which began with the Vienna World Exposition, a symbol of modernization and
internationalization for Japan.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-07c47e7286dba5ebeb1ed657cc92a833-1200×630.jpg Other Events for the Second Half of 2025 (October to March) (8) Ainu Art Show 2025 October 12th (Sun) and 13th (Mon, National Holiday) A special two days where you can experience the works and expressions of artists and craftspeople through all five senses! In addition to exhibiting and selling crafts by artists and craftspeople active around the region, a diverse program including talk events and workshops will allow you to experience the charm of handcrafts while speaking directly with exhibitors. We will be giving away limited edition stickers featuring Kohei Fujito’s work “Singing for the Future.” Ainu Art Show 2025 Special Website
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-7e9e883538fdf72919162c3b0f10245d-3360×2240.jpg The image is what it will look like in 2024 (9) Illuminations November 22 (Sat) – March 22 (Sun) Approximately 83,000 light bulbs transform Upopoy into a fantastical space☆ Block-shaped illuminations vividly illuminate animals associated with Ainu culture. Enjoy winter Upopoy in a fantastical space with Lake Poroto as a backdrop.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-7b9b6632a02a38959493e4054292e800-1600×1067.jpg (10) Upopoy, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu Photo Contest 2025 Wednesday, July 9th – Sunday, November 30th We’re looking for a captivating photo! We’re currently hosting a photo contest in collaboration with Tokyo Camera Club, with the theme “Hokkaido Has Moments You’ll Want to Share.” We’re accepting submissions of photos taken in Upopoy, Shiraoi Town, and Noboribetsu City. Winners will receive luxurious prizes, including accommodation vouchers. The results will be announced on a special website in late February. Upopoy, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu Photo Contest 2025 Special Website
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-4f4000321de2b415f15f48c4175119aa-1920×966.jpg (11) Upopoy Travel Education Campaign July 11th (Friday) – February 1st (Sunday) An exciting stroll for parents and children ♪ The Upopoy Travel Education Campaign is now underway! We support travel education at Upopoy, which fosters children’s sense of inquiry, independence, cooperation, and communication skills. The “Upopoy Travel Education Guidebook,” which accompanies you from before to after your trip, is available on our website. By participating in programs at the park and getting a stamp in your guidebook, you’ll be entered into a lottery to win original merchandise. Upopoy Travel Education Special Website
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-8c3166be23500dbe4ccc5a9d3be54fe0-640×336.jpg (12) Enjoy Hokkaido with Golden Kamuy! Supported by Upopoy September 2nd (Tuesday) – February 27th (Friday) Campaign currently underway! For more information, please visit here. Campaign Special Website (Upopoy Information)
About Upopoy (Symbolic Space for Ethnic Coexistence)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-833f971d4518c9504d54db0d7f2a701a-3900×2600.jpg Opened in Shiraoi, Hokkaido in 2020 as a base for the revival and creation of Ainu culture. It comprises the National Ainu Museum, Hokkaido’s first national museum; the National Ethnic Coexistence Park, an experiential field museum where you can experience Ainu culture with all five senses; and a memorial facility dedicated to the Ainu people, where dignified memorial services are held. Surrounded by the lush natural surroundings of Lake Poroto, visitors can experience Ainu culture and history from various angles, including through touch and experience.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122187/64/122187-64-06c2898bf9f95a7b578cb04568b51ccf-3900×2600.jpg Official website: https://ainu-upopoy.jp/ Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainumuseumpark/ Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upopoy/ Official You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/@upopoy Address: 2-3 Wakakusa-cho,
Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido 059-0902 Phone: 0144-82-3914 (Main) Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Shiraoi Station. Approximately 40 minutes by highway or train from New Chitose Airport. Admission fee (tax included): 1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for high school students, free for junior high school students and younger *Group rates available for groups of 20 or more. *Does not include paid experience programs or special museum exhibitions. Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM *Hours may vary depending on the season Closed: Mondays, December 29th – January 5th, February 28th – March 9th, and the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday *Special opening days may apply Opening date: July 12, 2020 Designated organization: Ainu Cultural Foundation, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Press release attachments