Check out the JR Pass!: https://click.jrpass.com/aff_c?offer_id=19&aff_id=1131
Tokyo to Hokkaido Road Trip playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzfzbhn_W7Cs1JVs2Jmw6xO2Q2H6fSTDq
1st video in the Road Trip Playlist (Sendai):
https://youtu.be/_Kmu1Atq0uU
~ English subtitles available ~
Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-0:19
Exploring Akankohan: 0:19-2:16
Marimo Exhibition: 2:16-5:00
Dinner & Ainu Theater: 5:00-6:23
Outro: 6:23-6:57
On day 19 of our road trip, we explored the nooks and crannies of Akankohan, the only town within walking distance of Lake Akan, the home of the marimo plant. My host parents gave me some time in the morning to explore, so I checked out the docks, a garden of a different hotel with totem poles of Ainu stylings, and strolled down the main street lined with souvenir shops. Once I headed back, we ate a delicious lunch, then bathed at the onsen at the hotel.
From there, we went down to the docks to pay for a ticket to the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center. It’s located on Churui Island, on the north side of the lake, and is fairly secluded. There, we learned more about the interesting plant, in regards to its distinctive, round shape as well as its surprisingly long lifespan. From there, we rode with the speedboat driver back to shore, checked out some souvenir shops, and then rested before heading to dinner.
I ate the tasty genghis khan, a meal consisting of lamb, sauce, and salad, as well as the other side dishes the buffet offered. After that, we all walked together to the Ainu Theater, located on the other side of the town on top of a hill. The theater’s purpose is to preserve and inform people of the unique Ainu culture and history through its performances, the proceeds of which go to organizations that help the fading Ainu population in Japan. It was very cool to see a niche subset of Japan’s cultural population that I probably would’ve never interacted so closely with otherwise. From there, we headed back to the hotel, preparing ourselves for the busy day ahead of us.
Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed the video, don’t forget to like and subscribe so you can stay updated when I post new content! Leave a comment if you have a question or thought you’d like to share. In the next video, I chronicle our time as we check out the rest of the Ainu village near Lake Akan and stop by some roadside stops (michi no ekis) on our way to Hokkaido’s eastern coast town of Shiretoko! There is where we end up staying the longest on our journey, as we tour the Shiretoko National Park. Thanks again for watching and I’ll see you all next time!
New Akan Hotel: https://www.newakanhotel.co.jp/en/
Akan Iomapu Garden: https://www.tsuruga.com/news/detail.php?id=549
Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center: https://en.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/2943/
About Marimo: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/marimo/
Ainu Theater: https://www.akanainu.jp/about/ikoro
Ainu Ikor Performance: https://www.akanainu.jp/tr-dance
Ainu Association of Hokkaido Dances: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-ainu-dance-00278
Music (in order):
“Ambon” — DeKobe: https://soundcloud.com/dekobe/ambon
“Learning” — DeKobe: https://soundcloud.com/dekobe/learning
“Lost In Thought” — Bonus Points: https://soundcloud.com/bonuspoints/lost-in-thought