Hokkaido"nature & sightseeing" Information

　"Gateway to Ainu Culture & Home of Exquisite Shiraoi Beef"(Shiraoi Town)

Overview


Shiraoi Town is located in southwestern Hokkaido, midway between Tomakomai City—an industrial hub—and Noboribetsu City, known for Jigokudani (“Hell Valley”) and hot springs. It is about 70 km (roughly one hour) from central Sapporo via expressway, and is well-connected by JR rail lines and national highways.

Approximately 75% of the town is covered by forests, offering rich natural surroundings. Shiraoi is also home to Upopoy (the Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony), a national center established in 2020 to learn about, preserve, and promote Ainu culture, brought by the indigenous Ainu people who developed mainly in Hokkaido.
Reflecting this cultural heritage, the town is known for its thriving Ainu woodcarving and embroidery crafts, and Ainu symbolic patterns can be seen in many places throughout the area.

A specialty product of Shiraoi is its premium branded beef, Shiraoi Beef.

In addition, the town has been finding creative new uses for former school buildings. Shiraoi offers many attractions that cannot be found elsewhere—let’s explore some in detail.

Highlights of Shiraoi

1. Nature's Beauty-See, Experience, and Be Moved

In the north, 1,000-meter-class peaks such as Mt. Tarumae, Mt. Horohoro, and Mt. Orofure rise within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, while the southern foothills face the Pacific Ocean. Among municipalities within the park, Shiraoi ranks third in size after Sapporo and Chitose.

One of the park’s unique features is Lake Kuttara, in the Kojohama area. This caldera lake, with a circumference of 8 km, has no inflowing or outflowing rivers and is said to be the most perfectly circular lake in Japan. It is also famous for its high water clarity, earning it the nickname “mystery lake.”

　　　　　　　　　　　Lake Kuttara

Other highlights include Inkura Falls—selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls—making the park a popular sightseeing destination.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Inkura　Falls

Closer to the town center is Lake Poroto, surrounded by forests. It offers safe, scenic walking trails for locals, campgrounds with bungalows, and a natural setting where visitors can enjoy the outdoors amid the town’s treasured lakes and woods.

　　　　Walking Course(Poroto Forest)

　　　　　　Campsite (Poroto Forest)


　Wakasagi smelt fishing in a winter(Lake Poroto）

2. Culture Treasures - Learning the Roots of Hokkaido and Shiraoi

① Upopoy – National Ainu Museum and Park

In mainland Japan, history moved from the Jomon period to Yayoi, Kofun, Asuka, Nara, Heian, Kamakura, and beyond, each with its own distinctive culture.
In contrast, Hokkaido—including Shiraoi—transitioned from the Jomon period to the Epi-Jomon, Satsumon, and Okhotsk cultural phases. Around the late Kamakura period in mainland terms, a new culture emerged: Ainu culture, sustained to this day despite many hardships.

The Ainu led a hunting- and gathering-based life, held deep reverence for bears, and believed that gods dwell in all things. The Shiraoi area was home to Ainu settlements (kotan) centered around what is now the town office.

　　Ainu Culture and　Bear（National Museum）

On the shores of Lake Poroto, Upopoy (“Let’s sing together” in Ainu) was established in 2020 by the Japanese government and the Ainu people as a national base for learning, inheriting, and sharing Ainu culture. The grounds feature everything needed to understand the Ainu way of life:

　　　　　　　　　　"Upopoy"entrance

• The National Ainu Museum with exhibits of traditional clothing, ritual tools, and symbolic patterns
• Traditional houses (chise)
• Performances of dances and music passed down through generations

　　　　　　　　Traditional clothing

　　　　　　　Traditinal houses(chise)

　　　　　　　　Performances of Dances

Upopoy attracts many visitors from Japan and abroad who come to experience the unique world of Ainu culture.

② Sendai -Han Shiraoi Original Fort Museum

Why does Shiraoi have the remains of an impressive fort? The answer lies in the late Edo period.
In 1856, fearing Russian expansion from the north, the shogunate ordered the Sendai -Han to build a fort in what is now Jinyamachi, Shiraoi. This is considered the founding year of Shiraoi Town.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Museum

　　Signboard of Sendai-han Original Fprt

Though an invasion never occurred, the site remains, surrounded by groves where cherry blossoms bloom in spring. The museum and ruins offer insights into the shogunate’s defense strategy and Shiraoi’s origins.

3. A Town Full of Ainu Culture

① Traditional Ainu Crafts
As a hub of Ainu culture, Shiraoi has many artisans creating traditional woodcarvings and embroidery.
The Arai Craft Studio, run by veteran woodcarvers, showcases and sells imaginative, original works.

　　　　　　　　　Arai Craft Studio

　　　　　　　　　　Craft goods

At Poroto Mintar (Tourist Information Center), visitors can purchase woodcarvings and other crafts featuring Ainu motifs.

r
　　　　　　　　　　Poroto MIntar

　　　　　　Goods of the Ainu culture

　　　　　　　　　　　Poroto mintar

② Ainu Motifs Everywhere
Ainu symbolic patterns decorate everyday town features—from the postbox in front of town hall to coin lockers and shop doors—expressing the community’s identity as a center of Ainu culture.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Postbox

　　　　　　　　　　　　Coin lockers

4. Specialty Product - Exquisite Shiraoi Beef

In 1968, Shiraoi Wagyu won the top prize at a Hokkaido livestock fair, earning the town recognition as a prime Wagyu producer. In 2006, “Shiraoi Beef” was registered as a regional trademark, with ongoing breeding improvements to produce even higher-quality beef nationwide.

　　　　　　　　　　　Shiraoi Wagyu

Shiraoi Beef can be enjoyed at local farm-owned restaurants and shops, prepared in BBQs, hamburger curries, and burgers.

　　　　　　　　　　　Shiraoi Beef

Each June, the town hosts the Shiraoi Beef Festival, complete with BBQ areas to win over more fans.
Kojohama’s tarako (processed cod roe) is another well-known local delicacy.

　　　　　　 　　Shiraoi Beef Festival

5. Creative Reuse of Former School Buildings

Declining local industries and population have led to several school closures. Shiraoi has repurposed these sites in innovative ways.

① Tobi-U Art Community
Founded in 1986 in the former Tobi-U Elementary School, this artists’ collective uses classrooms and the surrounding forest as a shared studio.

　　　The former Tobi-U Elmentary school

Each September, they host the Tobi-U Art Festival, exhibiting works indoors and displaying forest installations. In 2025, the event will run from September 7–15.

② Nachu no Mori
Operated by a skincare company, this facility revitalized the former Kojohama Junior High School into a colorful, modern building. Named Mori no Kosha (“Forest Workshop”), it serves as a hands-on natural science museum for parents and children.

　　　Renovated formar junior high school

6. Your Personal Guide to Shiraoi

For tailored sightseeing assistance, the Shiraoi Omotenashi Guide Center, located in the Shiraoi Tourist Association office, offers both standard and customized tours.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　Guide
When visiting, it’s worth consulting them in advance about what you want to see to ensure a memorable trip.

Shiraoi is more than a destination—it’s a living story of nature, culture, and flavor. Whether you come for the Ainu heritage, the pristine landscapes, or the exquisite Wagyu, you’ll leave with memories to last a lifetime.

Picture provided

* Shiraoi-Town Hall（sightseeing）...0144-82-8214 　　　HP is "here"

* Shiraoi sightseeing association ...0144-82-2216　　　 HP is "here"