Nature you can experience only in Ishikari

Since more than 10,000 years ago, Jomon people have lived in the Japanese archipelago for more than 10,000 years, and ins known in the history as Jomon period.

Before entering the Yayoi period, the Asian rice-producing culture was brought to Japan to Kyushu during 10th century BC (according to various theories). Yayoi culture gradually moved northward up the Japanese islands, but rice planting was not suitable to the cold climate of Hokkaido, the hunting and gathering culture of the Jomon culture still prevail and fuse with the influence of the Yayoi culture.

In the 7th century (Asuka era), Satsumon Culture began to develop with the influenced by pottery and pit dwellings in Honshu. In addition, since the people came into contact with the northern Okhotsk culture, which had been established on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in Hokkaido, it brought some religious and rituals such as veneration of the bears.

In the 13th century (the latter half of the Kamakura period), pit dwellings were replaced by flat-land dwellings. The use of earthenware pottery declined and was replaced by the iron-made pots. The Ainu culture as we known today seems to be develop in this era.

According to recent genetic research, the Ainu people are closely related to the Jomon people. It can be said that the Ainu people have inherited the 10,000 years Jomon culture and brought it down to the present.

Today, we are striving to instill the Ainu people’s pride in their own heritage. We are working to restore, develop, preserve, and pass down Ainu culture.