Hokkaido Places

Town Hidaka Subprefecture

Biratori 平取町

びらとりちょう

A farming town along the Saru River and one of the centers of living Ainu culture. Its Nibutani district has two Ainu museums, working craft studios, and the first crafts in Hokkaido to be designated national traditional crafts. The town says it ships more tomatoes than anywhere else in Hokkaido, and it reaches up to Mt. Horoshiri, the highest peak in Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National Park.

Population (2020 Census)
4,776
Area
743.09 km²
District
Saru District (沙流郡)
Official website
www.town.biratori.hokkaido.jp

Known for

  • Nibutani (二風谷) Ainu culture. Nibutani is a district of museums, reconstructed chise (traditional houses) and craft workshops. It is often described as the community with the highest share of Ainu residents in Hokkaido910.
  • Nibutani-ita and Nibutani attus. On 8 March 2013 these carved trays and bark-fiber cloth became the first crafts in Hokkaido designated as national traditional crafts (伝統的工芸品)1112.
  • Kayano Shigeru and the Nibutani Dam case. Kayano Shigeru (萱野茂), born in Nibutani, was the first Ainu member of the National Diet. In 1997 his lawsuit against the Nibutani Dam produced the first ruling by an organ of the state that recognized the Ainu as an indigenous people1314.
  • Biratori tomatoes (びらとりトマト). The town says it ships more tomatoes than any other municipality in Hokkaido. The tomatoes are also sold as "Nishipa no Koibito" (ニㇱパの恋人) juice and ketchup15.
  • Biratori wagyu (びらとり和牛). Japanese Black beef; more than 90% grades A4 or A5, according to the town16.
  • Lily of the valley. The wild colony at Memu covers about 15 ha, and the town calls it the largest in Japan17.
  • Mt. Horoshiri (幌尻岳, 2,052 m). The highest peak in Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National Park. It is known for a trail with many river crossings1819.
  • The Yoshitsune legend. Yoshitsune Shrine (義経神社) dates its founding to 1799. It enshrines the medieval warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, whom local legend says the Ainu honored as "Hangan Kamuy"2021.

Sights & activities

Nature & scenery

  • Memu lily-of-the-valley colony (芽生すずらん群生地).
    • The field was once a pasture for army horses. The horses knew lily of the valley was poisonous and left it alone, so the plants spread.
    • After 1975, overpicking and trampling nearly wiped the colony out, and it was closed to the public.
    • It now opens only from late May to early June. The flowers are the native Japanese variety, whose blooms hide beneath the leaves17.
  • Lake Nibutani and the Saru River. The lake has a riverside history walk. A town-run ranch lies next to the lily colony32.
  • Yoshitsune Park (義経公園). Cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, and bright autumn leaves45.

Onsen

  • Biratori Onsen Yukara (びらとり温泉ゆから, Nibutani 92-6).
    • An open-air bath set with fine stones and a carbonated bath (炭酸泉). Some guest rooms have their own open-air baths.
    • The restaurant serves Biratori wagyu and tomatoes, and the interior uses Ainu crafts and patterns4940.
    • It opened as Biratori Onsen in 19776. Combined tickets with the museums are available (see below)50.

Museums & heritage (Nibutani)

  • Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum (平取町立二風谷アイヌ文化博物館, Nibutani 55).
    • Opened in 199225. Four exhibition zones: Ainu (daily life), Kamuy (the gods), Mosir (the land's bounty) and Moreu (craft and design)46. About 23,300 visitors in FY2025, down from 24,700 in FY202431.
    • Open 9:00–16:30. Open daily from 16 April to 15 November. From 16 November to 15 April it closes on Mondays, and it closes from 31 December to 5 January.
    • Admission ¥400 for adults and ¥150 for children aged 7–15.
    • Combined ticket with the Kayano museum: ¥700 for adults and ¥200 for children. With both the Kayano museum and Yukara onsen: ¥1,050 for adults50.
  • Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum (萱野茂二風谷アイヌ資料館, Nibutani 79).
    • Open 9:00–16:30 with no fixed closing days. From 16 November to 15 April, contact the museum before visiting.
    • Admission ¥400 for adults and ¥150 for children51.
    • The collection has about 4,000 items: Ainu tools and objects made or gathered by Kayano over about half a century, plus material from other indigenous peoples around the world52.
  • Saru River History Museum (沙流川歴史館, Nibutani 227-2).
    • Exhibits on chasi excavations, finds from the Nibutani site, and dioramas of the valley then and now.
    • Free. Open 9:00–16:30. Closed Mondays and from 30 December to 5 January53.
  • Ainu Culture Information Center (Nibutani Kōgeikan) (平取町アイヌ文化情報センター（二風谷工芸館）, Nibutani 61-6).
    • Sells craftspeople's work, including Nibutani-ita and attus, and offers wood-carving and embroidery sessions.
    • Free. Open 9:00–17:00. Closed from 31 December to 5 January42.
  • Urespa (平取町アイヌ工芸伝承館ウレㇱパ, Nibutani 77-14).
    • Opened in April 2019. Free. Open 9:00–16:30. Closed Mondays and from 30 December to 5 January29.
    • Visitors can watch local artisans at work and make an Ainu-pattern pendant with a laser cutter or UV printer (paid, booking required)48.
  • Craft shops. Nibutani's craft shops include:
    • Kita no Kōbō Tsutomu (北の工房つとむ), where you can watch carving in the workshop next door;
    • Takano Mingei (高野民芸店), for menoko-ita cutting boards and embroidery;
    • Kaizawa Mingei (貝沢民芸), for attus;
    • Fujiya Mingei (藤谷民芸店), for embroidery and cord-twisting workshops43.
  • Former Munro residence (旧マンロー邸). Munro's home and clinic. It was donated to Hokkaido University, which uses it as its Nibutani research station2345. It is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property6.

Museums & heritage (elsewhere)

  • Yoshitsune Museum (義経資料館, Honchō). Materials on Yoshitsune and his legend. Open 9:00–17:00. Closed Mondays, and from December to March by appointment only. Admission ¥200 for adults and ¥100 for children54.
  • Furenai Railway Memorial Museum (振内鉄道記念館).
    • Next to Furenai post office. Tominai Line equipment and a model of Furenai Station.
    • A D51 steam locomotive and passenger cars stand in the park outside.
    • Open 9:00–16:00. Closed from November to March55.

Outdoor & seasonal activities

  • Climbing Mt. Horoshiri.
    • The Nukabira River route from Biratori crosses the river more than ten times, so stream shoes are essential.
    • Toyonuka Sansō (とよぬか山荘) is open from 30 June to 30 September. Parking costs ¥300.
    • A shuttle bus runs from Toyonuka Sansō to the trailhead: ¥10,000 return, or ¥5,000 for junior-high students and younger.
    • Horoshiri Sansō hut is staffed from July to September. It holds 40 people and costs ¥4,000 a night plus a ¥1,000 toilet fee. Booking is required, through the Horoshiri facility reservation system or by phone with the Biratori Mountaineering Association (平取町山岳会, 01457-3-3838)18.
    • Because of this route, Horoshiri is sometimes called the hardest of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains1918.
  • Niseu Eco Land (ニセウ・エコランド, Iwachishi 67-6).
    • A drive-in campground with 37 tent sites, bungalows and an 18-hole park-golf course. Fishing and wild fireflies nearby.
    • Bookings open on 15 April. Closed Tuesdays except in peak season56.
  • Nibutani Family Land (二風谷ファミリーランド).
    • An auto campground (book through the management office, 01457-2-3807), park golf, a baseball field, tennis courts, a gateball ground and a playground with adventure equipment.
    • The 2026 season opened on 18 April. Closed Mondays, except from late July to mid-August57.

Food experiences

  • Wagyu. Kurobeko (Shiunkotsu 200-2, a red building) and Yakiniku-tei Saruen (Honchō 29; groups must book)40.
  • Other local food.
    • Drive-in Yukara (Nibutani 82-2), popular with motorcyclists.
    • Niseu-en for yamame trout.
    • Harenoasa (はれのあさ), a patisserie using local ingredients40.

Roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki)

No Michi-no-Eki is located in Biratori. The official list of Hokkaido roadside stations has none in the town58.

Yama-no-Eki Horoshiri-kan (山の駅ほろしり館). This is not a registered Michi-no-Eki, but it does a similar job.

  • Location: Furenai-chō 23-1, on National Route 237 in central Furenai.
  • What it offers: tourist information, local specialties, photo and painting exhibitions, toilets, accessible toilets, parking and a bus terminal.
  • Hours: 10:00–17:00 from April to October and 10:00–16:00 from November to March (as of September 2026; check before visiting)59.

The nearest Michi-no-Eki are:

  • Jukai Road Hidaka (道の駅樹海ロード日高), Hidaka.
    • At the junction of National Routes 274 and 237, up the Saru valley from Furenai.
    • Soba restaurant serving yamame tempura soba; the Hidaka Mountains Museum; Wi-Fi. The station has posted a notice that its EV quick charger is out of service.
    • Registered on 5 August 199660.
  • Mukawa Shiki no Yakata (道の駅むかわ四季の館), Mukawa.
    • On National Route 235.
    • Shiki no Yu hot spring (10:00–22:00); shishamo and other local seafood; a heated pool.
    • Registered on 8 August 200361.
  • Thoroughbred Road Niikappu (道の駅サラブレッドロード新冠), Niikappu.
    • On National Route 235.
    • Soft-serve including a green-pepper flavor, pepper sweets, and the Le Cord-kan record museum next door.
    • Registered on 11 April 199762.
  • Shizen Taikan Shimukappu (道の駅自然体感しむかっぷ), Shimukappu58.

Getting there & around

  • Rail. Biratori has had no railway since the Tominai Line closed on 1 November 198624. The nearest JR station is Mukawa (鵡川). From Sapporo or New Chitose Airport, take the JR Chitose Line to Tomakomai and change for Mukawa. The Hidaka Line beyond Mukawa has been abolished and replaced by buses. From Mukawa Station, continue by Dōnan Bus or by Mukawa Hire taxi (0145-42-2141); by car the trip takes about 30 minutes63.
  • Bus. Dōnan Bus (道南バス) runs local services and has a depot in Biratori (01457-2-2311). The town says intercity highway buses can also be used63. Yama-no-Eki Horoshiri-kan serves as the bus terminal for Furenai59.
  • Road.
    • Driving times: about 1 hour 50 minutes from Sapporo, 60 minutes from New Chitose Airport and 60 minutes from Tomakomai.
    • Hidaka-Tomikawa IC on the Hidaka Expressway is about 15 minutes away63. The expressway was extended to a new Niikappu IC in February 202664.
    • National Route 237 follows the Saru valley through Furenai59 and up to Hidaka town60.
  • Air. New Chitose Airport is the nearest, about 60 minutes by car63.

Practical tips

  • When to go.
    • Lily-of-the-valley viewing: late May to early June17.
    • Chipsanke and the Yoshitsune Shrine festival: mid-August.
    • Wagyu & Tomato Festival: third Sunday of September44.
    • Mt. Horoshiri: July to September, while the hut is staffed18.
    • The town museum opens every day from 16 April to 15 November50.
  • Winter.
    • Contact the Kayano museum ahead from mid-November to mid-April51.
    • The Yoshitsune Museum asks for advance contact from December to March54.
    • The Furenai railway museum is closed from November to March55.
  • Mt. Horoshiri safety. Most recent accidents on the Nukabira route happened during river crossings, often involving solo climbers or poor weather decisions. The shuttle bus can be cancelled because of weather or high water. Submit a climbing plan, and hire a guide if you lack stream-crossing experience18.
  • Wildlife. The Hidaka Mountains are brown-bear country. Carry a bear bell and make noise in forests and along rivers, and never feed wildlife.
  • Lily-of-the-valley colony. Do not pick the flowers. Overpicking and trampling once brought the colony close to extinction17.
  • Earthquakes. Furenai recorded shindo 6-lower in the 2018 earthquake28.
  • Where to stay.
    • Biratori Onsen Yukara
    • Hotel Shun (ホテル駿, Honchō 46-3)
    • Guesthouse Nibutani Yanto (ゲストハウス二風谷ヤント, Nibutani 79-3)
    • Minshuku Sarugawa (民宿沙流川, Furenai)
    • Minshuku Kirakuya (民宿喜楽家, Kobira)
    • the barrier-free Kumasan-sō (バリアフリーなくまさん荘, Toyonuka)65
  • Information. Town Tourism and Commerce Section, 01457-3-770344; Yama-no-Eki Horoshiri-kan in Furenai59.

More about Biratori

At a glance
Field Details
Type Town (町). A village from 1923 and a town from November 19541
Subprefecture Hidaka (日高振興局)
District Saru District (沙流郡)
Population 4,776 at the 2020 Census. The preliminary 2025 Census count was 4,332, down 444 (9.3%), and households fell from 2,288 to 2,1462. The resident register showed 4,392 people (2,189 men and 2,203 women) in 2,458 households at the end of August 20263. The population was 10,770 in 19704
Area 743.09 km²5. The town is roughly triangular, 52.8 km east–west and 41.1 km north–south. The town profile misprints the unit as "hectares"1
Density About 5.9 people/km² (August 2026 register) and 6.4/km² at the 2020 Census
Municipal history A separate village office (戸長役場) opened in July 1899. The village took the name Biratori in April 1923 and became a town in November 19541. On 6 September 2004 Biratori left merger talks with its neighbors, so it has had no mergers6. The town held a 120th-anniversary ceremony in October 20191
Neighboring municipalities Hidaka and Niikappu in Hidaka Subprefecture; Mukawa (Iburi); Shimukappu (Kamikawa); Obihiro (Tokachi)6
Symbols Flower: lily of the valley (スズラン; Ainu setapkusa). Tree: katsura (カツラ; Ainu ranko). Both were designated on 3 November 19797. Bird: great spotted woodpecker (アカゲラ)6
Mascot Birakky (ビラッキー), a fairy who turned red from eating too many Biratori tomatoes. It has a round tomato body, a lily-of-the-valley tail, a pig's nose and a bull's horns8
Official website https://www.town.biratori.hokkaido.jp/

Name origin
  • Biratori comes from the Ainu pira-utur (ピラ・ウトゥㇽ), "between the cliffs" (崖の間)16. English Wikipedia glosses it as "between the rocky cliffs"4.
  • Nibutani comes from the Ainu niptani (ニㇷ゚タニ), and there are two main readings:
    • The town interprets it as "great forest" (大森林) or "woods in the field" (野の林)12.
    • The place-name scholar Yamada Hidezō (山田秀三) instead proposed nip-ta-i, "the place where hilts were made". He based this on an account by Matsuura Takeshirō of a skilled local craftsman who made wooden swords with metal fittings9.
  • Horoshiri is from the Ainu poro-sir, "big mountain". Ainu communities, especially in Nibutani, have long treated the mountain as sacred1918.

History
  • Ainu era. Excavations at the Nibutani site (二風谷遺跡) in 1983–1985 revealed Ainu life around the 17th century. The finds included evidence of trade, house structures and animal-sending rites12. A record of 1808 lists Nibutani as a settlement of 11 households. In 1858 Matsuura Takeshirō recorded 116 people in three communities there9. Under the Edo-period trading-post system, Ainu were drafted into forced labor. One of them was Kayano Shigeru's grandfather, taken in 1858 at the age of 1110.
  • The Yoshitsune shrine (1799). In 1799 an expedition led by the shogunate official Kondō Jūzō (近藤重蔵) set up a statue of Minamoto no Yoshitsune here, the origin of Yoshitsune Shrine20. Japanese Wikipedia notes an account that the first small shrine was built on Mt. Hayopira (ハヨピラ), in 1799 or 180221.
  • Early visitors (1870s). Hiramura Penriuk (平村ペンリウク), the Ainu chief of Biratori, hosted several Western visitors:
    • the missionary Walter Dening in 1876;
    • Heinrich von Siebold and then the traveler Isabella Bird in 1878 (Bird wrote about her stay);
    • John Batchelor in 1879, whom Penriuk taught Ainu22.
  • Village and relocation (1899–1932).
    • A separate village office opened in July 18991.
    • In March 1916, 80 Ainu households were forcibly moved into Biratori from Niikappu6.
    • The Saru Railway (沙流鉄道), a private line, ran from 1922 to 19516.
    • The village was named Biratori in April 19231.
    • The Scottish physician and anthropologist Neil Gordon Munro settled in Nibutani in 1932, ran a clinic there and died there on 11 April 194223.
  • Town status and the railway (1954–1986). Biratori became a town in November 19541. The JNR Tominai Line (富内線) reached Furenai (振内) on 15 November 1958 and was extended to Hidaka-chō on 5 November 1964. The line closed on 1 November 1986 and was replaced by Dōnan Bus services24. On 5 April 1961 an avalanche at a construction camp for a power project killed 12 people6.
  • Ainu revival and the dam (1972–1998).
    • Kayano Shigeru opened his museum in 1972 and started an Ainu-language school in 198313.
    • Work on the Nibutani Dam began in 19739.
    • Biratori Onsen opened in 19776.
    • The town museum opened in 199225.
    • On 27 March 1997 the Sapporo District Court ruled that expropriating Ainu land for the dam had been illegal. The dam was completed in 1997 and began operating in April 199814.
  • 2000s–2010s.
    • On 9 August 2003, Typhoon No. 10 flooded 10 houses6.
    • In July 2007 the Saru River cultural landscape became Japan's third Important Cultural Landscape26.
    • On 9 August 2012 a fire destroyed two chise at the Kayano museum27.
    • Nibutani-ita and attus were designated traditional crafts on 8 March 201311.
    • On 6 September 2018 the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake registered shindo 6-lower at Furenai28.
  • Recent years.
    • The Urespa craft center opened in April 201929.
    • The upstream Biratori Dam (平取ダム) was completed in 202214.
    • On 25 June 2024 the Hidaka Mountains became Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National Park30.
    • In FY2024 the live-action Golden Kamuy film and tie-in events with the drama series brought extra visitors to the Ainu facilities31.

Geography & climate
  • Setting. Biratori is in the inland west of Hidaka Subprefecture. The mountains of the east belong to the Hidaka Range, and they and the forests out to around Mt. Nukibetsu (貫気別山) are inside the national park6.
  • National park. Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Tokachi National Park (日高山脈襟裳十勝国立公園) was designated on 25 June 2024. It is Japan's 35th national park and has the largest land area of any, 245,668 ha30.
  • Mountains.
    • Mt. Horoshiri, 2,052 m, the park's highest peak18. It stands on the boundary of Biratori and Niikappu, and has glacial cirques such as the Nanatsunuma Cirque (七つ沼カール)19.
    • Mt. Tottabetsu (戸蔦別岳), 1,959 m6.
  • Rivers and lakes.
    • The Saru River (沙流川) runs through the whole town. At 104 km it is the longest river in Hidaka32.
    • Its tributaries include the Nukabira (額平川) and Nukibetsu (貫気別川) rivers6.
    • Lake Nibutani (にぶたに湖), the reservoir of the Nibutani Dam, has a riverside "history walk"32.
  • Climate.
    • The town profile gives an average temperature of 7.7 °C, with extremes of 31.0 °C and −25.0 °C. It gives 1,113.0 mm of precipitation and 127.0 cm of snowfall a year1.
    • The town's farm plan describes the area as having little snow, relatively warm summers for Hokkaido and long hours of sunshine, which suits greenhouse vegetables33.

Economy & industry

  • Farm output. Estimated farm output for 2024 was ¥8.78 billion34:

    • vegetables, mostly tomatoes: ¥3.37 billion
    • rice: ¥770 million
    • beef cattle: ¥530 million
    • dairy cattle: ¥460 million
    • all livestock: ¥4.48 billion, which includes pig and other livestock figures that are not published.

    The town has 4,660 ha of cultivated land (2024). The 2020 Census of Agriculture counted 233 farm businesses and 479 core farm workers34.

  • Tomatoes. Biratori tomatoes are the Momotarō variety, and the town ships more than any other in Hokkaido15. The farm plan calls them "among the top producers in Japan" and makes them the priority crop. Tomato greenhouses are reused off-season for cucumbers and cold-sweetened spinach (寒締めほうれん草)33. Across Hidaka Subprefecture, tomato sales were about ¥4.31 billion in 2025, the largest tomato volume of any subprefecture in Hokkaido35.

  • Rice and feed. The town's FY2021 paddy plan put table rice at about 23% of farmland (436.5 ha planned). Feed crops covered about 1,216 ha and mostly supply local livestock farms33.

  • Livestock. In FY2013 dairy and beef made up more than 25% of the town's farm output. The town had 3,274 beef cattle, 2,542 of them beef breeds, and 1,198 dairy cattle36. At that time 38 beef farms and 16 dairy farms were among the town's 300 farm households37.

  • Jobs. Citing the 2020 Census, the town profile counts 923 workers in primary industry, 412 in secondary and 1,397 in tertiary1.

  • Tourism.

    • FY2025: 217,900 visitors, down 2.6%.
    • FY2024: 223,700 visitors, boosted by Golden Kamuy. Visits to the Ainu facilities then slackened in FY2025 despite puzzle-solving events31.

  • Population decline. The population fell from 10,770 in 19704 to 4,332 in the preliminary 2025 Census2.

  • Revitalization.

    • In FY2026 the town recruited regional revitalization volunteers (地域おこし協力隊) as farm and livestock assistants38.
    • It launched a local junmai sake brewed from rice grown in the town39.
    • It lists its furusato nozei gifts on more than 30 portal sites16.

Local specialties
Specialty Category Details & where to get it
Biratori tomatoes (びらとりトマト) Vegetables Sweet Momotarō tomatoes sold in 4 kg boxes at market price; ask JA Biratori (01457-2-2211)15
Nishipa no Koibito (ニㇱパの恋人) Tomato products Juice (salted and unsalted), 320 g ketchup, 200 g purée and a single-serving Biratori tomato curry15. The juice is the town's most popular furusato nozei gift16
Biratori wagyu (びらとり和牛) Beef Japanese Black cattle, sold by JA Biratori and served at Biratori Onsen Yukara and the specialist shop Kurobeko (くろべこ)15. Also served at Yakiniku-tei Saruen (焼肉亭 沙流苑) and Jankenpon (じゃんけんぽん) in Furenai40
Biratori Yumepirika rice (ゆめぴりか) Rice Won the top gold award (最高金賞) at the Hokkaido Yumepirika Contest; a furusato nozei gift16
Pork and lamb Meat Biratori four-breed pork (びらとり四元豚) and sliced lamb are furusato nozei gifts16. A'laise cafe Ann recommends its "Bira-buta chop" (Bira豚チャップ)40
Ryōkan (涼燗) junmai sake Sake Made entirely from Ginpū (吟風) sake rice grown in Biratori. It comes in three label designs: Ainu patterns, a woodblock print and Mt. Horoshiri. The 2026 release went on sale on 16 April. A 100-bottle run of unpasteurized genshu went on sale on 6 April. Sold at stores in the town39
Yamame (masu trout) River fish Served at Niseu-en (仁世宇園), Iwachishi40
Nibutani-ita (二風谷イタ) Craft Shallow wooden trays carved with Ainu moreu (swirl) patterns and fish-scale ramramnoka carving11. They are made of walnut, katsura or Japanese pagoda tree41
Nibutani attus (二風谷アットゥㇱ) Craft Cloth woven from twisted thread spun from the inner bark of elms such as ohyō. It is water-resistant, breathable and strong, and is used for kimono, jackets, obi and small goods11. Sold at the Ainu Culture Information Center and at Nibutani shops such as Kaizawa Mingei (貝沢民芸)4243
Furusato nozei gifts Hometown tax Also retired-racehorse goods and Ainu crafts such as Nibutani-ita and attus16

Culture & festivals
Event When Highlights
Lily-of-the-valley viewing (すずらん観賞会) Late May – early June The Memu colony (芽生すずらん群生地) is open to the public only during this period4417
Yoshitsune Shrine festival (義経神社例大祭) 14–15 August Portable shrine carried by bearers in white, children's sumo, bon dancing and food stalls44
Chipsanke (チㇷ゚サンケ) Mid-August A traditional Ainu boat-launching ceremony (the name means "launching a boat") on the Saru River at Nibutani44
Biratori Wagyu & Tomato Festival (食の祭典 びらとり和牛・トマトまつり) Third Sunday of September The town's biggest event: barbecue corner, stage events and specialty sales at Nibutani Family Land44. About 5,000 visitors in FY202531
All-Hokkaido PK Grand Prix (全道PKグランプリ) First Sunday of February Penalty-kick shoot-outs on snow at Nibutani Family Land, with more than 100 teams44
  • Yoshitsune Shrine and museum.
    • The shrine is in Honchō, the town center20. Local tradition says that Yoshitsune's party settled in an Ainu village and taught farming, boat-building and weaving21.
    • A memorial stone to Chief Penriuk stands in the shrine grounds22.
    • The surrounding Yoshitsune Park is known for cherry blossoms, azaleas and autumn leaves45.
  • Monuments in Nibutani. The Saru River cultural landscape includes:
    • a monument to the Ainu poet Iboshi Hokuto (違星北斗);
    • a poem stone for the linguist Kindaichi Kyōsuke (金田一京助), who recorded Ainu epics;
    • the Meiji-era former Nibutani Youth Association Library, said to be the second-oldest library in Hokkaido26.
  • Researchers. Over the years the Saru valley attracted John Batchelor, Kindaichi Kyōsuke and Munro, which made it a key site for the study of Ainu culture12.

Ainu heritage
  • Nibutani today. Japanese Wikipedia says more than half of Nibutani's residents are Ainu, the highest share of any area in Hokkaido9. English Wikipedia gives over 80% as of 200010.
  • The cultural landscape. The Important Cultural Landscape "アイヌの伝統と近代開拓による沙流川流域の文化的景観"6 was selected in July 2007, the third in Japan26. The museum's guide to it includes:
    • the chise group and the Chipsanke boat-launching tradition;
    • the "Iwor forest" (イオルの森), used for gathering food and materials;
    • Okikurmi's chasi (fort) and Muinoka, a half-moon-shaped form said to be the winnowing basket his wife left behind;
    • Mt. Opsinupuri (オプシヌプリ), linked to a legendary archer deity and used for viewing the summer-solstice sun;
    • the bear-shaped rock Ukaeroski (ウカエロシキ);
    • the lily-of-the-valley colony26.
  • Designated collection. The collection "北海道二風谷及び周辺地域のアイヌ生活用具コレクション" is a national Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property of 1,121 items. The town museum holds 919 of them and the Kayano museum 20246.
  • Ainu traditional dance. Ainu traditional dance (アイヌ古式舞踊), a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is carried on in the town by the Biratori Ainu Culture Preservation Society (平取アイヌ文化保存会)6.
  • Kayano Shigeru (1926–2006).
    • Born in Nibutani on 15 June 192613.
    • Opened his museum in 1972, started the Nibutani Ainu-language school in 1983 and founded the Ainu-language mini-FM station FM Pipaus in 200113.
    • Served in the House of Councillors from 1994 to 1998 as its first Ainu member, and asked the first Diet question in Ainu. He saw the Ainu Culture Promotion Act enacted in 199713.
  • The Nibutani Dam lawsuit. The plaintiffs were Kayano and Kaizawa Tadashi (貝澤正); after Kaizawa died, his son Kaizawa Kōichi (貝澤耕一) carried on the case. On 27 March 1997 the Sapporo District Court ruled that the land expropriation exceeded the state's discretion. It recognized the Ainu as an indigenous people, the first organ of the Japanese state to do so. Because the dam was already built, the court dismissed the claim under the "circumstances ruling" doctrine (事情判決)14.
  • Living crafts.
    • The Nibutani Mingei craft cooperative (企業組合二風谷民芸) carries on the Ita tradition41.
    • At Nibutani Kotan, artisans take turns carving and embroidering in the chise and talk with visitors47.
    • Urespa (Ainu for "raising one another") trains new craft workers48.

Sister & friendship cities
  • Minami-Awaji, Hyōgo Prefecture. Friendship city since 6 July 1994. The agreement was signed with the former Mihara Town (三原町), which is now part of Minami-Awaji666.
  • International. None found.

Notable people
  • Kayano Shigeru (萱野茂, 1926–2006). Ainu culture scholar, founder of the Nibutani museum and the first Ainu member of the Diet13.
  • Hiramura Penriuk (平村ペンリウク, 1833–1903). Ainu chief of Biratori who hosted Isabella Bird and taught Ainu to John Batchelor22.
  • Kaizawa Tadashi (貝澤正) and Kaizawa Kōichi (貝澤耕一). Plaintiffs in the Nibutani Dam lawsuit14.
  • Neil Gordon Munro (1863–1942). Scottish physician and anthropologist who lived and died in Nibutani23.
  • Ryo Fukui (福居良, 1948–2016). Jazz pianist, listed among the town's notable people46.

Sources

Numbers in the text link to these sources. Figures as of 23 September 2026

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