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Sights and local experiences
Upopoy Ainu museum and park in Shiraoi
You want to learn about Hokkaido's first people, and you want to do it respectfully.
Upopoy is a national museum and park in Shiraoi where you can learn about the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido. It is about 65 minutes by train from Sapporo 1, so it fits a half-day or full-day out of the city.
This page covers the trip, the cost and how to visit with respect.
What is Upopoy?
Upopoy is the National Ainu Museum and Park. It includes the museum, a kotan (traditional Ainu village) with a crafts studio, a cultural exchange hall and over 20 cultural experience programmes held daily 2.
You can see exhibits, watch programmes and try a workshop. It suits curious travellers more than people who want a quick photo stop.
How do you get there from Sapporo?
Take the train to Shiraoi Station, about 65 minutes from Sapporo, then walk about 10 minutes to the park 1. From New Chitose Airport it is about 40 minutes by train or car 1.
Plan for the return too, and check the timetable on the day. Our rail, rental car or tour comparison helps if you also visit other places.
What are the hours and the cost?
From 1 April to 31 October 2026, Upopoy opens 9:00 to 18:00 and closes on Mondays 3. If a Monday is a public holiday, it opens that day and closes the next business day 3. The page we read gave no winter hours, so confirm before a winter visit.
General adult entry is 1,200 yen, high school students pay 600 yen and ages 15 and under are free 4. At the Bank Negara selling rate of RM 2.603 per 100 yen on 19 October 2026, an adult ticket is about RM 31 4 5.
How do you visit respectfully?
Treat the Ainu as a living culture. Follow the park’s site rules, which the park publishes on its own website. Ask before photographing people, and listen to the explanations in each programme.
Buy crafts with curiosity about who made them. Keep voices low in the museum and let performers finish before you move.
How long should you allow?
Allow half a day at least, because the museum, the village and the programmes each take time. A full day lets you rest and eat. Our Hokkaido 6 days with Sapporo and Otaru page shows where it could fit.
If you land at New Chitose and want an easy first stop, read New Chitose first night.
What should Malaysian travellers prepare?
Seasons change the visit, so pack layers for the month you travel. Check seasonal operation in Hokkaido seasonal operation check.
Tell us about food needs early, because Shiraoi is a small town and we plan lunch in advance. See the Hokkaido page for the wider region.
Send us your Sapporo dates and how you travel. We reply with the train times to Shiraoi, a day shape that fits your group and the site rules to read first.
Keep planning
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You want a first Hokkaido trip that feels calm, with one bed and a few good outings.
Sapporo, planned around your family
Hokkaido's big city feels far from home, and you want the first visit to feel easy.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Upopoy from Sapporo?
Upopoy lists about 65 minutes by train from Sapporo to Shiraoi Station, then about a 10-minute walk to the park. From New Chitose Airport it is about 40 minutes by train or car. Check the current timetable on the day, and we plan the connection for you.
How much does Upopoy cost in ringgit?
General adult entry is 1,200 yen, which is about RM 31 at the Bank Negara selling rate of RM 2.603 per 100 yen on 19 October 2026. High school students pay 600 yen and ages 15 and under are free. Confirm the current price on the official site before you go.
What are the opening hours and closing days?
From 1 April to 31 October 2026 it opens 9:00 to 18:00 and closes on Mondays, with a holiday exception. The official page we read gave no winter hours, so confirm them before planning a winter visit.
How should I behave as a respectful visitor?
Approach the Ainu as a living culture, not a costume show. Follow the park's site rules, ask before photographing people, and listen to the programme explanations. Buy crafts from the shop with curiosity. We share the site rules link in your day plan.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- Upopoy official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
- Upopoy official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
- Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
- Upopoy official siteaccessed 2026-10-20
- Bank Negara Malaysia exchange rates (JPY)accessed 2026-10-20
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