The turnoff from the main road was a little hard to find, but it was beside a riding club after climbing steadily up a narrow road to higher ground. (Maybe it shares the riding club's parking lot; lots of horses were poking their heads out alongside it.) It's small compared with other facilities introducing Ainu culture and history, but the exhibits were packed with information. I didn't know about Takeshiro Matsuura, so I learned something. (The grass is neatly cut all the way to the outdoor observation deck at the edge of the hill, but these days I'm a little scared of bears ^^; )

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I stopped by during a trip to Hokkaido. Shakushain Memorial Museum displays belongings of the Ainu hero Shakushain and historical and cultural materials about the Ainu people. It has now been reborn as the “Shinhidaka Town Ainu Cultural Exchange Center.” Hours are ９：００〜１７：００, it's closed on Mondays, and admission is free. My itinerary only allowed me to stop on Monday, so I walked around the heroic Shakushain statue, Makayama observation deck, and Shibecharichashi ruins. I recommend the observation deck for its panoramic view of Shizunai. I'm not very familiar with Ainu history, but I connected with the “Lost Kamuy” show I saw at Lake Akan Ainu Theater, so I've gradually been visiting related facilities whenever I come to Hokkaido. If you're interested, please stop by.

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2025·R7.11.16 My first visit, on the way to see "AMF (Ainu Music Festival) 2025" in Mitsuishi. This is "Shakushain Memorial Museum," in front of the new "Shakushain statue" standing to the right of the new "Irenka Tower." It is now connected to the neighboring "Shinhidaka Town Ainu Cultural Exchange Center" (a complex reopened on 2025·R7.5.1, comprising Shakushain Memorial Museum, Ainu Folk Museum, and a multifunctional living hall; Shinhidaka used Ainu policy promotion grants to establish it as a hub for passing Ainu culture to the next generation), allowing passage between them indoors and free viewing, though in practice it seems mainly used for meetings among those involved. The new Shakushain statue is described as having a "prayer" pose, whereas the previous one had a departure-for-battle pose, raising a staff (tree branch) high in his right hand. As for Shakushain's death, the 1978 “Taka no Toride” describes "poisoned sake at a peace meeting in the Matsumae clan's encampment"; the 2002 “Shakushain Senki” says "the gold miners' hut hosting a drinking party after peace was made at the Matsumae clan's main encampment in Pipoku (Shimukappu) was ambushed, and he was shot by a volley of matchlock guns while trying to escape to the sea"; the 2019 “Shakushain no Tatakai” says "he was ambushed during a drinking party after peace was made at the Niikappu residence, the headquarters of Yasuhiro of the Matsumae clan; he fled to the river but was captured by utari under Matsumae influence in the forest leading to Shibuchari (Shizunai), sent to Matsumae, executed by sawing, and buried in Ezozuka northeast of Matsumae Castle." Whichever account you take, it seems to have been a standard tactic of the Matsumae clan. After killing Shakushain, the Matsumae clan reportedly immediately burned down his stronghold here at Shibechari, imposed a "written oath" of absolute obedience, and strengthened its control further. Please take a look sometime.

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Because there are no staff explaining historical perspectives and such, I think visitors can view Ainu life and culture according to their own feelings, and reflect and think for themselves.

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９月２３日 I went to the Shakushain festival. Golden Kamuy was also a hot topic this year, so it was popular. There were traditional Ainu dances and mochi tossing. Salmon soup with lots of ingredients cooked in a huge pot was 300円, an enormous brick-sized piece of charcoal-grilled salmon was 200円, and Japanese barnyard millet rice was 100円. You can experience Ainu people's food too. The bronze Shakushain statue was replaced this year. There's also a museum and a memorial museum, both free to enter.