Two new dining establishments are set to open at Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. Located in the park's entrance building, "Ohaw and Game Meat Specialist Restaurant Umi Zora no Haru" opens on Friday, April 3, and "Food Court Kitchen poro" opens on Tuesday, April 28. Together, they offer visitors a richer food experience centered on local Hokkaido ingredients and Ainu culinary culture.
Both restaurants are operated by Val Create Co., Ltd., a Sapporo-based company specializing in design, promotion, and food and beverage services promoting Hokkaido's appeal.
Ohaw and Game Meat Specialist Restaurant Umi Zora no Haru
Opening: Friday, April 3
This restaurant serves "ohaw" — traditional Ainu soup prepared by a fuchi (grandmother) from Shiraoi — alongside daily-changing Hokkaido game meat dishes featuring venison and bear. Light meals and sweets are also on offer, and guests can pair their meal with carefully selected coffee or Hokkaido wine while taking in the atmosphere of Ainu culture.
Location: Upopoy Entrance Building, Restaurant
Hours: 11:00 AM until closing (last order 1 hour before closing)
Seats: 30
Instagram: @umizoranoharu_upopoy
Seasonal ohaw set meal (image for illustrative purposes)
Example of a daily game meat lunch set (image for illustrative purposes)
Ento tea and Ento pudding (image for illustrative purposes)
Note: "Ento" is the Ainu word for nagakonakouji (Elsholtzia), an herb in the mint family.
Course menus are available, including an ohaw course, an omakase course, and budget-friendly options. Reservations must be made at least one week in advance.
Example reservation course menu (image for illustrative purposes)
Food Court Kitchen poro
Opening: Tuesday, April 28
The food court menu features hearty Shiraoi-style champon noodles, Shiraoi beef curry, Porotobuta pork rice bowl, and ramen with slow-cooked Porotobuta pork chashu, as well as Hokkaido soul food favorites like age-imo (deep-fried potato) and noya (mugwort) soft-serve ice cream available for takeout.
Location: Upopoy Entrance Building, Food Court
Hours: 9:00 AM until closing (last order 1 hour before closing)
Seats: 96
Instagram: @poro_upopoy
Shiraoi champon (image for illustrative purposes)
Ezo deer rice bowl (image for illustrative purposes)
Age-imo (image for illustrative purposes)
About Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park)
Upopoy opened in July 2020 in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, as a national base for the revival and creation of Ainu culture. The complex includes the National Ainu Museum — Hokkaido's first national museum — an experiential field museum called the National Ethnic Coexistence Park where visitors can engage with Ainu culture through all five senses, and a memorial facility for dignified Ainu memorial services. Situated on the shores of Lake Poroto amid rich natural surroundings, Upopoy offers a variety of ways to experience Ainu culture and history.
Official website: https://ainu-upopoy.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainumuseumpark/
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upopoy/
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@upopoy
Address: 2-3 Wakakusa-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Shiraoi, Hokkaido 059-0902
Phone: 0144-82-3914
Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Shiraoi Station. Approximately 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport by expressway or train.
Admission (tax included): General (adults) ¥1,200 / High school students ¥600 / Junior high and younger: Free
Group discounts available for 20 or more people. Does not include fees for paid experience programs or special museum exhibitions.
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (may vary by season)
Closed: Mondays (and the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday), December 28 to January 4, 2027, and February 27 to March 8. Special open days may apply.
Opened: July 12, 2020
