Shiraoi
- Japanese: 白老 (Shiraoi)
Shiraoi is a town in Hokkaido known for its museums and other establishments dedicated to Ainu culture.
The town became a famous tourist destination beginning in 1892, when railroads were first extended to Shiraoi. An Ainu cultural museum known as Poroto Kotan, opened there in 1984, is run by members of the Ainu community, and allows them to engage in researching, performing, and teaching about Ainu history and Ainu culture themselves.
References
- Gallery labels, National Museum of Japanese History.[1]