亮点
- On the final morning, Ainu elders perform the kamuinomi prayer at the Ainu Kotan before carrying the marimo in procession down to the lakeside park for the marimo-okuri - a ceremonial return of the algae balls to Lake Akan by dugout canoe
- On the second night, a torchlit parade (taimatsu gyoshin) winds from the lakeside park to the Ainu Kotan, followed by a marimo-mukae welcoming rite and a competition of traditional Ainu dances at the Ainu Theatre
- Marimo form dense, free-floating spheres of the alga Aegagropila linnaei; Lake Akan's colonies were designated a national Natural Monument in 1921 and upgraded to Special Natural Monument status in 1952, and the festival has protected them every year since 1950
由来与背景
The Marimo Festival began in 1950 after wartime and postwar over-collection had pushed Lake Akan's marimo colonies to the brink, combining Ainu ceremony with a conservation message. Marimo - dense, free-floating spheres formed by the alga Aegagropila linnaei - grow to their famously large, round form at Lake Akan through a combination of wave action and light; the lake's marimo habitat was designated a national Natural Monument in 1921 and the marimo itself was elevated to Special Natural Monument status in 1952.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Lake Akan has no train station; the nearest hub is JR Kushiro Station (reached via the Super Ozora limited express from Sapporo, about 4 hours), from which Akan Bus's 'Akan Line' runs to the Akanko Onsen bus centre in roughly 2 hours. From Kushiro Airport, a direct airport bus takes about 60 minutes; Memanbetsu Airport, somewhat further, is another common gateway. The Ainu Kotan and lakeside park venues are within a short walk of each other in Akanko Onsen town. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers
温馨提示
Dress warmly - Hokkaido evenings in October are cold, especially for the lakeside torch parade. The final morning's kamuinomi and marimo-okuri are the most moving parts of the festival and free to observe, so plan to stay through day three rather than just catching the opening evening.
交通
Akanko Ainu Kotan and the Lake Akan lakeside park (Kohan-Enchi), Kushiro — 4-7-84 Akancho Akankoonsen, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0467