Chill out and enjoy a moment of silence
(#2 Ure-Karip)

The area around Lake Akan, where Kamuy Lumina is held, is an area of untouched and vast nature. The Lake Akan area is a popular spot with tourists every day. But you can get a taste of the beautiful nature with just a short distance away from the center of the area.



Taking a leisurely stroll, savoring the air, and admiring the scenery in the midst of nature without the noise and crowds is the "premium time" that makes this area a perfect place to visit. This week, we will introduce you to some spots where you can spend some time in a quiet place to do nothing but wander around the lake Akan area.





Taking a leisurely stroll, savoring the air, and admiring the scenery in the midst of nature without the noise and crowds is the "premium time" that makes this area a perfect place to visit. This week, we will introduce you to some spots where you can spend some time in a quiet place to do nothing but wander around the lake Akan area.

Relax at a footbath onsen “Ure-Karip” in the center of Lake Akan Onsen street!

If you visit Lake Akan in the fall and winter, mornings and nights can get very cold. And also many people look forward to "hot springs" as a “wow” part of their trip! While most of the accommodations in the Lake Akan area offer hot spring facilities, there are actually several spots in town where you can enjoy footbaths and hand baths! This time we will introduce you to the newest and most spacious footbath, “Ure-karip”!

If you go to the east side of the Lake Akan Onsen street, you will notice a footbath with a triangular-roofed and long benches on the way. And this is the footbath "Ure-karip"! It is a very large building, so you probably cannot miss it!



In the Ainu language, "ure" means feet and "karip" means a circle. The footbath is designed not only in the shape of the "marimo of Lake Akan" but also in the image of a circle of people gathering at the footbath, with the hope that it will be a place where people from around the world gather and form connections. In fact, locals and tourists often visit here to relax and interact with each other!

If you forgot your towel, there is a towel vending machine right next to the footbath!

They are very popular because of their cute marimo design!

You can also experience Ainu culture as you chill here and admire the exterior and interior of the building. Ainu patterns are painted on the pillars and the tops of the buildings.

Koropokkur, which appear in Ainu folklore, are on display near the steps of the footbath. Koropokkur means "man under the butterbur" in Ainu language, and in the Lake Akan area, which is famous for its wood carvings, many Koropokkur can be seen at various folk art stores! Also, since Koropokkur is not a real person, the appearance of Koropokkur changes completely depending on the imagination and expression of the wood carver, so be sure to pay attention to them when you wander around the town!

In the evening, if you go to the pier near the footbath, you can enjoy a very beautiful view of the sunset! It is also very relaxing to watch the sunset as the sightseeing boats stop quietly at the pier, and to be in a daze in this environment where there is almost nothing but the sounds of nature.

(*The above photos were taken during the event, and projection mapping is not available now.)

The footbath "Ure-karip" is located near the location where Kamuy Lumina is held. So be sure to stop by before or after your visit! Especially at night, the footbath is illuminated and is a photogenic spot, so please be sure to chill out here before returning to your hotel!



In this episode, we introduced the footbath "Ure-karip" located in the Lake Akan area! In our next episode, we will introduce a spot to relax on the "Bokke trail," where the Kamuy Lumina is held! Stay tuned!