Lake Akan is a town of art (#3 Kikori-no-ie)
In the middle of October, the temperature gradually drops in the Lake Akan Onsen area where Kamuy Lumina is held.
Since it is also the time of year when the beautiful red leaves start turning their colors, the area is crowded with many tourists!
However, early mornings and nights are often cold, and for those living in warmer areas, it may feel like winter!
Autumn is also the season for arts!
The Lake Onsen area is deeply linked to the Ainu culture and is very famous for its traditional handcrafts such as wood carving and embroidery.
Many artists are also inspired by the beautiful natural environment and wildlife around them, to do their paintings, photography, and other artistic activities.
In this article, we will introduce some of the places where you can enjoy this "town of Art, Lake Akan" while strolling around the Lake Akan Onsen Hot Spring Resort area!
Did you ever go to a nut art museum?
The Akanko Onsen area is surrounded by beautiful nature.
Walking towards the hot spring street, you will find a store that exudes a warm ambience, Woodcraft Kikori-no-ie.
The sign in front of the store reads "Nuts art museum from Lake Akan and the world," and it is a perfect gallery for Lake Akan, which is a place which is very close to nature!
Let's take a quick look inside!
When you enter the store, it really lives up to its name and you are going to be surrounded by nuts!
The colored wood pieces on the left wall with various nuts and their scientific names underneath are so lovely that you can't help but take a look at them.
In fact, you can buy several types of acorns here to take home!
There is a rumble machine in front of the store, and you are sure to get each kind of nut!
There seems to be a special one too!
The artist who created these works overflowing with love for nuts is Ryo Ishikawa, who mainly creates works that combine sculpture and natural crafts.
Natural crafts are works created using natural materials such as plants, flowers, nuts, stones, sand, and shells.
Mr. Ishikawa often uses mountains’ materials such as trees, nuts (acorns, walnuts, pine cones), vines, and dried flowers for his artworks.
He likes nuts from the Lake Akan area and often goes to collect them, but he is also very interested in nuts from around the world, so he purchased a nuts pictorial book.
If you are a nut lover, better come to this museum, there will be no end to talk with him!
These works were created by standing out of the natural shapes and characteristics of materials such as pine cones and other nuts, various types of leaves and branches, etc.
Everytime you look at them, you are gonna feel a sense of vitality!
This work represents the scenery of Biei town, a town with heavy snowfall.
The rows of pine cones are the trees on the hill in Biei!
And it is so cute to see the snow bunnies on the right side waiting for something!
Ambience in the store is very calm and quiet, and when you look at the works, you can feel like standing in a vast nature and playing with nature, which is very enjoyable!
And this year (2023), a railroad diorama made of thinned wood from the Lake Akan area won the Grand Prix, the highest award in a contest held by Woody Joe, a wooden model kit sales and manufacturing company!
The award-winning work is now on display in the store!
Mr. Ishikawa has always loved model trains, and for several years he had wanted to try his hand at creating a collaborative work of art between trains and woodcarving.
This contest gave him the opportunity to actually create a work of art, and he was able to immerse himself in what he loves to do.
He said “I had a lot of great fun doing it!”.
Learning the techniques of woodcarving in the Lake Akan area, where it is famous for it, Mr. Ishikawa is able to create more expressive characters and artworks, which give his work a unique worldview that evokes a story.
It is hard to hear of a "nuts art museum" not only in Japan but also in the world!
Woodcraft Kikori-no-ie is located in the center of the Lake Akan Onsen area, so be sure to stop by when you have a relaxing walk on the street!
Facility Information
Woodcraft Kikori-no-ie
Address: 〒085-0467 4-4-17, Akanko-onsen, Akan-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
TEL: 0154-64-5355
Business hours: Summer 9:00-22:00, Winter 10:00-22:00 (irregular holidays)
Ticket information
■Where can I buy tickets? How is the opening time?
Tickets are available at the official website, hotels around Lake Akan, "Kamuy Lumina" Ticket Booth, and designated travel agencies.
Fees: Adults (junior high school students and older)
Child (elementary school student)
*Preschool children or below are free of charge.
Official website (Ticket purchase page): https://webket.jp/pc/ticket/index?fc=52386&ac=9000
Starting time changes depending on the sunset time. So be sure to check when planning your trip!
2024 season opening hours:
May 11 (Sat) - August 9 (Fri) 19:30 - 21:00
August 10 (Sat) - August 30 (Fri) 19:00 - 21:00
Asugust 31 (Sat) - September 13 (Friday) 18:30 - 21:30
September 15 (Sun) - September 30 (Mon) 18:00 - 21:30
October 1 (Tue) - November 3 (Sun) 17:30 - 21:00
November 4 (Mon) - November 9 (Sat) 17:30 - 20:30
This special website will provide information not only about "Kamuy Lumina", but also sightseeing information about the town, Lake Akan Onsen, where this event is held. Please check out the latest and seasonal recommendations here.
We will also announce the release of web articles on Facebook and Instagram.
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We hope to meet you soon at the event of "Kamuy Lumina"!
AN ENCHANTED NIGHT WALK AT LAKE AKAN
〒085-0467
5-20, Akankoonsen 1-chome, Akancho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido, 085-0467, Japan
