Akan✨️Ainu Kotan Shopping

The shopping street "Happy Forest Shopping Street" (also known as Marimo no Sato Shopping Street), which colors the center of Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, is a promenade filled with traditional crafts and cafes. There are about 20 to 30 stores lined up, each with its own unique character and full of things to see. ⸻ 🛍️ Store lineup • Ainu wood carvings, embroidery, accessories At the folk craft store, artisans hand-carve and sell their products in front of the store. A row of carefully selected "Koropokkuru", "bear carvings", and "Ainu pattern embroidery" works are lined up  . • Folk craft gallery/studio shop In addition to exhibiting works, there are also stores such as "Onnechise" and "Gallery Kotanya" where you can interact with the artists. It is also a place to experience modern crafts such as traditional kiln works . • Ainu cuisine & cafe ○ Poronno: Open from 12:00 to 15:00 and 18:30 to 21:00. Traditional Ainu cuisine in a cafe style  ○ Banya: 11:30-22:00. A wide variety of food options  • Snack stands and souvenir shops There are also several shops selling Marimo goods, Marimo yokan, and Ainu-style sweets and snacks . ⸻ 🚶♀️ How to enjoy a stroll • The entire street is unified with stately architecture decorated with wood carvings and ivy decorations, so just walking around feels like an art tour. • It's also attractive to find your favorite wood carvings and enjoy conversations with artisans in the shops. • For lunch or a break, we recommend a light meal at Poronno or Banya. • Don't worry even on rainy days. The street is covered, so you can walk leisurely. #AbsolutelyFreeTravel