Our second day started with another quick visit to a local museum, but soon we were on bumpy backcountry roads, heading into the forest. As we got deeper and deeper into the woods, we could not help but notice the gigantic horse flies that also started to take an interest in our van - some of which were as big as your thumb! Once we started our forest excursion we were given bug spray and protective nets, but thankfully the flies seemed much less attracted to us than they were to our vehicle.
The point of today was to take in more Ainu culture in an environment that is essential to their culture: the forest. Our local Ainu guides first lit a welcoming fire, before inviting us to walk through the trees with them as we learned about their traditional ways of life, and the ways that they not only live off the forest, but how they also protect and give back to this bountiful area. Not unlike the native peoples of North America, many Ainu people find it difficult to live in their traditional ways, so recently the local government has made great efforts to bring attention to their way of life, educating visitors on the native populations of Hokkaido.
One special way of doing this is by food, and we were graciously invited into a hut resembling a traditional Ainu home for our lunch. The food prepared was simple, yet delicious, with the dishes ranging from smoked fish to venison, as well as local pickled vegetables and starches. We sat around the fire in the middle which boiled the soup that we were all served as a side, getting to know the family that prepared the feast for us.
As we continued on the road, Hokkaido showed its beauty yet again as the forest led to the sea, and then to Lake Toya, another gorgeous caldera lake. This time we stayed in a hotel right on the lakeside, spending the night at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel where 80% of rooms face the water. There is also a great beer garden on the property as well as a cafe that roasts their own coffee! Getting a beer and watching the sunset just before dinner, I looked out at the lake with my only regret being that I was only here for one night.
