Biratori
Biratori (平取町 Biratori-chō) is a town in in the centre of Saru District in Hidaka Subprefecture.
In 2008, Biratori had a population of 5,951. It has a land area of 743 km².
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History
Nibutani in Biratori has always been an important Ainu centre. The Scottish doctor and anthropologist Neil Gordon Munro (1863-1942) chose to live there for the last 12 years of his life while he devoted himself to studying the Ainu and their belief systems. The first house he built in 1930 burned down two years later, but his later house remains and is open to the public.
Nibutani was also the birthplace of Shigeru Kayano (萱野 茂 Kayano Shigeru) (1926-2006) an Ainu activist, writer, educator and politician who led the opposition to the construction of the Nibutani Dam in 1998.
Places of interest
- Biratori Onsen (びらとり温泉) tel 0145 72 3280
- Dr Munro Memorial House (マンロー博士記念館) [1]. Former house of the Scottish anthropologist Neil Gordon Munro.
- Lake Nibutani (にぶたに湖) Lake created by the Nibutani Dam.
- Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum (二風谷アイヌ文化博物館) Nibutani 55, tel 0145 72 2892 [2] [3]
- Nibutani Dam (二風谷ダム) Built in 1998 despite objections from Ainu community that their sacred lands were to be submerged under the resulting man-made lake.
- Nibutani Family Land (二風谷ファミリーランド) Aza Nibutani, 0145 72 3280 [4]. Includes campsite.
- Niseu Ecoland (ニセウ・エコランド ) 字岩知志 67-6, tel 0145 73 3188 [5] [6]. Includes campsite and park golf.
Hotels, restaurants, shops and services
- Business Hotel Biratori (ビジネスホテルびらとり) Honmachi 46-2, tel 0145 72 2302 [7]. 30 rooms. Singles from 4,515 yen per night.
- Minshuku Chise (民宿チセ) Nibutani, tel 0145 72 2559 [8]. 9 rooms. Singles from 5,500 yen per night with two meals.
- Minshuku Kirakuka (民宿喜楽家) Ohira 13-13, tel 0145 72 3227 [9]. 5 rooms. Singles from 5,775 yen per night with two meals.
Local government
Town Hall Honmachi 28, Biratori-chō, Saru-gun 055-0192 tel 0145 72 2277 Official website
| The districts and towns of Hidaka Subprefecture |
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Hidaka District: Shinhidaka • Horoizumi District: Erimo • Niikappu District: Niikappu • Samani District: Samani • Saru District: Hidaka • Biratori • Urakawa District: Urakawa |
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