Hokkaido's Hard-to-Read Place Names from the Ainu Language
Open a map of Hokkaido and you will meet one place name after another that almost no one can read at first glance. Most of them are kanji applied to the sounds of Ainu words. Once you learn what they mean, the land's terrain and history come into view.
Here we introduce the most common hard-to-read place names you encounter while sightseeing or riding the rails, together with their readings and origins.
Some origins have several competing theories, but they share one thing: the sound came first, and the kanji were applied afterward.
Famous names that look readable but aren't
倶知安 (Kutchan)Kutchan
Derived from the Ainu language, this name is read 'Kutchan.' It is a gateway to Mount Yotei and the Niseko resort area, and one of the central towns of the Shiribeshi region.
Source:倶知安町 公式サイト
神居古潭 (Kamuikotan)Kamuikotan
Read 'Kamuikotan,' the name comes from the Ainu words 'kamuy kotan' (village of the gods / where the gods dwell). It is a scenic spot once known as a treacherous stretch of the Ishikari River.
Source:旭川市 公式サイト
長万部 (Oshamambe)Oshamambe
Read 'Oshamambe,' the name is said to derive from Ainu. It is known as a railway junction where limited express lines meet.
Source:北海道庁 公式サイト
弟子屈 (Teshikaga)Teshikaga
Read 'Teshikaga,' this nature-rich town is home to Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo, and its name comes from the Ainu language.
Source:弟子屈町 公式サイト
音威子府 (Otoineppu)Otoineppu
Read 'Otoineppu,' the name derives from Ainu. The village is also known for its dark-colored 'Otoineppu soba.'
Source:音威子府村 公式サイト
占冠 (Shimukappu)Shimukappu
Read 'Shimukappu,' the name comes from Ainu. The village is known for its mountain wilderness and resorts.
Source:北海道庁 公式サイト
留辺蘂 (Rubeshibe)Rubeshibe
Read 'Rubeshibe,' the name is said to come from the Ainu 'rupeshpe' (a path that crosses over the mountains). It is also known as a hot spring district.
Source:北海道庁 公式サイト
FAQ
Why does Hokkaido have so many hard-to-read place names?
Because Japanese settlers later applied kanji to the names (the sounds) by which the indigenous Ainu people had long called the land. Since the on'yomi and kun'yomi of the kanji don't match the actual readings, names that no one can read on first sight were born.
Any tips for remembering the readings?
Learn them alongside the meaning units behind the names, such as 'kamuy = god,' 'nay/pet = river,' and 'kotan = village.' Tying each name to its terrain or history makes it stick.