The Ainu revered nature and believed that gods descended upon earth disguised as animals, plants or other objects in order to provide for humans. Ceremonies were held to send back the spirits of animals to heaven. One of these ceremonies, called iyomante, was held between January and February, when the Ainu sacrificed bears (or sometimes owls).

The Ainu culture is distinctive, with a language that is unrelated to Japanese, a spirituality that holds that spirits dwell in every part of the natural world, traditional dances that are performed at family events and festivals, and crafts such as wood carving and embroidery that incorporate unique patterns.

Ainu traditions are based on the animist belief that all things in nature posess a kamuy, an inner spirit or god. When Ainu take bark from a tree, they show gratitude and respect towards that tree. The tree is then marked to allow it time to recover.