Rishiri Island: Summer Cycling Adventure Around the Island

Comparing photos of Rishiri Island and Rebun Island reveals a stark contrast between the two. Rebun Island is characterized by mountains and flower fields, while Rishiri Island offers stunning blue seas and a glimpse into island life. Rebun's scenery is somewhat monotonous, whereas Rishiri's is more diverse. 💚 If you have ample time like me, you can plan your trip as follows: On the first day, take the Rishiri A-line sightseeing bus in the morning to visit key attractions, then spend the afternoon exploring the port area on foot. On the second day, embark on a cycling tour around the island. 🚌 I booked the sightseeing bus online in advance, as tickets can be quite competitive during peak season. If you're lucky and disembark early, you might snag a leftover ticket at the pier. Although the time between the ferry's arrival and the bus departure is short, the bus waits for all passengers before leaving. The bus has luggage storage space, so you can bring your bags onboard. Since I chose to get off at Oshidomari, I stored my luggage at the port. 🚌 The bus route covers Oshidomari Port—Himenuma Pond—Otatomari Pond—Senposhi Misaki Park—Oshidomari—Airport—Oshidomari Port. At the three main attractions, you'll have about 40 minutes to explore. The driver also slows down at certain spots for photo opportunities. You can get off at Oshidomari or the airport. I disembarked at Oshidomari, had lunch, and then took the 1:35 PM local bus to Fujino Garden. From there, I walked to Sunset Hill Observatory, which is relatively close to the port's residential area. I also visited the art museum before catching the 4:19 PM bus back to the port to retrieve my luggage and head to the hotel. After settling in, I still had time to hike to Beshimisaki Observatory. 🚲 I reserved a bike via email with RISHIRI ACTIVITY, and they delivered it to my hotel. Initially, I booked an e-bike, but the night before, they informed me that a previous guest had damaged it, so I was given a regular electric bike instead. The regular electric bike was actually more convenient as it had a basket. I rented it from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, which was perfect for my leisurely pace. 🚴 For the cycling tour, I recommend going clockwise around the island. The northwest section features a dedicated bike path, and the afternoon sunlight enhances the scenery beautifully. You can also capture great shots of Rishiri Fuji with the light behind you. Starting from Oshidomari, the stretch after the bike bridge doesn't have many attractions. Between Oshidomari and Oniwa, there's only one vending machine, so make sure to bring enough supplies. Around noon, I reached Otatomari Pond for lunch. The route afterward is packed with scenic spots. If you plan to visit Kamui Coast for a sea urchin opening experience, note that it ends at 4:00 PM. There's a Japanese staff member who speaks decent Chinese. After finishing at Oshidomari, I was quite tired, so I took a break with some sea urchin kombu ice cream. The final stretch features the dedicated bike path, offering an exceptional cycling experience. 🚴 For someone like me who doesn't exercise much, a day of cycling around the island on an electric bike wasn't too challenging. However, my shoulders and backside were quite sore. Thankfully, the muscles used for hiking on Rebun Island the next day were different, so I managed just fine.