On our 2013 summer vacation cycle tour (August, 2013), we really took it easy for the first half, taking our time to enjoy Rishiri and Rebun Islands, off the north west coast of Hokkaido, Japan. On the second day in Rishiri Island, we jumped on and off the Rishiri Island cycle path (complete with warning signs about seagull poop)…
Rishiri Island cycle path (Hokkaido, Japan)
and took in the largely untouched beauty of the south-western side of the small island, punctuated only occasionally by sleepy fishing villages.
Wind swept coastal scenery on Rishiri Island, Japan
If it hadn’t been so windy, we would have gone for a swim.
Wind swept coastal scenery on the cycle path on Rishiri Island, Japan
The mission for today was to catch a 40 minute ferry ride to Rebun Island. We made it with plenty of time, but for the first time in almost a week, the sun was out and it was scorching hot. This made the ferry terminal a stressful hot environment as we lined up to buy our tickets.
Queuing up for tickets for the ferry from Rishiri Island to Rebun Island, Japan
We were soon on our way…
Bicycles on the ferry from Rishiri Island to Rebun Island, Japan
and exited the ferry on Rebun Island to be greeted by another world: Much fewer tourists, and an end-of-the-world feeling.
At the other end of Haidee’s confused gaze was a group of fur seals. The amazing thing was there were groups of seals all along Rebun’s eastern coast; the first time I have seen seals in such numbers in Japan.
Lots of fur seals on the coast of Rebun Island, Japan
We had almost missed this bit of coast. Our destination for the day was a campground at the northern end of Rebun Island (the island is only 30km long), and there are two ways of getting there: A shorter inland route, and a longer coastal route. The coastal route paid off. We set up camp at the Kushuko-han Campground and headed into the nearby village of Funadomari for a soak in the public baths (which were scalding hot!).