[Numaura Observation Deck in Rishiri Island] Lookout Point Associated with Shiroi Koibito Cookies (White Lovers)

Numaura Obseravation Deck

Numaura Obseravation Deck (沼浦展望台) is a lookout point in the southern part of Rishiri Island (利尻島). Mt. Rishirifuji (利尻富士), Otatomari Pond (オタトマリ沼), Numaura Wetland (沼浦湿原), Numaura Beach (沼浦海岸) and the sea of Japan can be viewed on a hill at about 43 m above sea level. Its another name is Shiroi Koibito Hill (白い恋人の丘). Mr. Yukiyasu Ishizumi (石水幸安), a founder of Ishiya Confectionery (石屋製菓), was impressed with a shape of the Mt. Rishirifuji like a shape of mountains in Switzerland, so he adopted the mountain as an image of package of Shiroi Koibito (白い恋人), one of the most famous cookies in Hokkaido. Therefore here is also named as the another name because the image of the package resembles the shape of the Mt. Rishirifuji from here. Numaura Camping Ground (沼浦キャンプ場) is close to here. Only a parking lot is provided, and tourist facilities such as a public restroom and a souvenir shop are not built. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

The Numaura Beach, the only sandy beach in the Rishiri, is at foot of the hill with the obsevation deck, and "An inlet with a sandy beach" meant the Otatomari in Ainu language points to this sandy beach. I suppose that Rishiri Island people will enjoy a north short summer here. But, although they swim in the sea in a summer, it sounds cold. The Numaura Beach has no tourist facilities. It is hard to find an entrance of the Numaura Beach.

The Numaura Camping Ground is on the way to the Numaura Obseravation Deck, and keeps at a little distance from the Otatomari Pond. The camping ground is surrounded by trees, and a public restroom and a community kitchen are built at the site. But a manager is not stationed. Seicomart Oniwaki branch (セイコーマート鬼脇店) is the closest store if campers want to do shopping.

Otatomari Pond

Otatomari Pond (オタトマリ沼) is the largest pond in the southern part of Rishiri Island (利尻島). The perimeter of the pond is about 1.1 km, and the depth is about 3.5 m. In Numaura Wetland (沼浦湿原), the pond is near Mikazuki Pond (三日月沼). The Otatomari means "An inlet with a sandy beach" in Ainu language. A reversed image of Mt. Rishirifuji (利尻富士) reflected on the surface of the pond and Mt. Rishirifuji can be seen at the same time if the weather is fine, and here is a popular tourist attraction. A large parking lot, a public restroom, Rishirifuji Town Resthouse (利尻富士町レストハウス) and Rishiri Kameichi Otatomari Branch (利尻亀一オタトマリ沼店) are built at the south bank of the pond. Grilled scallops, a sea urchin battleship roll sushi (うにの軍艦巻き), a striped bamboo flavored soft serve ice cream (熊笹ソフト), a perpetual snow soft serve ice cream (万年雪ソフト) and Mirupis (ミルピス) have a good reputation. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park (利尻礼文サロベツ国立公園) located in the northern Hokkaido between Rishiri Island, Rebun Island, Toyotomi Town and Horonobe Town is the northernmost national park in Japan, and has been designated as the national park since 1974. The area is 24,166 ha. It consists of 2 islands, wetlands and the coast, and beautiful nature such as the sea, mountains, wild flowers and wetlands is highlight. Because the Northern Hokkaido has few famous tourist attracsions, the national park is one of the most famous nature tourist attracsions. The Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is divided into 4 areas, Rishiri Area (利尻), Rebun Area (礼文), Coastal Sand-dune Area (海浜砂丘) and Sarobetsu Area (サロベツ), and the Rishiri Area (利尻), the Rebun Area (礼文) and the Sarobetsu Area have a lot of highlights. Article is here