Island Inn Rishiri

For photos, head up to the rooftop for views of the mountain or ocean. The hotel is a one-minute walk from town, where there are places to eat if you don't want to dine at the hotel. The restaurant here has good food and service, though I think the options in town are better. The hotel has the amenities you need, including public hot springs with separate areas for men and women. Be sure to reserve the hotel shuttle at least 24 hours ahead for rides to or from the ferry.

The room was spacious and clean. The hotel has been renovated, although its style still feels quite dated. It's farther from the more popular terminal, but a shuttle bus is available.

The weather didn't cooperate during our stay, so we missed the famous sunset. The bafun uni at dinner was delicious, and the other buffet choices were refined and better than I expected. Although this is a long-established place in the area, the hall, public bath, and restaurant all looked clean and fairly modern. I especially appreciated the middle-aged manager with glasses at the buffet restaurant. He looked after the guests and food with such a professional manner that I wondered if he'd worked in fine dining before. His presence really lifted the experience.

Don't miss the sunset from the rooftop observation platform. The hotel also has clean rooms, tasty food, and staff who are very helpful.