Rishiri Island Guesthouse 1721 - Hostel

It's a guesthouse, for better or worse, so the service is minimal. The staff were nice, but I felt the check-in instructions could have been clearer. They didn't seem very flexible, perhaps because they were short-staffed. I'd look into rental cars, buses, and taxis ahead of time, and staying closer to Oshidomari Port might make different activities easier.

After climbing Rishiri Island, I stayed in a dormitory. The room was shared by four people, with sturdy partitions made of walls and curtains. For a guesthouse dorm it felt quite spacious. There was only just enough room outside the beds to pass one another, but the lockers easily fit my 35L hiking backpack, and there was a separate area for luggage too. It was a little too warm to sleep comfortably, perhaps because the weather was good and the temperature was on the high side. I imagine it's usually cooler. The bar lets overnight guests order drinks one at a time, which was handy before the outside restaurants opened. If you're using the bar without staying overnight, apparently you have to choose at least one hour of all-you-can-drink. The staff were very friendly and helped me kindly when I made an urgent request because I wasn't feeling well. They also offer fairly inexpensive rental bicycles and cars, discounted tickets for nearby hot springs, and hiking packages for bookings of multiple nights. It made for a very reasonably priced stay.

The guesthouse was clean, though I wished the dorm room had better lighting and thicker walls. Facilities like this tend to cater to customers, I suppose, so maybe that can't be helped. I was in a private room with a group making a lot of noise, which was stressful. There also happened to be a local festival that day.

A handy choice if you're after a solo getaway on Rishiri Island. It's too far to walk from the main ferry port or the airport, but worth taking the bus. With a public bathhouse, Seicomart, and a gas station nearby, it works well as a base for sightseeing.