Rishirisanso Hanarishiri

The food was a highlight, and I definitely plan to come back. I visited in November 2013, my third trip to Rishiri Island but my first overnight stay. Dinner and breakfast were both delicious, though I couldn't finish dinner and had to leave some behind. I paid ¥9,300 including tax for a twin room for one, with both meals included, and paid cash at checkout. The room was clean and had its own unit bath with a bath and toilet. The hair dryer was small, and the in-house clothing was a yukata. The rooms are upstairs to the right after the entrance. You take off your shoes, put on slippers, and check in at the front desk. The dining area is downstairs on the left. It's a non-smoking room, with smoking allowed outside. I'd recommend picking up drinks at the Secoma on the way.

Getting to Rishiri Island took a long time, but I'm so glad we made the trip. The staff were kind, and the next day they took a family photo outside. It's a photo I'll treasure. The mother was lively and didn't seem to show her age, and her cheerful welcome made me really happy. The food was far better than I expected. Every dish was delicious, and I'll never forget trying grilled herring for the first time.

The rooms have been renovated, and although there isn't a large communal bath, each has a unit bath. The owner doesn't say much, but the food is reliably excellent. Whether sea urchin is available depends on when the inn is open and on fishing conditions.

I stayed here to climb Mount Rishiri. They drove me to the trailhead at 4:30am and came to get me after I got back down, which was a big help. There was no air conditioning, so I slept with the fan running.