Rishiri Island
Rishiri Island (利尻島, Rishiri-tō) is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Administratively the island is part of Hokkaido Prefecture, and is divided between two towns, Rishiri and Rishirifuji. The island is formed by the cone-shaped extinct volcanic peak of Mount Rishiri.[1] Along with Rebun Island and the coastal area of the Sarobetsu Plain, Rishiri forms the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. The main industries of Rishiri are tourism and fishing. The island is about 63 kilometres (39 mi) in circumference and covers 183 square kilometres (71 sq mi). The island has a population of 5,102 residents.[2][3][4][5]
Native name: 利尻島 Rishiri-tō | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Rishiri | |
| Geography | |
| Archipelago | Japanese archipelago |
| Area | 183 km2 (71 sq mi) |
| Length | 19 km (11.8 mi) |
| Width | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Coastline | 63 km (39.1 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,721 m (5646 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Rishiri |
| Administration | |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido |
| Subprefecture | Sōya Subprefecture |
| District | Rishiri District |
| Town | Rishiri Rishirifuji |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 5,102 (2013) |
| Pop. density | 30.81/km2 (79.8/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Ainu, Japanese |
Etymology
Rishiri derives its name from the Ainu language, and means "high island", or "island with a high peak", a reference to the altitude of Mount Rishiri above sea level.[3][6]
Geography
Rishiri Island is located roughly 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Hokkaido; Rebun Island is a further 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the northwest. Rishiri is roughly circular with a coastline of 63 kilometres (39 mi). The island spans 19 kilometres (12 mi) from north to south and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from east to west. Mount Rishiri rises to an altitude of 1,721 metres (5,646 ft) and provides a good source of fresh water; numerous small ponds and springs are located at the foot of the mountain.[3][7] The residents of Rishiri live in coastal communities, which are connected by a bus service that circumnavigates the island.[3]
Important Bird Area
The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of black-tailed gulls and Japanese robins.[8]
Climate
| Climate data for Port Kutsugata, Rishiri, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1976–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 7.3 (45.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
12.4 (54.3) |
19.3 (66.7) |
23.8 (74.8) |
28.6 (83.5) |
31.9 (89.4) |
32.5 (90.5) |
30.4 (86.7) |
21.8 (71.2) |
16.7 (62.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
32.5 (90.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
7.6 (45.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
20.6 (69.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
6.7 (44.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
10.3 (50.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4 (25) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.9 (67.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −6.4 (20.5) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
1.4 (34.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.4 (50.7) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.6 (61.9) |
13.5 (56.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
4.3 (39.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.7 (3.7) |
−16.9 (1.6) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
1.3 (34.3) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.8 (47.8) |
5.4 (41.7) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−16.9 (1.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.4 (1.83) |
33.3 (1.31) |
34.8 (1.37) |
41.2 (1.62) |
68.4 (2.69) |
62.1 (2.44) |
93.8 (3.69) |
118.2 (4.65) |
117.9 (4.64) |
117.5 (4.63) |
106.5 (4.19) |
72.6 (2.86) |
912.7 (35.92) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.9 | 11.2 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 13.3 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 129.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 42.5 | 74.3 | 133.1 | 173.0 | 184.3 | 153.4 | 152.5 | 162.0 | 175.1 | 137.7 | 65.8 | 37.8 | 1,492.5 |
| Source 1: JMA[9] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: JMA[10] | |||||||||||||
Communities
The island is divided between two towns, Rishiri (population 2,304), on the south-west half of island and Rishirifuji (population 2,798) on the north-east half of island, both which belong to Rishiri District, Sōya Subprefecture.[4][5]
These towns include the following communities, listed from the north side of the island, clockwise around:
- Oshidomari (ferry port)
- Himenuma
- Oniwaki
- Numaura
- Misaki, Rishiri
- Senposhi
- Kusure
- Randomari
- Kutsugata (ferry port)
- Shinminato, Rishiri
- Motodomari
Transportation
A bus runs the circuit route around the island.
Rishiri Airport is located in Rishirifuji.
History
- 1807-1808 Failed military expedition to Sakhalin, part of deceased buried at cape Peshi.
- Ranald MacDonald (1824-1894), first native English teacher in Japan, landed on Rishiri in 1848.
- On February 7, 2013, Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets had been spotted above Japanese waters off Rishiri Island, and were pursued by four Mitsubishi F-2s.[11]
Economy
The economy of Rishiri Island formerly depended on the fishing of Pacific herring, but the herring stock is now mostly depleted. Rishiri Island is now noted for its production of dried kombu.[3][6]
Noted features
- Pon-yama (444 metres (1,457 ft)) - a mountain top near north coast, nearby a site of non-coastal hiking camp on island
Other features of Rishiri Island include:
- Cape Peshi on the East side of the port Oshidomari
- Cape Senhoshi
- Neguma (Sleeping Bear) Rock
- Jimmen Rock
- Ponmoshiri Island
- Hime Marsh
- Menūshoro Marsh
- Otatomari Marsh
See also
References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Rishiri-tō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 791.
- 利尻島 [Rishiri Island]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 173191044. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
- 利尻島 [Rishiri Island]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
- 人口 [Population] (in Japanese). Rishiri, Hokkaido: Town of Rishiri. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
- 人口 [Population] (in Japanese). Rishirifuji, Hokkaido: Town of Rishirifuji. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
- 利尻島 [Rishiri Island]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
- 利尻島 [Rishiri Island]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
- "Rishiri Island". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- "Japan scrambles fighters after Russian jets approach island". CNN. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
External links
Rishiri Island travel guide from Wikivoyage