Rishiri Island

Rishiri Island

Overall Rating

Rishiri Island

Rishiri Island2.5/51
Rishiri Island2.5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%

Rishiri Island - Reviews

Rishiri Island - Reviews

So close to great, so far away

ckilb
12/02/2019
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    4

So close to great, so far away

ckilb
12/02/2019
Just returned from three nights on Rishiri (Feb3-5th, 2019), with two days of skiing backcountry. We tried to hire a guide months ahead of time, but it was a fiasco. We basically self-guided; rented cars in Sapporo, drove to Wakkanai, took the ferry to Rishiri. I wish more unbiased information existed about this place. This is a windswept island with frequent storms and closed roads. When the sun breaks, there is a sort of savage beauty to it; blue-green swells smashing icy shorelines, spindrift, blowing snow.

On the mountain, the snow is often windpacked, the snowpack highly variable. The snow itself was the consistency of wheat flower; squeaky, packed, slabby. Variable density layers as you dig down. Shallow snow in the windswept areas with exposed bamboo and low bent-over spruce brambles. Skiing was only OK relative to the rest of Hokkaido, but it is a neat place in the world to visit. Lots of lovely terrain, should the weather and snow hold for a number of days. You won't see many other people around the island, but you may see a lot of skiers if you're in a tour group.
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