Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu was declared in 1974 and protects three distinct areas at the north-western tip of Hokkaido, facing the Sea of Japan: the islands of Rishiri and Rebun and the coastal plain of Sarobetsu, on the mainland.

Rishiri is an almost perfect volcanic cone that rises from the sea to 1,721 metres and dominates the horizon of the whole area; its silhouette is known as the Rishiri Fuji. Rebun, by contrast, is a low, elongated island of gentle relief, famous among botanists for an uncommon phenomenon: because of the latitude and the influence of the cold currents, alpine plants that in the rest of Japan grow only above 2,000 metres appear here practically at sea level, and in summer they cover the coastal meadows in flower. Several species are endemic to the island.

The third component, Sarobetsu, is one of the largest peatlands in Japan, a plain of wetlands and lagoons beside the coast that acts as a staging point for migratory birds and that offers, on clear days, the view of Rishiri outlined across the strait. The cliffs of the two islands hold seabird colonies, puffins among them, and seals appear in their waters. The whole is also a classic hiking destination, with the ascent of Rishiri and the coastal routes of Rebun as the most frequented.