Meanwhile, Rebun Island, the northernmost remote island in the Sea of Japan, has the unique feature of being able to see alpine plants at 0 meters above sea level. This means that flowers that can only be seen on the mainland by climbing high mountains can be seen on the coast. What's more, there are an astonishing 300 types of alpine plants that can be seen from spring to summer, so this is something to look forward to! Of course, just like Rishiri Island, there are also flowers that are endemic to Rebun Island that only grow on the island.

Rebun Lady's Slipper

The Rebun Lady's Slipper is a representative flower endemic to Rebun Island. Its plump cream-colored flowers are also known as the queen of the orchid family. The inside of this bag-like flower is designed in such a way that the bees that carry the pollen can only move in one direction, making it quite mysterious and mysterious. It can be seen in colonies of Lady's Slipper in the northern part of Rebun Island. The best time to see it is from late May to mid-June.

Reben Trollius

The "Rebun buttercup" is also a flower endemic to Rebun Island that grows only on the island. It was given this name because it looks like a golden plum blossom. What look like petals are actually the sepals, and the stamen-like thing in the middle is actually the petal. It belongs to the same family as the button buttercup of Rishiri Island, which we introduced earlier. The best time to see it is from early June to late June.

Rebunusyukisou

Another flower endemic to Rebun Island is the Rebun Usuyukisou, a relative of the edelweiss found in Europe. It is a rare sight on a global scale to see this species near the coastline at 45 degrees north latitude. The name Usuyukisou (light snow grass) was given to the pale white leaves, which resemble a thin layer of snow. What a poetic and beautiful origin. The best time to see it is from June to August.

Rebunsou

Another flower endemic to Rebun Island is the "Rebunsou" (Leguminosa gracilis), a member of the legume family. Rebun Island is home to many legume plants, most of which are purple in color, making them difficult to distinguish. Rebunsou is unique in that it is entirely covered in white silky hairs. This is to protect the plant from the cold, but it's a good way to tell them apart. The best time to see them is from June to September.

Rebunkozakura

Finally, let's introduce the Rebunkozakura, a flower that represents Rebun Island. The pink and purple flowers bloom in abundance, painting the surrounding area in deep, vivid hues. This cute flower from the Primula family can be seen growing in clusters all over Rebun Island. The little flowers bloom like rubber balls, which is kind of adorable. The best time to see them is from May to June.