Meanwhile, Rebun Island, the northernmost inhabited island in the Sea of Japan, has a unique characteristic: alpine plants can be seen at sea level. This means that flowers you would normally have to climb high mountains to see on Honshu can be found right on the coast. What's more, the number of alpine plant species that can be seen from spring to summer is said to be as many as 300! Of course, just like Rishiri Island, there are also flowers endemic to Rebun Island.

Rebun-atsumoriso

A representative flower endemic to Rebun Island is this, the "Rebun-atsumoriso." With its plump, cream-colored flowers, it is hailed as the queen of the orchid family. The inside of this pouch-like flower has a structure that allows pollinating bees to move in only one direction, which is both mysterious and fascinating. You can see them in the Atsumoriso colony in the northern part of Rebun Island. The best time to see them is from late May to mid-June.

Rebun-kinbaiso

The "Rebun-kinbaiso" is another flower endemic to Rebun Island. It was given this name because it resembles a golden plum blossom. In fact, what look like petals are actually sepals, and what look like stamens in the center are the petals. It is in the same family as the Botan-kinbaiso from Rishiri Island mentioned earlier. The best time to see them is from early June to late June.

Rebun-usuyukiso

Here is another flower endemic to Rebun Island. The "Rebun-usuyukiso" is a member of the same family as the Edelweiss found in Europe. The fact that this species can be seen near the coastline at 45 degrees north latitude is globally significant. The name Usuyukiso (thin snow grass) is said to have come from comparing its pale white leaves to a thin layer of snow. What a poetic and beautiful origin. The best time to see them is from June to August.

Rebun-so

And one more, the "Rebun-so" from the legume family, is also endemic to Rebun Island. Rebun Island has many legume plants, most of which are purplish in color, making them difficult to distinguish. Among them, the Rebun-so is characterized by being covered in white, silky hairs. This is to protect itself from the cold, but it's also a key point for identification. The best time to see them is from June to September.

Rebun-kozakura

Finally, let's introduce the "Rebun-kozakura," a representative flower of Rebun Island. Its flowers, which appear to be a mix of pink and purple, bloom in large numbers, dyeing the surrounding area in a deep, vibrant color. This cute flower from the primrose family can be seen growing in clusters all over Rebun Island. The way the small flowers bloom together to form a ball-like shape is also quite charming. The best time to see them is from May to June.