Known as Japan's northernmost remote islands, Rishiri and Rebun come alive in the summer with festivals that fill the air with excitement. Why not join in the fun? This time, we'll introduce you to the unique festivals of these remote islands, plus another treat: their popular souvenirs!

First, let's introduce the festivals of Rishiri Island! In Rishiri Fuji Town, the "Hokkaijima Festival," a major summer event for the island, will be held from August 3rd (Wed) to 4th (Thu). On the 3rd, at a special venue near the Umi no Eki Oshidomari (Oshidomari Ferry Terminal), you'll find plenty of gourmet food like sea urchin bowls and grilled seafood! This is also the day when local specialties are sold at bargain prices, so it's a great chance to find a good deal.

Additionally, on the 4th, a fireworks display will be held at Oshidomari Port, lighting up the night sky! Starting with the Hokkaijima Festival, the festive mood continues with the "Rishiri Ukishima Festival" held in Rishiri Town from August 5th (Fri) to 6th (Sat), truly enveloping the entire island.

The Rishiri Ukishima Festival is held in the Kutsugata district on the 5th and the Senhoshi district on the 6th, with slightly different activities in each area. It seems you'll have to attend both days! Please note that the event will be held with measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

And on August 28th (Sun), the "Rishiri Island Friendship Cycling" event will be held.

This event involves cycling around Rishiri Island, connecting a cycling road (25km) and a general prefectural road (35km). It's a popular event, and many participants have previously raced through the great nature of Rishiri Island, aiming for the goal at the hot spring health facility. Participation is free, and there are participation awards and subsidies for the ferry fare for bicycles (return trip), so be sure to join!

Over on Rebun Island, a seafood festival will be held on July 23rd (Sat) from 11 AM to 2 PM. It's also called the "Umebeya Festival," which means "It's delicious!" and as the name suggests, it's a grand gathering of Rebun Island's tasty treats! With grilled sea urchin, grilled whelk, grilled octopus, shrimp miso soup, and more, you'll have a hard time deciding what to eat.

There are also free activities to enjoy, such as a sea urchin shucking experience and an Atka mackerel tasting corner. The sea urchin shucking experience, limited to the first 100 people, is particularly popular, so get there early!

Furthermore, what could be called Rebun Island's biggest event is the "Rebun Furusato Festival." It is scheduled to be held on August 10th (Wed), and food stalls will line the special venue.

While savoring Rebun Island's famous products and enjoying delicious drinks, smiles will naturally appear. A fireworks display is also planned, and many islanders are looking forward to it. However, for the Rishiri and Rebun Island events introduced here, schedules may change depending on the COVID-19 situation. Please check the official websites of each municipality frequently to get the latest information.

Now, an essential part of any trip is souvenirs. When you think of Rishiri Island's specialty, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is probably "Rishiri Kombu" (kelp). Actually, it's not just kelp from Rishiri Island that's called Rishiri Kombu; it also includes kelp harvested in the northern Hokkaido region, such as Rebun Island and the Wakkanai area. Nevertheless, Rishiri Kombu-related products are still the most popular souvenirs from Rishiri Island.

Of course, Rishiri Kombu itself reigns as the undisputed number one souvenir. In addition, products that let you savor the unique dashi (broth) of this high-quality kelp, such as dried noodles kneaded with Rishiri Kombu and soup curry using Rishiri Kombu, are likely to be well-received as gifts. Many people probably buy them for themselves too. Also, the instant noodles from "Rishiri Ramen Miraku," which has been featured in various media, are a hot topic!

Rishiri Island also has cute mascot characters, and various original goods are available. First, there are "Rippu-kun" and "Rippu-chan" from Rishiri Fuji Town, characters based on the chipmunks that live on Mt. Rishiri. They are said to be siblings. And as for Rishiri Town's "Rishirin," you can probably guess what it's based on, right? Rishiri Kombu has been transformed into a strangely cute and charming character. Local mascot goods are sure to be a fun souvenir.

Also, original products at the gift shop of the ryokan (Japanese inn) Tanakaya Hinageshikan are quite popular. Colorful and cute Mt. Rishiri goods like "Mt. Rishiri Outdoor Socks" and "Rishiri Tenugui (hand towel)" catch the eye. They feel good to the touch, making you want to buy matching sets for couples or families!

On Rebun Island, too, the most popular classic souvenir is Rishiri Kombu itself. The elegant, rich dashi from Rishiri Kombu, toughened by the rough coastal waves, is irreplaceable. Tororo Kombu (shaved kelp), which allows you to enjoy this Rishiri Kombu more easily, also makes a great souvenir. The fact that "Rebun Island" is clearly written on the package is also a plus!

Alongside Rishiri Kombu, another famous product of Rebun Island is sea urchin, right? Besides fresh sea urchin, it is processed in various ways for souvenirs, such as frozen or bottled, but the slightly unusual canned sea urchin is also recommended. The sea urchin, landed by the island's fishermen and carefully shucked one by one, brings happiness with every bite. It's hard to decide whether to buy the Murasaki uni or Bafun uni.

Among the abundance of seafood and processed marine products, you'll often see processed Atka mackerel (hokke). Products like dried hokke, smoked hokke, and nuka-hokke (hokke pickled in rice bran) are popular even within Hokkaido. Both Rishiri and Rebun islands have so many things you'll want to buy as souvenirs, and even more you'll want to buy for yourself, that you might end up buying too much. After your trip ends and you're back home, savoring the local specialties you brought back is a great way to relive your fun memories.