{"id":2287,"date":"2021-02-17T16:17:09","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T08:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tee-too.com\/blog\/?p=2287"},"modified":"2022-06-01T15:22:27","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T07:22:27","slug":"northern-hokkaido-2018-day-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tee-too.com\/blog\/northern-hokkaido-2018-day-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Hokkaido 2018 Blog :: Rebun :: Day 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wakkanai (\u7a1a\u5185\u5e02) – Rebun (\u793c\u6587\u5cf6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday was a train day, today will be ferry day as we got up at 430am to pack up \/ breakfast \/ pangsai before we dragged our luggage to the nearby Wakkanai Ferry Terminal for our ride to Rebun island. Like in most Japan citys, they have very nice pedestrian pathway so wheeling our luggages was very easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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she kept pointing to wrong directions.. lol <\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since it was off-peak season in September, there was not a lot of passengers. We promptly bought our one-way tickets (2,470yen per person) at the counter before posting some postcards with we bought from Asahikawa Station and stamps from Cape Soya Post Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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posting time<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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our tickets for the ferry ride<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We departed at exactly 6.40am, heading off in quite calm seas. Using the on-board free WiFi, we kept an eye on reports of the approaching Typhoon Jebi which is suppose to hit after nightfall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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local aunties and uncles having a photography ball after departure<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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we pre-booked the outdoor seating... all of em<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we opted to keep our baggage outdoors where we had the whole seating area to ourselves. Personally, being outdoors prevented me from getting sea sick but the boat was pretty stable throughout. We did venture inside the indoor seating area which was basically large spaces with tatami mats, there are no seatings (in 2nd class). Everyone had to remove their footwear prior to getting on the tatami and following Japanese style, we arranged our footwear in an outward direction too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Footwear lining up facing outwards<\/code>. So Japanese<\/code>… sandals is Penang tho<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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the best milk in the world, IMHO ... and i didn't lau sai<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After an hour, the sight of the cone-shaped shy Mount Rishiri (\u5229\u5c3b\u5cf6) came into view over the horizon. Someday will want to climb to the peak :). By now, our faces were so dry from the constant sea wind. lol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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suddenly the passengers all moved port-side and there is Mount Fuji... er... Rishiri<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another 45mins later, our destination of the day – Rebun island came into view on the starboard (right) of the ship. And soon enough, the ferry was slowly gostan-ning and docking on Kafuka port. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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land ahoy! - passing inbetween breakwaters<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Japanese passengers leaving the mats as clean as when they arrive<\/code>. Not a single sampah<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We booked Pension Uni<\/a> for out 2-night stay. Pensions are family-run accommodation in Japan and Uni (sea urchin) is my favorite delicacy in the world. It is located nearby Kafuka port and is walking distance actually but they provide free shuttle service upon your arrival so do inform them (email in English is ok) prior. The oto-san (dad) was waiting for us at the arrival hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oto-san only speaks limited English and lots of gestures<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a short ride, we quickly left our belongings, grabbed the trail leaflet <\/a>and headed out for a hike using the Momo-iwa trail<\/a> (Peach Rock – momo being peach and iwa, rock) which starts just behind our pension. The total hike distance is about 9.3km round trip with 500m of elevation gain. With Typhoon Jebi fast arriving, we did not expect blue skies anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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typhoon, why u come to this area?? <\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After turning in from the main road, the path turns into a dirt road and with no wind at all, it was pretty hot and humid. We had to peel of layers of clothing coz we were actually sweating a lot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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mysterious road<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About 15 minutes later, it got colder with the presence of a mist making visibility just a few meters only. It got worst and worst as we ascended higher. Thank goodness it was only a singular well-marked path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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thankfully no gorillas in this mist<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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the view playing achilot with us<\/code><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After 45mins of mild hiking, we reach this area where we can see the mist and the winds howling with speed. We waited for 15mins at this stop hoping that the mist will go away but it seems like it wouldn’t let up. It kept coming and coming blanketing the whole area with white. So we decided to call off the hike as it would be futile in this kind of weather. See the video below : <\/p>\n\n\n\n