Rebun Island

Rebun

Native name: 礼文島, Rebun-tō
File:Rebun in Soya Subprefecture.gif
Rebun Island (Japan)
Geography
Location	East Asia
Coordinates
Archipelago	Japanese Archipelago
Area
Length	29 km (18 mi)
Width	8 km (5 mi)
Coastline	72 km (44.7 mi)
Highest elevation	490.0 m (1,607.6 ft)
Highest point	Mount Rebun
Country
Japan
Prefectures	Hokkaidō
Subprefectures	Sōya
District	Rebun
Largest settlement	Rebun (pop. 3,194)
Demographics
Population	3,194 (as of 2007-12-31)
Density	39.3 /km2 (101.8 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Ainu, Japanese

Rebun Island (礼文島, Rebun-tō; Ainu: Repun) is an island in the Sea of Japan off the northwestern tip of Hokkaidō, Japan. The island sits 50 kilometres (31 mi) off the coast of Hokkaidō. Rebun stretches 29 kilometres (18 mi) from north to south and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from east to west. The island covers approximately 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi). Rebun Island is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Rishiri Island, and the two islands are separated by the Rebun Channel.

Rebun Island is known for its alpine flowers and the 8-Hour Hiking Course which runs from one end of the island to the other, north to south. The hiking course can be broken into two sections, known as the 4-Hour Hiking Courses. Rebun Island is home to a chashi, or hilltop fortifications of the Ainu people. The highest point on the island is Mount Rebun (490 metres (1,610 ft)). The island is part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park.

Etymology

The name of the island in the Ainu language, "Repun", means "island in the open sea."

Areas of interest

• Mount Rebun
• Peach Rock, or Momoiwa
• Jizo Rock
• Cat Rock, or Nekoiwa
• Cape Sukoton
• Cape Kaneda
• Cape Gorota
• Cape Sukai
• Todo Island
• Lake Kushu
• Yamunai Valley
• Rebun Forest Road
• Rebun Falls

Communities

All communities on Rebun Island are part of the town of Rebun in Rebun District. From roughly from north to south, they are:

• Sukoton
• Awabikoton
• Hamanaka
• Funadomari
• Horodomari
• Uedomari
• Nairo
• Kitousu
• Kafukai
• Kafuka
• Shiretoko

Transportation

• Ferry link to Rishiri Island, Wakkanai, and Otaru via Rishiri
• Air link to Wakkanai Airport

Gallery

• Rebun island seen from Rishiri island.jpg

  Rebun island (background) seen from Mount Rishiri

• Lake Kusyu.JPG

  Lake Kusyu on Rebun island

• Rebun Island Cat Rock.JPG

  Neko-iwa, 'cat rock'

• Momoiwa.JPG

  Momo-iwa, 'peach rock'

• Sukai.jpg

  Sukai Cape

• Sukoton.JPG

  Sukoton Cape and Todo island

External links

• Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage