Day Trips from SapporoMikaeridai Viewpoint on Rishiri Island: Mt. Rishiri Up Close Without the Hike
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- At the fifth station of Mt. Rishiri, about 500 m up; about 6 km and 15 minutes by car from Kutsugata
- Large parking lot with public toilets; the mountain isn't visible from the parking lot
- A little over 10 minutes each way on paved steps; 25 minutes in all for me
- Open mid-May to mid-October; the road is closed by snow in winter
At the top of the steps at Mikaeridai Viewpoint, Mt. Rishiri stands right in front of you. The viewpoint sits halfway up the mountain at about 500 m, on the west side of Rishiri Island, and you drive almost all the way there. I climbed up from the parking lot in June 2026; it took a little over ten minutes each way.
How long do you need at Mikaeridai Viewpoint?
About 30 minutes. I took a little over ten minutes each way on the steps from the parking lot and spent 25 minutes in all, from parking to leaving. The island's tourism site gives 30 to 50 minutes (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).
The road up is open from mid-May to mid-October and closed by snow in winter (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). It is at the fifth station of Mt. Rishiri, about halfway up, and the area is also signed as Mikaeridai Enchi (enchi means a park area). Mikaeri means looking back, and when you turn around at the top, the coast you came from is spread out below.
How to get to Mikaeridai Viewpoint
I drove about 6 km, roughly 15 minutes, up a mountain road from my hotel in Kutsugata, the main town on the west side of the island. It is a mountain road, but it wasn't especially narrow, and there was hardly any other traffic, so it was an easy drive.
The parking lot is large, and only one other group was there when I went, so I could park anywhere. There are public toilets at the parking lot. The same parking lot is the starting point of the Kutsugata route for climbing Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026), but you don't need any hiking gear to reach the viewpoint.
As far as I remember, the mountain wasn't visible from the parking lot. To see it, walk up to the viewpoint.
The walk up from the parking lot
The tourism site describes a steep set of steps up and back. The steps I climbed were paved and not so steep that they were hard to walk; I got a little out of breath. Sneakers were enough.
On the way up, the harbor at Kutsugata and the sea came into view.
The view of Mt. Rishiri from Mikaeridai
At the end of the steps is a wooden viewing deck with a roof.
From the deck, Mt. Rishiri rose up close. Turning around, the town of Kutsugata and the sea spread out beyond the bamboo grass and the forest.
Being halfway up the mountain, the viewpoint can be in cloud even when the coast is sunny. My first try that morning was fogged in, and the mountain only showed when I came back later the same day. If the summit is clear from the coast, go up then.
FAQ about Mikaeridai Viewpoint
Q1. How long does Mikaeridai Viewpoint take?
The tourism site gives 30 to 50 minutes (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). For me it was a little over ten minutes each way from the parking lot and 25 minutes in all.
Q2. Can you visit Mikaeridai Viewpoint in winter?
No. The road is open from mid-May to mid-October and closed by snow in winter.
Q3. Is there parking at Mikaeridai Viewpoint?
Yes, a large parking lot with public toilets. From there it is a little over ten minutes on steps to the viewpoint.
More on Rishiri Island
Mikaeridai was the first stop on my second day, a full loop of the island from Kutsugata. Here is the whole two-night drive with times and costs.
Rishiri Island Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days Around Mt. Rishiri by Rental CarA Sapporo local's Rishiri Island itinerary by rental car, with real times: flights from Sapporo, picking up the car at the airport, Himenuma Pond, Cape Peshi, sea urchin season and prices, where to stay, costs, and a shorter 1-night version.