Otatomari Pond on Rishiri Island: The Sharp Peak of Mt. Rishiri and a Souvenir Stop

By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published
Otatomari Pond on Rishiri Island: The Sharp Peak of Mt. Rishiri and a Souvenir Stop

Quick answers

  • About 30 minutes; the pond is right in front of the parking lot
  • About 30 minutes by car from Oshidomari, 25 from Kutsugata; big parking lot with toilets
  • Rishiri Kameichi sells souvenirs and serves food, mid-April to late October
  • Open May to October; for a reflection of the mountain, Himenuma Pond is better

At Otatomari Pond you step out of the car and the pond is right there, with Mt. Rishiri's sharp summit rising behind the forest on the far side. It is the largest pond on Rishiri Island, on the southeast coast, and the parking lot doubles as a souvenir stop. I stopped here in June 2026, and went back for one more look on my last day.

How long do you need at Otatomari Pond?

About 30 minutes, which is also what the island's tourism site suggests (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). I didn't walk around the pond; I looked at the view from in front of the parking lot, bought souvenirs at the shop and left after about 25 minutes. A path goes around the pond, about 1 km.

The pond is open May to October and closed November to April (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).

The Otatomari Pond sign and boardwalk with Mt. Rishiri beyond the pond

How to get to Otatomari Pond

It took me about 30 minutes by car from Oshidomari, the ferry port on the north side, and about 25 minutes from Kutsugata, the other main town on the west side.

The parking lot is big enough for tour buses, and on the weekday I went there were a few cars and no trouble parking. There are toilets at the parking lot.

Mt. Rishiri from Otatomari Pond

From the front of the parking lot, the mountain rises behind the pond and the forest. Mt. Rishiri changes shape depending on where you stand, and from here the summit looked sharp.

Otatomari Pond with Mt. Rishiri rising behind the forest

I didn't see a clean reflection of the mountain in the water. I think that's because there is some distance between the pond and the mountain. If the reflection is what you're after, Himenuma Pond near Oshidomari did it better.

Himenuma Pond on Rishiri Island: Mt. Rishiri Reflected on a 20-Minute Boardwalk LoopHimenuma Pond on Rishiri Island, where Mt. Rishiri is reflected in the water: how long the boardwalk loop takes, how to get there from Oshidomari, parking, and how it compares with Otatomari Pond.

Souvenirs and food at Rishiri Kameichi

The shop in the parking lot is Rishiri Kameichi. I bought Rishiri-kko, a fluffy furikake (rice topping) made with Rishiri kelp.

The Rishiri Kameichi shop in the Otatomari Pond parking lot, with a soft-serve ice cream statue at the door

Rishiri Kameichi is open from mid-April to late October, 9:00 to 17:00, every day in season (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). I didn't eat there, but it has a restaurant serving sea urchin bowls, three-topping seafood bowls, scallop curry and soft-serve. There is a second place in the parking lot, the Rishirifuji Town Rest House, and between the two the tourism site lists grilled scallops, sea urchin sushi and two local soft-serve flavors, kumazasa (bamboo grass) and manneyuki ("eternal snow"), (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).

Shiroi Koibito no Oka, two minutes away

Two or three minutes' drive from the pond is Shiroi Koibito no Oka (Shiroi Koibito Hill, also called Numaura Viewpoint), the viewpoint where Mt. Rishiri looks the same as on the box of Shiroi Koibito, Hokkaido's best-known cookie. Coming from Oshidomari, the turn-off to the viewpoint comes first, so go up there before you drive down to the pond.

FAQ about Otatomari Pond

Q1. How long does it take to see Otatomari Pond?

About 30 minutes. I took the view in front of the parking lot, stopped at the shop and left after about 25 minutes. The path around the pond is about 1 km.

Q2. Can you visit Otatomari Pond in winter?

No. It is closed November to April (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).

More on Rishiri Island

Otatomari Pond was on my first afternoon on the island, right after Shiroi Koibito no Oka. 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.