Senhoshi Misaki Park on Rishiri Island: Mt. Rishiri Across Black Lava Rocks

Senhoshi Misaki Park is at the southern tip of Rishiri Island, where waves break on black lava rocks and Mt. Rishiri rises behind them. It is best known for the spotted seals kept in a seawater pool on the shore in summer, but there were none when I stopped by at about 15:30 on June 25, 2026. The lava shore and the mountain were reason enough, and with the kelp shop next door, the stop took me 30 minutes.

1Are there seals at Senhoshi Misaki Park?

Sometimes. The park has a seal pool on the shore with spotted seals in it, but when I was there at about 15:30 on June 25, there were no seals.

According to the island's tourism site, the seals are there from about June to September, and some days they aren't. Feeding is from 8:00 to 17:00, and the fish for feeding costs 100 yen at Misaki Bussan, the shop next to the park (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). So go in summer, and don't plan your day around the seals alone.

2How long to spend and how to get there

30 minutes with the kelp shop next door

I walked around the park, went into Hatamiya Shokuhin, the kelp shop next door, and left after 30 minutes. The two are side by side and neither is big, so that is enough time.

About 20 minutes by car from Kutsugata

From the park to Kutsugata, the town on the west side of the island where my hotel was, took 20 minutes by car. Kutsugata is about 10 minutes from Rishiri Airport.

Parking, toilets and shops

The parking lot is big. There were a fair number of people, but I parked without any trouble. There are public toilets and a few souvenir shops. The park is open May to October (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).

3Mt. Rishiri across the lava rocks

The shore of the park is a long stretch of rock formed from Mt. Rishiri's lava. Standing on it, I had the sea in front of me and the mountain rising beyond it.

You can go down close to the rocks, and the footing wasn't bad. Rishiri Plus says that if you look into the clear water you can see sea urchins and kelp, but I couldn't make them out when I was there.

4Hatamiya Shokuhin next door: tororo kombu and online shop

Next to the park is Hatamiya Shokuhin, which sells kelp products. It is a different shop from Misaki Bussan, where you buy the seal food, and from the park its building and Mt. Rishiri fit in one view.

Kelp was drying in front of the shop, and inside, through a window on the right, I could watch the products being made.

I bought tororo kombu, Rishiri kelp shaved into soft, fine threads, among other things. It is best added to something hot and soupy, like miso soup or ramen. Hatamiya Shokuhin's products are also sold at its online shop.

Here are all the souvenirs I bought on the island and where:

Rishiri Island Souvenirs: Buy Them on the Road, Not at the AirportRishiri Island souvenirs I bought: kelp topping at Otatomari Pond, pudding in Oniwaki and tororo kombu in Senhoshi, and why not to wait for the airport.

5FAQ about Senhoshi Misaki Park

Q1. When can you see seals at Senhoshi Misaki Park?

From about June to September, but not every day (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). There were none on June 25 when I went.

Q2. Can you feed the seals?

Yes, from 8:00 to 17:00. The fish costs 100 yen at Misaki Bussan next to the park (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026).

Q3. Is there a shop at Senhoshi Misaki Park?

There are a few souvenir shops (Rishiri Plus, as of November 2026). I shopped at Hatamiya Shokuhin next door, which sells Rishiri kelp.

6More on Rishiri Island

Senhoshi Misaki Park was one of the last stops on the full loop of the island on my second day, on the way back to Kutsugata. Here is the whole two-night route 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.