Cape Peshi from Osidomari Ferry Terminal — Online Webcam
Rishiri Island — a volcanic island on the edge of Hokkaido
Rishiri Island is a small piece of land in the Sea of Japan, located 40 kilometers west of the Hokkaido coast. From the air, it looks almost perfectly round — this is no coincidence, but the result of ancient volcanic activity. The island is the submerged cone of a volcano that once rose from the ocean depths. The area of Rishiri is 182.11 km², and the coastline circumference is about 63 km. The island's name comes from the Ainu expression «rii-shiri», meaning «high island» — and this is entirely accurate.
The highest point of Rishiri is Mount Rishirisan, 1721 m high, often called "Rishiri Fuji" for its graceful symmetrical shape resembling the famous Japanese Fuji. This mountain dominates the island and is visible from virtually any point. Rishiri Island is part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, established in 1974, which guarantees the preservation of its unique nature.
Cape Peshi — Gorilla Rock
On the western coast of Rishiri Island, near the Osidomari ferry terminal, rises Cape Peshi — a massive rocky cliff that locals and travelers often call "Gorilla Rock". This nickname is no coincidence: when viewed from a distance, the shadow and shape of the cliff truly resemble the silhouette of a giant gorilla frozen at the edge of the sea.
The height of Cape Peshi is 93 meters above sea level. A steep hiking trail leads to the top of the cliff, passing through dense vegetation and rocky outcrops. The climb requires some physical fitness, but the views from the top of Cape Peshi are truly breathtaking — of Osidomari Port, the harbor with fishing boats, and the vast expanse of the Sea of Japan.
Osidomari Ferry Terminal — the gateway to the island
The Osidomari Ferry Terminal is the main transportation hub of Rishiri Island, the only link to the mainland for locals and travelers. This is where ferries arrive from Wakkanai Port in Hokkaido, and this is where the best view of Cape Peshi opens up. The terminal is located in the village of Osidomari — the largest settlement on the island, where the main infrastructure is concentrated.
The history of ferry service between Wakkanai and Osidomari began in 1923, when regular service was launched between Wakkanai and the city of Odomari (now Korsakov) on Sakhalin. In those years, the ferry crossing played a key role in connecting Sakhalin and Hokkaido islands, uniting Japanese territories into a single transport network.
A tragic page in the terminal's history was written in August 1945. On August 10, 1945, the ferry Aniwa Maru, operating on the Hakodate—Aomori line, was sunk by American aircraft. And on August 24, 1945, the ferry Soya Maru arrived in Wakkanai, making the last voyage of that period of the ferry crossing. After the end of World War II, communications were suspended and later resumed in a modified format.
Ferry Service Wakkanai — Rishiri
Modern ferry service connects Wakkanai Port in northern Hokkaido with Rishiri Island. The ferry journey from Wakkanai to Osidomari Terminal takes approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. The standard schedule assumes departure from Wakkanai in the morning and arrival on Rishiri in the first half of the day — for example, the ferry may depart at 7:15 and arrive at Osidomari at 8:55.
The intensity of ferry service depends on the season. In summer, from May to September, when Rishiri Island experiences peak tourist season, the number of sailings increases to four per day. In winter, in January and February, when weather conditions become harsher and the flow of travelers decreases, the number of sailings is reduced to two. Additionally, once a day the ferry also calls at neighboring Rebun Island, stopping at the ports of Osidomari and Kutsugata on Rishiri.
The Osidomari Ferry Terminal is not just a pier, but a full-fledged transport complex with a passenger terminal, gas station, and parking area. This is where large passenger ferries dock, this is where island guests are welcomed, and this is where that very view of Cape Peshi opens up, which our webcam broadcasts.
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park
Rishiri Island and its neighbor Rebun are part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, established in 1974. This park is one of the northernmost national parks in Japan, covering not only the islands but also the surrounding marine waters. Here, unique subarctic island ecosystems have been preserved: alpine meadows on the slopes of Mount Rishirisan, coastal cliffs where seabirds nest, and dense forests covering the foot of the volcano.
For travelers, Rishiri Island is an opportunity to see wild Japan in its pristine form. There are no noisy megacities or industrial zones here, only fishing villages, mountain trails, and the endless sea. The Osidomari Ferry Terminal becomes the first place of introduction to these lands for many — this is where tourists arrive to begin their exploration of the island.
What You Can See on the Camera
The webcam is installed at the Osidomari Ferry Terminal and is aimed toward Cape Peshi. The camera's field of view captures the port area with a passenger pier, where a large passenger ferry with a distinctive blue-pink-white color scheme is docked. In the foreground, a port parking area with cars and streetlights illuminating the terminal in the evening are visible.
In the background of the stream, the harbor with fishing boats rocking on the waves and the green hill — Cape Peshi — rising above the port infrastructure opens up. Behind it, the outlines of the urban buildings of the village of Osidomari can be discerned. The sky over Rishiri Island is often overcast, creating a special atmosphere of a northern seascape. The camera operates in real time, allowing you to observe the life of the port, the arrival and departure of ferries, as well as how the lighting of Cape Peshi changes throughout the day.
