How Do You Walk Rebun Island? Cape Sukoton, Cape Gorota and the Momoiwa Trail
This guide is for visitors who want to hike on Rebun Island and need to know which trails the official pages describe. It uses the English pages of "National Parks of Japan" (JNTO, with content provided by the Ministry of the Environment), JNTO's own pages and the Hokkaido Official Tourism Site "HOKKAIDO LOVE!". All pages were read on 2026-10-04. The Hokkaido site notes that some of its text is machine translated, and trail conditions change, so check with a local guide before you set out.
The short answer
The pages describe three areas: Cape Sukoton in the north, Cape Gorota on the west coast and the Momoiwa Trail at the southern end. JNTO says there are "numerous trekking courses", and its flower feature counts seven.
Cape Sukoton
The park's page says that from Cape Sukoton, the northernmost part of the island, you can spot sea lions on nearby Todo Island and start half-day or full-day trekking courses, and that "the clifftop path" gives great views of the rugged coastline. The Hokkaido itinerary describes the cape as the starting point of the "Cape Tour Trail", a popular route of about 13 km, which passes other scenic spots such as Cape Gorota and Cape Sukai.
Cape Gorota
The Hokkaido site describes Cape Gorota as "perched on a 176-meter cliff" overlooking the Sea of Japan and offering views of the island's rugged western coast. It says that as you hike up from the Awabikotan side, the trail comes alive in early summer with rare alpine flowers such as Rebun-so, and that from the summit the arc of Gorota Beach stretches to Cape Sukoton. Descending toward the Teppu coast, the page says, you walk along shores scattered with wave-polished stones, and may find the island's signature "ana-aki-gai", seashells naturally pierced by the sea. For access it gives "about 40 minutes from Kofuka Port Ferry Terminal" by car and then about 20 minutes on foot. The spelling "Kofuka" is the page's; other pages use Kafuka.
The Momoiwa Trail
The park's page says the Momoiwa Trail is at the island's southern end and that "Momoiwa means peach rock in Japanese, named after the shape of the rock". The route runs through clifftop meadows, where from late spring through summer you can see the white flowers of the Rebun usuyukiso and the golden blooms of the globe flower. The page adds that the Momodai Nekodai Observatory has views of the island's geological features, and that you can follow the course around a secluded bay to see volcanic outcrops and Momoiwa, a rock 250 meters high. JNTO's flower feature calls the Momoiwa Observatory trail one of the most popular routes, with "plenty of wildflowers and few ups and downs", so it suits people who want an easy first walk.
A shorter walk to the edelweiss
The Hokkaido itinerary describes a viewing area for the Rebun usuyukiso that you reach by following the Rebun Forest Path for about 2 kilometers. It says the open trail has views of Mt. Rishiri across the Sea of Japan, and that the blossoms peak from June to July.
Walking with a guide
The Momoiwa Observatory Walking Tour page describes a leisurely walk with an expert guide, who tells you about the island's more than 300 varieties of cold-climate alpine plants. Wireless tour guide receivers and magnifying glasses are provided, and participants get a booklet on local flowers. The languages listed are English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, each "with advance notice". JNTO's flower feature adds that local guides offer both entire routes and popular sections.
Season and weather
- JNTO says flowers can be enjoyed from late April to mid-September, with the high tourist season from July to August.
- JNTO's flower feature says trekking is best from early June to August.
- From November to February, JNTO says, the seasonal winds are strong and the average temperature from December to February is around -7 degrees Celsius.
What we could not verify, and therefore left out
- Trail lengths and walking times for the Momoiwa Trail and the Rebun Forest Path, which the pages do not give.
- Bus stops and timetables to the trailheads.
- Guided tour prices and how to book.
Related guides
- How do you get to Rebun Island and get around from Wakkanai?
- What is Rebun Island? The "floating island of flowers"
Sources
All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.
- Explore Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park (National Parks of Japan) — (Sukoton, Momoiwa)
- Momoiwa Observatory Walking Tour (National Parks of Japan) — (guided walk)
- Cape Gorota (HOKKAIDO LOVE!) — (cliff, trail, access)
- Wakkanai, Rishiri and Rebun sample itinerary (HOKKAIDO LOVE!) — (Cape Tour Trail, Forest Path)
- Rishiri & Rebun (JNTO) — (season, weather)
- Seasonal beauty of Hokkaido: Furano to Rebun (JNTO) — (seven courses, guides)