Mt. Rishiri

The island of Rishiri, north-east of Hokkaido, Japan, seems to have been somewhat forgotten. Or maybe it's still an insider tip. We're not quite sure. But one thing is certain: it is a jewel among touring paradises! If you want to climb to the summit, you need mountaineering expertise and the necessary equipment.

Our roving ski-bum reporter Zach loves to spend his winters in Japan. Rishiri, the legendary volcanic island off Hokkaido, has been on his to-ski list for a long time. This year the time had finally come and the Gaijin crew made their tracks in the - would you believe it - fluffy powder on the spectacular Mount Rishiri.

A single photo had taken over our minds. It was an aerial view of an island in the deep blue Sea of Japan. At its center stands a lonely mountain with snow-covered slopes. Deep furrows carve out gullies, form wide slopes and gently run out towards the forested coast. We had to go there - to find out if it really exists.