PlaceChain #40 "The Farthest Islands (Rishiri Island & Ishigaki Island)" [Day 59-61]
For first-time viewers
These are the rules for this project.
Please be sure to read them♪
Previous (#39)
Last time, we played shiritori starting with the last character (excluding "-machi") of Asahi-cho, Kagamiishi-machi, Iwase-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, which was "hi", and visited "Jupia Land Hirata" in Hirata Village, Fukushima, where shibazakura (moss phlox) bloom in spring, and "Kembuchi Town Picture Book Village" in Kembuchi Town, Hokkaido, which houses 40,000 picture books from around the world. So far, we have reached our goal in 30 out of the 47 prefectures nationwide.
Will we be able to hit the "place names of the remaining 17 prefectures" with the roulette this time!?
PlaceChain Day 59
We visited our 74th location, "Kembuchi Town Picture Book Village," and found that its address is "Midori-machi, Kembuchi-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido (Kembuchi-cho Midori-machi)"!
75th Shiritori Roulette
For the 75th PlaceChain, we will play the shiritori roulette with "ri". Where will our next destination be!?
There are only 8 municipalities in total that start with "ri". Since there are few candidates, the probabilities have been adjusted to be equal.
Will it be one of the "place names of the 17 prefectures (below)" where we haven't reached the goal yet?!
秋田 山形 栃木 新潟 富山 静岡 滋賀 大阪 奈良 岡山 広島 山口 香川 佐賀 大分 宮崎 沖縄What will the result of the roulette be...?
The 75th PlaceChain is decided as
Rishiri Town, HokkaidoRishiri-cho (Rishiri-cho)!
*The probability of the roulette landing on this was 12.50%
【 This is our 9th visit to Hokkaido 】
We have visited Rankoshi Town twice, and have also visited Wakkanai City, Kimobetsu Town, Toyoura Town, Horonobe Town, Rebun Town, and Kembuchi Town. Since this is not a prefecture we are visiting for the first time, it does not count as a goal.
Rishiri Town
Located on the western half of Rishiri Island, which floats off the coast of Wakkanai City. It belongs to Rishiri District. The population is approximately 1,800 (as of April 2026). Fishing and tourism are thriving. It once prospered from herring fishing, but today it produces Rishiri kelp and sea urchin.
Travel: Kenbuchi Town, Hokkaido Midori-cho → Rishiri Town
Speaking of the island's bounty, it has to be the sea, so while researching tourist spots, I discovered one named after the coast. This time, I plan to visit "Kamui Coast Park." Let's go right away!
On the 59th day of this trip, since my destination was still within Hokkaido, I headed north from Kenbuchi to Wakkanai on the Soya Main Line. I will stay in Wakkanai and wait for the ferry the next morning.
PlaceChain Day 60
75th Location: Kamui Coast Park @ Rishiri Town, Hokkaido
⏰ I visited around 9:00 AM!
Kamui Coast Park
An experiential tourist facility where you can learn about the seafood of Rishiri Island in a fun way. You can fish for crabs using real fishing gear, and catch, shell, and eat sea urchins. You can also enjoy a superb view of Mt. Rishiri from the observation area.
When I looked up the address of this place, it turned out to be "Kamui, Kutsugata, Rishiri-cho, Rishiri-gun, Hokkaido" (i)!
76th Shiritori Roulette
The 76th PlaceChain is a Shiritori Roulette starting with "i"! Where will the next destination be!?
There are a total of 106 municipalities that start with "i". I have adjusted the probabilities by dividing them into 5 categories, taking into account their popularity and current location. The first to third categories include municipalities with high national recognition (Ise, Izumo, Ishigaki, Iwaki, Izu, Inuyama, Iga, Itami, Imabari, Iki, Ibusuki), and the fourth category includes municipalities in the same region as my current location (since I am currently in Rishiri Town, Hokkaido, this time it is Hokkaido).
Will it come from the "17 prefectures (below) place names" where I haven't reached the goal yet?!
秋田 山形 栃木 新潟 富山 静岡 滋賀 大阪 奈良 岡山 広島 山口 香川 佐賀 大分 宮崎 沖縄Will the roulette result be...
The 76th PlaceChain is decided as
Okinawa, Ishigaki City (ishigaki-shi)!
*The probability of the roulette result was 5.13%
[ The 31st goal, 'Okinawa Prefecture', has been reached! ]
If the last character of the address of the destination is not 'n', the goal is achieved.
Ishigaki City
Located in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa Prefecture. It is the southernmost and westernmost city in Japan, centered on Ishigaki Island. The population is approximately 46,000 (as of April 2026). It serves as the central hub for administration, economy, and culture in the Yaeyama region. It attracts many tourists from both Japan and abroad. The Senkaku Islands are also included within the city's jurisdiction.
Travel: Rishiri-cho Kutsu-gata Kamui, Hokkaido → Ishigaki City
Speaking of Ishigaki Island, it's all about the beaches! However, I want to know about its other charms, so while looking for tourist spots other than beaches, I discovered a limestone cave. This time, I've decided to visit the 'Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave'. Let's go right away!
On the 60th day of this trip, I waited for the ferry until the evening to cross from Rishiri Island to Wakkanai, and then took an overnight bus to Sapporo.
PlaceChain Day 61
76th location: Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave @ Ishigaki City, Okinawa
⏰ I visited around 5:00 PM!
Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave
The largest limestone cave on Ishigaki Island. Of the 3.2 km long cave created from coral reefs about 200,000 years ago, 660 meters are open to the public. The highlights include numerous sparkling stalactites, stalagmites, and fossils, with a mystical underground world spreading out, featuring fantastic illuminations, a suikinkutsu (water harp cave), and stalactites that look like Totoro. The inside of the cave is a comfortable 22°C year-round, so it can be enjoyed regardless of the season.
When I looked up the address of this place, it turned out to be 'Ishigaki, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (Ishigaki-shi Ishigaki)'!
The last character is not 'n'!
I have officially achieved the goal for the 31st prefecture. I will continue my journey with the goal of reaching the remaining 16 prefectures.
Next, I will play shiritori with 'ki'! I wonder where it will be?!
Stay tuned for the next installment 💫
Progress Status
Complete Conquest, Nationwide (31/47): +1
Hokkaido x9, Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture x3, Miyagi Prefecture,
Fukushima Prefecture x4, Ibaraki Prefecture x3, Gunma Prefecture x2, Saitama Prefecture,
Chiba Prefecture x7, Tokyo x5, Kanagawa Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture,
Fukui Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture x6, Gifu Prefecture x3,
Aichi Prefecture x2, Mie Prefecture x2, Kyoto Prefecture,
Wakayama Prefecture x3, Hyogo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture,
Tokushima Prefecture x3, Ehime Prefecture x2, Kochi Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture x3,
Nagasaki Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture x3, Kagoshima Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture
Next time
Please be sure to follow us so you don't miss the next update🙇♂️
You can enjoy the latest place name shiritori on X (formerly Twitter), so please follow us there
https://x.com/ry_pc47?s=21&t=jwMWfC10v5yYkqN2xhDjBA