Sea Urchin Picking Experience in Kamui Park
Kamui-149-2 Kutsugata, Rishiri, Rishiri District, 097-0401, map
Rishiri Uni is considered the highest grade of uni in Japan. After all, it feeds on the nutrient-rich kombu Rishiri is famous for. I love how the delicious food ecosystem leads to even more delicious foods.
Weather permitting, you can pluck sea urchins directly from the ocean at Kamui Park and learn how to crack them open. On the day we visited, the water was too choppy, but they simulated the experience offshore.
I picked one that was very active in my basket, and I was mesmerized by the spines it waved at me. A part of me felt guilty since I’m not used to killing my own meal, but there was no way I was going to Rishiri Island without tasting this uni. For 2,000 yen, I would have done this multiple times if I had stayed longer. Or if I had a do-over, I would clear my schedule and only put this on the itinerary repeatedly.
Pro Tip: This activity is seasonal from June to August (harvest is prime in July–August).
See More: How to Go Crabbing on the Oregon Coast
