Shakotan's specialty during this season is "sea urchin donburi". There are lines of people waiting for their turn to eat at all the restaurants, but we found a guest house that serves sea urchin donburi by reservation only. The sea urchin bowl came with a miso soup with fresh seafood, boiled whelk, hokke, tsukudani, and even sashimi of sweet shrimp. Having satisfied their appetites with the seasonal delicacies, Rui headed to a hot spring where he could enjoy the view of Shakotan. The "Bikuni Fire Festival" heralds the arrival of full-blown summer in Shakotan, and the two of them also go out in yukata, wandering around the stalls and having a drink at an izakaya. They were treated to not only fresh seafood caught off the coast of Shakotan, but also "stewed zangi," a dish that originated from the restaurant's makanai The climax of the festival was the "Tengu no hi-kuguri".

• Rui Yoshida

• Rui Yoshida
• 室谷 香菜子