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Ice Breaker Cruise

Ice Breaker Cruise

The drift ice of Abashiri start appearing around January, but the best time to see the spectacle is in February when it is the coldest.

The drift ice (流氷, Ryūhyō) is formed from the fresh water of the Amur River in Russia, which then traverses through the Sea of Okhotsk by the borders of China until it reaches Abashiri. The drift ice can be seen at Shiretoko Peninsula all the way to Wakkanai, but it is the thickest in Abashiri. The natural phenomenon usually reaches the northern part of Hokkaido in mid to late January. Abashiri is the southernmost area to see the drifting sea ice and has become a popular tourist spot to view the frozen clumps. However, due to global warming the drift ice is not as thick as it was back in the 1980s. To promote awareness of the changes in climate, Abashiri has the Drift Ice Festival to remind people to take care of our environment. If the conditions are good during the season, then you will be able to see the drift ice from the shore. Ryuhyo Norokko is a train service that only operates in the winter goes from Abashiri to Shiretoko-Shari. On the one hour train ride you can see the drift ice along the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk. The train makes a stop at JR Kitahama station, which is made of wood, because it has a great panoramic view of the drift ice.

There is a sightseeing cruise that goes out into the Sea of Okhotsk that uses the ice breaker cruiser Aurora. It plows through the ice at 3 knots per hour and from the observation deck you might have a chance to see the wildlife that migrates with the drift ice. The Steller’s sea eagles are one of the migratory birds that can been seen on top of the frozen water mass. The spotted seals give birth and raise their young in the Sea of Okhotsk so it is possible to catch a glimpse of them too. Under the drift ice you might encounter Clione, which are small floating sea slugs, also known as sea angels. These creatures have a transparent body about the size of 10 mm and while they swim it looks as though they are flapping their wings. The Clione are attached to the drift ice so once it melts these aquatic specimens go away with it.

Please see below for tours that include Ice Breaker Cruise:

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    question mark icon         Tour#: GTG1373502

Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals arrow readmore icon

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro

    22 reviews

9 Days 8 Nights | from US $3798.00

See the Sapporo Snow Festival, as well as three other main Winter Festivals in Hokkaido.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Mon. Feb 10, 2025 US $3798.00 Sapporo Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Tue. Feb 3, 2026 Wed. Feb 11, 2026 US $3798.00 Sapporo Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTC3235532

Hokkaido & Beyond: Winter Festivals, Kawazu Cherry Blossoms & Snow Monkeys arrow readmore icon

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Kawazu / Mt Fuji / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Obuse / Nagano

    3 reviews

13 Days 12 Nights | from US $5298.00

Experience the incredible Snow Festivals of Hokkaido, followed by an extension which includes Kawazu Cherry Blossoms and adorable snow monkeys!

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Fri. Feb 14, 2025 US $5298.00 Sapporo Tokyo Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Tue. Feb 3, 2026 Sun. Feb 15, 2026 US $5298.00 Sapporo Tokyo Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTX6063031

Discover Hokkaido - Winter Festivals arrow readmore icon

Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Abashiri / Shiretoko / Lake Mashu / Mt Io / Lake Kussharo / Lake Akan / Tsurui / Obihiro / Shikaoi / Furano


12 Days 11 Nights | from US $5998.00 (Limit to 24 guests)

Join a 12-day tour of Hokkaido and discover the seasonal beauty and cultural wonders that make the this island special - including three Hokkaido Snow Festivals.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Thu. Feb 6, 2025 Mon. Feb 17, 2025 US $5998.00

Small Group Limited to 24 passengers

Sapporo Sapporo Deluxe-Plus Sold Out / Waiting List
Wed. Feb 4, 2026 Sun. Feb 15, 2026 US $5998.00

Small Group Limited to 24 passengers

Sapporo Sapporo Deluxe-Plus Minimum 4 / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTC7084498

Okinawa & Hokkaido - Cherry Blossoms & Winter Festivals arrow readmore icon

Okinawa / Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro


15 Days 14 Nights | from US $6098.00

Join our Okinawa and Hokkaido Tour, which include Okinawa Cherry Blossoms, Hokkaido's Winter Snow Festivals, and each island's unique cultural treasures.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Mon. Jan 27, 2025 Mon. Feb 10, 2025 US $6098.00 Okinawa Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Wed. Jan 28, 2026 Wed. Feb 11, 2026 US $6098.00 Okinawa Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTU1389796

Best of Honshu & Hokkaido: Snow Monkeys & Hokkaido Winter Festival Tour arrow readmore icon

Honshu (Tokyo / Lake Kawaguchi / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka), Hokkaido (Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro)

    1 reviews

16 Days 15 Nights | from US $6398.00

Explore the two main winter attractions of Japan - Snow Monkeys and Hokkaido Winter Festivals.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Sun. Jan 26, 2025 Mon. Feb 10, 2025 US $6398.00 Tokyo Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Tue. Jan 27, 2026 Wed. Feb 11, 2026 US $6398.00 Tokyo Kushiro Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTQ6952842

Okinawa, Hokkaido & Beyond - Cherry Blossoms, Winter Festivals & Snow Monkeys arrow readmore icon

Okinawa / Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Kawazu / Mt Fuji / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Obuse / Nagano


19 Days 18 Nights | from US $7698.00

Experience the islands of Okinawa and Hokkaido, and Beyond, in two different winter climates that include Snow Festivals, Snow Monkeys, and cherry blossoms.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Mon. Jan 27, 2025 Fri. Feb 14, 2025 US $7698.00 Okinawa Tokyo Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Wed. Jan 28, 2026 Sun. Feb 15, 2026 US $7698.00 Okinawa Tokyo Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTC4566054

Japan Winter Highlights: Winter Festivals, Kawazu Cherry Blossoms & Snow Monkeys arrow readmore icon

Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Tokyo / Hakone / Kawazu / Lake Kawaguchi / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Oobokekyo Gorge / Takamatsu / Kobe

    3 reviews

21 Days 20 Nights | from US $8698.00

Discover the unmissable Winter Highlights of Japan on a 21-day itinerary, with exciting Hokkaido Winter Festivals, the Snow Monkeys of Yudanaka, and the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Sat. Feb 22, 2025 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Tue. Feb 3, 2026 Mon. Feb 23, 2026 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
    question mark icon         Tour#: GTY696833

Super Grand Tour of Japan (Reverse) - Cherry Blossoms, Winter Festivals & Snow Monkeys arrow readmore icon

Okinawa / Shiraoi / Lake Shikotsu / Sapporo / Otaru / Asahikawa / Sounkyo / Kitami / Abashiri / Lake Tofutsu / Lake Akan / Kushiro / Tokyo / Hakone / Kawazu / Lake Kawaguchi / Matsumoto / Yudanaka / Takayama / Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Nara / Osaka / Himeji / Kurashiki / Hiroshima / Shimanami Kaido / Oobokekyo Gorge / Takamatsu / Kobe


27 Days 26 Nights | from US $10998.00

Join the Super Grand Tour of Japan (Reverse), which includes Cherry Blossoms in Okinawa, Winter Festivals in Hokkaido, Kawazu Cherry Blossoms, and Snow Monkeys, on a delightful winter itinerary all across Japan.

Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Save Status
Mon. Jan 27, 2025 Sat. Feb 22, 2025 US $10998.00 Okinawa Osaka Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  
Wed. Jan 28, 2026 Mon. Feb 23, 2026 US $10998.00 Okinawa Osaka Deluxe Guarantee / Book Now  




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