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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.

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These tours are great for first time visitors to Japan looking for comfortable accommodation with all entrance fees and most meals included. Our Japan Deluxe Tours are accomodated with professional tour guides, fluent in both Japanese and English, to ensure an educational and valuable visit. Air-conditoned, private coaches are also included, so you can enjoy a comfortable and hassle-free time in Japan. Our tours range from 7 to 21 days, to various regions of Japan.

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Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals
Charms of Hokkaido Tour: Hokkaido Winter Festivals
19 reviews
19 reviews

9 Days 8 Nights | from US $3798.00

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Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
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Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

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Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Feb 4, 2024 Fri. Feb 16, 2024 US $5298.00 Sapporo Tokyo Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  
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Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Jan 28, 2024 Mon. Feb 12, 2024 US $6398.00 Tokyo Kushiro Deluxe Save this tour Sold Out
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Group Tour | Deluxe          Book Now & Save $100

Group Tour | Deluxe    Book Now & Save $100

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Start Date End Date Twin/Triple Start City End City Style Compare Status
Sun. Feb 4, 2024 Sat. Feb 24, 2024 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Sold Out
Sun. Feb 2, 2025 Sat. Feb 22, 2025 US $8698.00 Sapporo Osaka Deluxe Save this tour Book Now  

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