Experience the wild beauty of eastern Hokkaido in winter, where drift ice covers the Sea of Okhotsk and snow-covered coastlines create one of Japan’s most spectacular cold-weather landscapes. Beginning in Abashiri, this journey combines outdoor adventure, local culture, and regional cuisine, with visits to museums exploring drift ice, frontier history, and northern Indigenous traditions.

Enjoy a range of winter activities suited to different activity levels, including fat biking, snowshoeing, drift ice kayaking, and wildlife watching. Along the way, spot sea eagles, seals, deer, and red foxes etc…

The tour continues to the UNESCO-listed Shiretoko Peninsula, where guided excursions take you through frozen forests, coastal landscapes, and drift ice fields. Highlights include snowshoe walks to frozen waterfalls and the unique Drift Ice Walk experience, offering an unforgettable introduction to Hokkaido’s winter wilderness.

Day 01

Arrive in Abashiri Along the Sea of Okhotsk

Arrive at Memanbetsu Airport and make your way to Abashiri by public transportation, using a shuttle bus, taxi, or similar local service. Located on the Sea of Okhotsk coast in eastern Hokkaido, Abashiri is known for its severe winters, drift ice, and snow-covered landscapes during the colder months.

After checking in at Abashiri Kanko Hotel, you can choose between a Japanese-style room with futons laid on tatami mats or a Western-style room with beds. The remainder of the afternoon is free to rest after your journey or take a short walk around the local area as the winter light settles across the coastline.

Giving you your first introduction to Hokkaido’s cold-weather cuisine before the activities begin over the following days.

Day 02

Explore Abashiri’s Museums and Drift Ice

Start the morning with breakfast at the hotel before spending the day exploring Abashiri independently. One of the city’s most significant historical sites is the Abashiri Prison Museum, an open-air museum preserving the wooden buildings of Japan’s first modern prison. Snow-covered during winter, the site provides insight into the difficult conditions faced by prisoners involved in the development of Hokkaido during the late 19th century.

For lunch, you may wish to eat at Kangoku Shokudo, the museum’s prison cafeteria, where meals are inspired by historical prison food served in Japan during the early modern period. Afterwards, continue to the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum to learn more about the drift ice that arrives along the Sea of Okhotsk coast each winter. The museum’s Drift Ice Experience Room preserves real ice at minus 15 degrees throughout the year.

You may also choose to visit the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples, which introduces the cultures and traditions of northern Indigenous communities including the Ainu, as well as groups from Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada.

Day 03

Explore Hokkaido’s Drift Ice Coast

Experience the dramatic winter landscapes of the Sea of Okhotsk on a full-day guided adventure from Abashiri to the Shiretoko Peninsula. Begin the day with your choice of an exciting drift ice kayaking experience or a fat bike ride across snowy coastal terrain, offering a unique way to explore Hokkaido’s frozen wilderness.

Lunch is not included today, though local miso ramen or fresh seafood are recommended while in Abashiri and board the seasonal drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora for an unforgettable cruise through the floating sea ice. If weather conditions prevent the cruise from operating, an alternative visit to the scenic Cape Notoro offers equally spectacular winter scenery along the drift ice coastline.

In the evening, continue to Utoro in Shiretoko National Park, where you can relax and enjoy a warm dinner surrounded by one of Japan’s most pristine winter landscapes.

Day 04

Walk Across Drift Ice in Shiretoko

Step into the breathtaking winter scenery of Shiretoko National Park, a UNESCO-listed region celebrated for its frozen coastlines, rich wildlife, and untouched natural landscapes. Enjoy a guided snowshoe adventure to the spectacular frozen blue cliffs of Furepe Waterfall while searching for Ezo deer, red foxes, and native birdlife along the snowy trails.

After the tour, spend free time in Utoro or enhance your stay with optional seasonal experiences such as the unforgettable Drift Ice Walk, where you can walk directly on the frozen Sea of Okhotsk, or the atmospheric Shiretoko Drift Ice Festival, featuring illuminated ice sculptures, ice domes, and cozy winter festivities.