| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Minimum participant requirement | 10 travelers |
| Meal arrangement | Lunch included |
| Accommodation type | Hotel |
| Room type | Double room, Triple room, Quadruple room |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights, Eco-tourism |
| Transport | Sightseeing cruise, Bus tour |
| Cruise type | Sightseeing boat |
[Tour conditions]
Departure point/Destination: Hokkaido/Sapporo
Length of trip: 1 night, 2 days
Transportation: Plane and chartered bus
Bus company: Abashiri Bus or equivalent
Meal requirements: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Abashiri Lakeside Hot Springs, Abashiri Lakeside Inn
Room type: Japanese-Western style room
Minimum number of participants: 10
Tour conductor: 1
Guide: 0 ※No guide-interpreters will accompany the tour
[Travel planning/implementation]
Company name: CLUB TOURISM INTERNATIONAL INC.
Address: 1-9-6 Edagawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Registration number: Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agency No. 1693
Travel industry association: Full member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents
[Consignment sales]
KKDAY JAPAN Inc.
2nd Floor, WESTALL Yotsuya Building, 1-22-5 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004
Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agency No. 2045
Affiliated organization: Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)
A minimum of 10 traveler(s) are required for the tour to depart. If the number of participants does not reach the minimum requirement, the tour will be canceled. An email regarding tour cancellation will be sent 10 day(s) before the departure date
Please arrive at the designated location 50 minute(s) before the scheduled departure time, as the tour will depart on time
When boarding the Rausu Drift Ice Cruise, you will be required to wear a life jacket (rented).
When boarding the drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora, you will not be required to wear life jackets, but they will be carried on board in case of an emergency.
Drift ice may not be visible due to natural phenomena. Also, the icebreaker may be suspended depending on the drift ice's approaching status and weather conditions. If you cancel or change your trip due to this event, a cancellation fee will be charged from the cancellation date.
If there is no drift ice, the icebreaker will operate from Aomi. However, the tour may be canceled in the event of bad weather. In that case, we will guide you to an alternative sightseeing spot or refund the difference in the fare.
If your flight is cancelled, we may cancel the tour on the day of departure. If your return flight is cancelled, we may reschedule you to the next day's flight or provide you with alternative transportation such as bus or JR. If additional costs are incurred, you will be responsible for them.
For this course, you will need to enter the name, age, and gender of all participants. If we are unable to confirm all three points, we will not be able to reserve a seat on the plane. When applying, please be sure to enter and check the information correctly. If you are a foreign national, please make your reservation in katakana.
For domestic trips departing on or after May 1, 2025, any changes to meal contents due to serious food allergies, dietary restrictions based on medical judgment, religious reasons, etc. will incur a fee of 1,500 yen per meal, plus the actual cost if there is a difference in price.
Cancellation fees will also be charged for delays or non-participation due to transportation delays, etc. The tour will depart at the scheduled departure time.
Please note that the return time may be delayed due to weather or road conditions. If delays in the itinerary result in cancellation of flights, meals, or other reservations that you have made yourself, we will not be held responsible.
The order of the itinerary may be changed.
The aircraft you will be using will be Hokkaido Air System (HAC).
Children (ages 6-11) are charged the same as adults. Infants (ages 5 and under) are not permitted to participate.
We will guide you on a cruise where there is usually a high chance of encountering Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles, but as they are wild animals, there is a chance that you may not be able to see them depending on the weather on the day.
If visibility is poor or depending on the weather, you may not be able to enjoy the views and scenery.
To ensure a smooth experience on the Abashiri Icebreaker Cruise, we highly recommend booking in advance. Especially during the ice floe season, demand for tickets is high, so early reservations will secure your spot. Booking through KKday allows you to confirm all your itinerary arrangements at once, saving you the hassle of queuing and purchasing tickets on-site, making your trip even smoother.
The best season to experience Hokkaido's icebreaker cruises typically falls between late January and early March. During this period, the Sea of Okhotsk has the most stable and spectacular ice floes, with good visibility, making it the prime time to view them. Specific conditions vary annually due to weather, so it's advisable to check local ice floe reports before your trip to catch the optimal viewing opportunities.
The Abashiri Icebreaker Cruise typically departs from the 'Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri' at Abashiri Port. The Rausu Icebreaker Cruise departs from Rausu Port, with each operator having designated boarding docks or visitor centers. We recommend confirming the detailed meeting point and time when you book to ensure a smooth check-in and avoid delays.
The standard duration for an Abashiri Icebreaker Cruise is usually around 60 minutes. This timeframe is sufficient for passengers to fully experience the awe-inspiring sight of the icebreaker navigating through the ice floes and to admire the magnificent icy landscapes of the Sea of Okhotsk. Some tours may have slight adjustments due to ice conditions or special arrangements, so it's advisable to refer to the on-site or booking information.
The Abashiri Icebreaker Cruise operates several departures daily, typically from morning to afternoon. Generally, early morning or late afternoon departures offer opportunities to see unique sunlight angles, such as the tranquility of early morning or the orange-red light of dusk illuminating the ice floes, presenting different scenes. However, during the day, visibility is high, making it easier to capture clear views of the ice. Please refer to the daily schedule for specific departure times.
A major highlight of the Rausu Icebreaker Cruise is its rich wildlife ecosystem. Here, there's a high chance of encountering large birds of prey, particularly the Steller's Sea Eagle and White-tailed Eagle, often referred to as the 'Kings of the Sky.' They frequently perch or hunt on the ice floes, offering rare close-up viewing opportunities, which is a unique ecological experience in Rausu.
The Notsuke Peninsula Ice Surface Mini Walk allows you to experience walking on the vast frozen surface of Notsuke Bay, offering a unique sensation of traversing a frozen expanse. You can enjoy unobstructed 360-degree views of the pure white icy landscape, feeling the unique winter silence and grandeur, as if you are in a world of ice and snow. This experience combines light trekking with nature exploration, making it a special, winter-only activity.
The most captivating sight on the Abashiri Icebreaker Cruise is the spectacular scene of the vessel using its own weight and specially designed hull to carve a path through thick ice floes. You can personally feel the vibrations and hear the sounds of the ship impacting the ice, observe the process of ice blocks being pushed, shattered, and overturned, and experience the unique charm and natural power of breaking through the ice.