Accompanied by a Chinese and English guide. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the newly built drift ice icebreaker ship "Garinko-go III IMERU" and the fantastic illuminated ice festival, the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival.
- The thrill of breaking through the drift ice as you move forward is a sight to behold! Experience a ride on the newly built drift icebreaker "Garinko-go III IMERU."
- Check out the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival, an ice festival illuminated by lights!
- Chinese and English guide included
- [Important] Your passport number is required when boarding the Garinko. Please be sure to bring your passport with you on the day, or make a note of your passport number.
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Transfer from meeting point |
| Departure Time | Late Departure (After 9 am) |
| Minimum participant requirement | 1 traveler |
| Tour types | Guided tour |
| Meal arrangement | Arrange yourself |
| Seasonal | Winter Snow Exclusive |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights, Bus tour |
| Transport | Sightseeing cruise, Bus tour |
| Cruise type | Sightseeing boat |
Product Info
The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before booking.
- -Tour Point-
The sight of it breaking through the drift ice as it moves forward is a sight to behold! Take a cruise on the newly built drift icebreaker "Garinko-go III IMERU" and see the fantastically lit Sounkyo Icefall Festival!
This cruise ship is full of excitement as it pushes forward, using two large propellers attached to the bow to make a "grating" sound as it pushes through the drift ice. Even from on board, you can hear the sound and vibrations of the ice breaking, and the crushed ice floats up from the side of the ship, making for a truly impressive cruise. Another attraction is being able to see the drift ice up close. A winter spectacle that represents Hokkaido! Come experience the mystical and moving drift ice!
- The appeal of the new drift icebreaker Garinko-go III and IMERU
The sight of the ship moving through the mysterious drift ice that washes ashore in the Okhotsk Sea, Japan's northernmost sea, is simply breathtaking. Forget the cold and time and enjoy a moving, unknown experience to the fullest! If you're lucky, you might even spot flocks of birds such as Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, and slaty-backed gulls resting on the drift ice, or cute seals peeking out from between the ice floes.
- Free time to explore the Garinko Station Marine Exchange Center
The Marine Exchange Center is a tourist base facility where the Garinko-go boarding point is located, and has also been designated as a "sea station." A free shuttle bus is available from here to go to the Ice Sea Observation Tower and Okhotsk Tower. The shop has a wide selection of Monbetsu souvenirs, including original Garinko-go goods and sweets.
[Ice Sea Observation Tower/ Okhotsk Tower] (Submarine floor only: 500 yen)
It reopened after renovation in October 2016! During the drift ice season, you can see the world under the drift ice from the underwater nature observation room, and the exhibition room also displays fish from the northern seas and Clione, also known as the drift ice fairies. Also, be sure to enjoy the newly opened attraction, the 360° super 3D video 4D-KING (a new experience theater, fee: 300 yen per session)!
[Tokkari Center Seal Land] (Fee: 400 yen)
Tokkari means "seal" in the Ainu language, and you can see the lively seals at this zoo, the only one in Japan that only keeps seals.
- Highlights of the illuminated Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival
The venue, which uses the riverbed of the Ishikari River, is 10,000 square meters in size. This ice kingdom, which only appears during the cold season, makes use of the natural beauty of the deep valley at the foot of Mount Daisetsu, and is a major event at Sounkyo Onsen where you can witness the towering waterfall of a huge frozen waterfall that falls from the sheer cliffs of columnar joints. The illuminated, fantastical ice sculptures are beautiful and mystical, and this festival allows you to directly experience the bitter cold of Hokkaido. The fantastical ice sculptures lit up in colorful lights are a must-see!
-Meeting place and time-
- ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo (Meet at 10:20 / Depart at 10:30)
*The meeting place will be the hotel lobby on the first floor.
Drop-off location: Sapporo Station North Exit (scheduled arrival time: 22:30-23:00)
*You cannot get off at the hotel where you boarded the bus.
The drift icebreaker Garinko-go III and IMERU! The sight of them breaking the ice with their drills is a spectacular sight!
Board the Garinko-go III IMERU and cruise the magnificent sea of drift ice. The view of the drift ice interwoven with the vibrant sunset slowly sinking into the western sky is breathtakingly beautiful, allowing you to fully experience the mystical charm of nature.
Okhotsk Tower, Marine Exchange Center: During the drift ice season, you can observe the world beneath the drift ice up close from the underwater nature observation room. The exhibition room displays fish from the northern seas and sea angels, also known as "angels of the drift ice." *Admission fees and other charges are to be paid by the visitor.
Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival: The icefalls that adorn the cliffs and the mysterious ice art illuminated by rainbow-colored lights create a truly captivating winter experience in Hokkaido. The colorful, sparkling ice sculptures are a sight not to be missed.
Purchase Notice
[Important] Your passport number is required when boarding the Garinko. Please be sure to bring your passport with you on the day, or make a note of your passport number. An attendant will ask you for it on the day. Please note that if you do not know your passport number, you will not be able to board.
*Please note that you may not be able to view the drift ice depending on the weather and docking conditions.
■ Regarding drift ice conditions and replacements and refunds in the event of Garinko cancellations ■
1) If the drift ice icebreaker is canceled due to weather, etc., we will refund 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for Child, and instead we will stop at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center "Giza."
2) If we are unable to reach Monbetsu due to road conditions, we will refund 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for Child, and we will stop by the Ice Pavilion instead.
*If you are participating during a trip to Hokkaido/Sapporo, please refrain from participating on the last day of your trip. (There will be no compensation for bus delays.)
*The bus arrival may be delayed due to road conditions. Please note that there is no guarantee if transportation is terminated. Also, the time spent at the stopover facilities may be shortened or canceled due to weather or congestion. The itinerary of the stopovers may vary depending on the bus number.
*English, Chinese, and Japanese speaking staff will accompany you
*Depending on the number of people who apply, Chinese or English guided tours will be provided via app.
[Travel conditions]
Departure/return point: Sapporo
Length of trip: Day trip
Transportation: Chartered bus
Bus company: Sapporo Bus or Hokkaido Area Bus, etc.
Meal conditions: Breakfast 0 times, Lunch 0 times, Dinner 0 times
Available accommodation: None
Minimum number of participants: 1
Tour conductor: 1
Guides: 0
[Travel planning/implementation]
Company name: Wonder Styles Inc.
Address: 7th floor, Ena Square Odori Building, 10-4 Odori Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Registration number: Hokkaido Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 2-862
Travel industry association membership: None
[Consignment sales]
KKDAY JAPAN Inc.
2nd floor, WESTALL Yotsuya Building, 1-22-5 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004
Tourism Agency Commissioner's Registered Travel Agency No. 2045
Member organization: Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)
Reminders
Please arrive at the designated location 10 minute(s) before the scheduled departure time, as the tour will depart on time
[Important] Your passport number is required when boarding the Garinko. Please be sure to bring your passport with you on the day, or make a note of your passport number. An attendant will ask you for it on the day. Please note that if you do not know your passport number, you will not be able to board.
You cannot get off at the hotel where you boarded the bus. Drop-off location: Sapporo Station North Exit.
Departure after the scheduled departure time is at the discretion of our staff, so please be sure to arrive on time.
Please note that due to bus schedule adjustments, the bus and driver for the outbound and return journeys may change.
Smoking is prohibited on the tour bus. There are no toilets on the bus. We will make appropriate toilet breaks and stop at tourist spots, so please use those breaks.
Large luggage such as suitcases will be stored in the trunk of the bus. Luggage cannot be taken in or out during the trip, so please bring anything you need for sightseeing with you in your carry-on luggage. Please inform the staff at reception on the day that you have luggage to check in.
If you have a flight or other commitments that are fixed for the evening of the day, we recommend that you refrain from signing up for this tour.
Bus arrival may be delayed due to road conditions. Please note that there is no guarantee if the last public transportation is delayed. In the unlikely event that you arrive late and have to take a taxi or stay overnight, our company will not accept any claims.
Route changes or delays may occur due to road conditions, bad weather, irregularities, etc. Please note that in such cases, if you cancel on the day of your trip, no refunds will be given.
English, Chinese, and Japanese speaking staff will accompany you. *Depending on the number of people who apply, Chinese or English guides will be provided via app.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations 11 day(s) (inclusive) before the selected date are allowed. Unused orders can be canceled for free
- For cancellations made 8 to 10 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 20% will apply
- For cancellations made 2 to 7 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 30% will apply
- For cancellations made 1 to 1 days prior to selected date, a cancellation fee of 40% will apply
- Cancellation is not allowed between 0–0 days from the selected date. Orders cannot be canceled or modified, and refunds will not be granted.
- Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.
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