Chinese & English Speaking Guide Included | Drift Ice Sunset Cruise on the New 'Garinko-go III IMERU' Ice Breaker & Magical Illuminated Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival Tour
- Witness the breathtaking power of the ship as it crushes through the drift ice! Experience a ride on the new 'Garinko-go III IMERU' ice breaker.
- Visit the illuminated Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival!
- Chinese and English speaking guide included
- 【Important】Your passport number is required when boarding the Garinko-go. Please be sure to bring your passport on the day or have your passport number ready.
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
- - Tour Highlights -
Experience the breathtaking power of crushing through drift ice! Enjoy a drift ice cruise on the newly built icebreaker 'Garinko-go III IMERU' and visit the magical, illuminated Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival!
This thrilling cruise ship uses two large screws at the bow to 'grind' through the drift ice. You can feel the sound and vibration of the ice breaking even from the deck, and witness the impressive sight of crushed ice rising from the sides of the ship. Another highlight is being able to see the drift ice up close. Experience the mystery and wonder of this iconic Hokkaido winter tradition!
- The Appeal of the New Icebreaker 'Garinko-go III IMERU'
The sheer power of sailing through the mysterious 'drift ice' that washes up in the Okhotsk Sea, the northernmost sea in Japan, is truly breathtaking. Forget the cold and the time as you fully immerse yourself in this unknown, moving experience! If you are lucky, you might encounter flocks of birds like Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, or slaty-backed gulls resting on the ice, or even cute seals peeking out from between the ice floes.
- Free Time at Garinko Station 'Kaiyo Koryukan'
Kaiyo Koryukan is a tourism hub and the boarding point for the Garinko-go, also designated as a 'Sea Station.' You can use the free shuttle bus from here to reach the Okhotsk Tower. The shop offers a variety of Mombetsu souvenirs, including original Garinko-go merchandise and snacks.
[Okhotsk Tower] (Underwater floor only: 500 JPY)
Renovated in October 2016! During the drift ice season, you can witness the world beneath the ice from the underwater natural observation room. The exhibition hall also features fish from the northern seas and 'Clione,' known as the fairies of the drift ice. Also, enjoy the new 360° super-stereoscopic 4D-KING attraction (a new sensory experience theater, fee: 300 JPY per session)!
[Tokkari Center Seal Land] (Fee: 400 JPY)
'Tokkari' means 'seal' in the Ainu language. Here, you can see energetic seals at the only facility in Japan dedicated exclusively to raising them.
- Highlights of the Illuminated Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival
The venue, located on the riverbed of the Ishikari River, spans 10,000 square meters. This major Sounkyo Onsen event makes the most of the deep valley nature at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains, where waterfalls cascading from sheer columnar joint cliffs freeze into massive ice falls. The illuminated, magical ice sculptures are beautiful and mysterious, offering a direct experience of Hokkaido's harsh winter. The fantastic ice sculptures lit up in various colors are a must-see!
- Meeting Point & Time -
- ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Sapporo (Meet at 10:20 / Depart at 10:30)
* The meeting point is the hotel lobby on the 1st floor.
Drop-off Point: Sapporo Station North Exit (Scheduled arrival 22:30-23:00)
* You cannot get off at the hotel where you boarded on-boarded on the return trip.
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 your refund request is confirmed, KKday will initiate the refund to your original payment method within 15 days. The actual refund timing depends on your card-issuing bank’s policy.
