• Winter-exclusive 2-day 1-night trip from Sapporo, including a snow park, Asahiyama Zoo Penguin Walk, Sounkyo Onsen accommodation, and the night Ice Fall Festival.

  
  

• Board the Mombetsu 'Garinko III' icebreaker to venture into the Okhotsk Sea drift ice zone, experience ice-breaking up close, and have a chance to encounter wild animals.

  
  

• Sightseeing + photo spot: Climb Okhotsk Tower for views of the frozen sea, visit the 12-meter giant crab claw landmark, and enjoy a local seafood lunch.

  
  

• Worry-free travel: Green license plate vehicle + Chinese-speaking guide, including admission tickets and '1 night 4 meals' (Day 1 buffet lunch and dinner, Day 2 breakfast and lunch).

  
  

Winter Limited! Depart from Sapporo for a dreamy 2-day, 1-night journey
through the snow country. On the first day, visit popular spots like the Snow
Park and Asahiyama Zoo. Experience a variety of fun snow activities, watch the
winter-exclusive penguin walk, and enjoy a local specialty lunch before
checking into a popular hot spring hotel to relax and enjoy the winter
illuminations and ice waterfall festival. The next day, head to Mombetsu to
board the icebreaker ship Garinko III and experience the thrill of breaking
through the drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. Lunch will be arranged at a local
market to enjoy fresh seafood, and you can also climb the observation tower to
overlook the magnificent drift ice. Perfect for couples, families, and
friends, this trip covers animals, hot springs, gourmet food, and polar
natural scenery, allowing you to feel the unique charm of Hokkaido in winter!

－ Attraction Introduction －

【Okhotsk Tower】

The ice sea observation tower, Okhotsk Tower, stands 38.5 meters above the sea
and 7.5 meters below the sea. If weather conditions permit, you can see the
Shiretoko Mountain Range from the top floor. The permanent exhibition area in
the 2nd-floor lobby features '4D-KING', Hokkaido's first 360-degree super-
stereoscopic theater, while the underwater floor offers sound and light-
surrounded illuminations and displays of near-shore marine life for you to
enjoy.

【Icebreaker Ship Garinko III IMERU】

Board the icebreaker ship Garinko III IMERU for a magnificent and exciting
winter voyage! Every winter, the Sea of Okhotsk is covered by vast drift ice.
Garinko III uses powerful Archimedean screws to break through thick ice
layers, leading passengers deep into the white ice field. During the cruise,
you can witness the shocking scene of drift ice shattering, and if you are
lucky, you might even spot seals or other polar wildlife. Feeling the
magnificence and mystery of the northern winter nature is a popular winter-
exclusive experience in Hokkaido. The ship is well-equipped, allowing
families, couples, and photography enthusiasts to fully enjoy this ice and
snow journey!

【Mombetsu - Giant Crab Claw Statue】

When you come to Mombetsu, Hokkaido, you must not miss this 12-meter-high
Giant Crab Claw landmark! Standing on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, it
looks like it has broken through the ice from the seabed. Its shape is
shocking and amusing, making it a super popular photo spot. Whether you
pretend to be pinched by the claw or stand in front of it looking up, it makes
for a fun souvenir photo. This installation art was originally designed to
promote Mombetsu's drift ice and crab culture and has now become a symbol of
the city. The winter-exclusive 'frozen claw tip' phenomenon is regarded by
locals as a good omen for a bountiful harvest. Covered in white snow in
winter, it adds a touch of fantasy.

【Sounkyo Hot Spring Ice Waterfall Festival】

The Sounkyo Hot Spring Ice Waterfall Festival is the most representative
large-scale ice festival in Hokkaido. In the huge 10,000-square-meter venue,
you will see about 30 ice sculptures and snow buildings of various sizes
standing everywhere, allowing you to experience the taste of an ice kingdom.
After nightfall, colorful lights are shone on the ice sculptures, creating a
dreamlike space. Three months before the festival begins, preparations start.
On a frame made of logs, water from the Ishikari River flowing through the
venue is continuously poured, repeating the process of freezing and carving to
carefully create each ice sculpture. Sounkyo is also famous as one of
Hokkaido's leading hot spring towns. The Ishikari River, the longest river in
Hokkaido, flows through Sounkyo, forming a huge valley with cliffs stretching
for 24 kilometers. It is precisely because of its steep terrain and harsh
climate that it can nurture the winter art where even waterfalls freeze.
Please experience the heart-pounding winter amidst the beauty of ice and snow
standing tall.

【Ryusei and Ginga Waterfalls】

The Ryusei Waterfalls flow rapidly like a shooting star shining in the night
sky, while the Ginga Waterfalls slide down delicately like white silk. These
two famous Sounkyo attractions, each with its own merits, have both been
selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. The Ryusei Waterfalls are
majestic like a man and are called the male waterfall, while the Ginga
Waterfalls are gentle and graceful like a woman and are called the female
waterfall; thus, the two are collectively known as the husband-and-wife
waterfalls.

【Asahiyama Zoo】

Located in the northernmost part of Japan, Asahiyama Zoo was built in 1967 and
has now become a representative attraction of Hokkaido. About 120 species of
animals inhabit the 152,000-square-meter site. There was a time when it was
almost forced to close due to a decrease in the number of visitors, but later
the facilities were improved. Instead of just displaying the forms of animals
like ordinary zoos, it allowed everyone to see the vivid ecology of animals up
close through behavioral displays, which immediately sparked a topic,
attracted visitors from all over the country, and became a super popular zoo.
Today, foreign tourists also flock here, making it very lively. The penguin
walk is one of the super popular shows in winter. As soon as the park opens,
tourists rush to line up to see the penguin walk. The purpose of the penguin
walk is to increase exercise to help penguins lose weight, but it has instead
attracted tourists to watch.

【Snow Park】

In the white winter world, experience a variety of fun snow activities!
Whether you are an adult or a child, you can fully enjoy a fairy-tale-like
snow kingdom. From the exciting and safe Snow Tubing to the Bubble Ball where
you roll inside a huge transparent ball, and the Fat Bike suitable for outdoor
adventures. In addition, you can play Snow Soccer full of laughter with
friends on the snow. Not only that, but the site also has a Rooftop
Observation Terrace where you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the
silver-white world, and a Snow Play Area for children to build snowmen and
play with snowballs to their heart's content. The rich and diverse snow
activities allow you to fully enjoy the charm of Hokkaido's winter without
skiing! For information on past drift ice, please refer to the information
below:

~ Drift Ice Arrival in Mombetsu Information ~ Information sourced from the
Japan Coast Guard Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department

・First day of drift ice: The day when drift ice is first seen at the
meteorological observatory

・Last day of drift ice: The day when drift ice disappears from sight (usually
determined retrospectively)

2018 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ February 1 【Last day of drift ice】 ◆ February
26

2019 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 28 【Last day of drift ice】 ◆ February
22

2020 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 28 【Last day of drift ice】 ◆ March 27

2021 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 22 【Last day of drift ice】 ◆ March 20

2022 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 20 *Due to a review of the observation
system starting in 2022, information on the last day of drift ice will no
longer be published.

2023 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ February 4

2024 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 19

2025 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ February 1

2026 【First day of drift ice】 ◆ January 28

Other recommended itineraries:

・Spring Flower Field Walking Tour

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Shibazakura and Tulip Garden Day Tour | Kutchan &
Niseko & Kyogoku Fukidashi Park & Takino Suzuran Hillside Park & Jozankei
(Includes Special Lunch) | Depart from Sapporo

・Midsummer Coastal Gourmet Tour

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Summer Shakotan, Yoichi, and Otaru Day Tour |
Includes Admission Tickets | Choice of Seafood Bowl/Sea Urchin Bowl for Lunch,
All-You-Can-Eat Fruit, and Mt. Tengu Ropeway | Depart from
Sapporo

・Romantic Autumn Foliage Tour

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Sapporo Suburban Autumn Day Tour | Jozankei Tsuruga
Resort Buffet, Jozankei, Hoheikyo, Suzuran Park, and Mitsui Outlet (Depart
from Sapporo)

・Winter Ice Adventure Tour

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival Day Tour | Tsuruga All-
You-Can-Eat Buffet Lunch + Takino Suzuran Park + Mitsui Outlet Park (Depart
from Sapporo)

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Furano & Biei 2-Day Tour | ROYCE' Chocolate World,
Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfall, Ningle Terrace, and Shikisai-
no-oka or Lavender Fields or Bibai Snow Land Fun | Stay at Sounkyo Onsen Hotel
| Depart from Sapporo

【Hokkaido Dream Selection】Central
Hokkaido 2-Day Golden Route | Shiroi Koibito Park, Otaru Canal, Aquarium
Penguin Walk, Lake Toya Observatory, Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and Upopoy
National Ainu Museum | Chinese-Speaking Guide | Depart from
Sapporo