Tours

Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!

Sapporo, Japanby Tour&Charter International

13 hours
Free cancellation
Private tour
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Guide: Japanese

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Overview

・Make a refreshing cool experience on the awe-inspiring Sea of Okhotsk and watch the huge chunks of drift ice only in this season! Ticket of the Ice Crusher Cruise "Garinkogo " is included. ・Ice Crusher "Garinkogo Ⅲ" is specially designed for sightseeing. With a total weight of 150 tons, it can accommodate maximum 195 people. Air-conditioning, heating, vending machines etc. are equipped on board, providing a comfortable sail experience for passengers. ・Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival is a snow event held in Sounkyo Onsen in east of Asahikawa city, and has a history of over 30 years. The purified ice sculptures are in different shapes, even with amusing creative character to be found! Warm outfit is strongly recommended for this outdoor activity.

What's included

Sounkyo Ice Falls Festival admission fee
Drift ice ship Garinko III

Lunch

Itinerary

1
Stop 1
20 min
Shop for local seafood products. ※Only available from February onwards
2
Ocean Communication Hall Garinko Station
50 min
At the Marine Exchange Center, you will have free time to do as you like. In addition to dining facilities, there is also the Seal Center, Okhotsk Tower, and Seal Sea Paradise. Here you will have the chance to encounter seals and cliones (naked sea butterflies), and you can see the underwater world beneath the drift ice. (If you wish to enter these facilities, you will have to pay for them yourself. The Seal Center costs 400 yen, the Okhotsk Tower 1000 yen, and Seal Sea Paradise 500 yen.)
3
Stop 3
1 hour
Embark on "Garinkogo Ⅲ" to sail on the northern sea of Okhotsk to see floating ice. Feel the vastness and powerfulness of this nature's view. You may encounter marine creatures too if lucky!
4
Sounkyo Hot Spring Ice Fall Festival
40 min
Visit the festival with various ice sculpture. Admission is 500 JPY per person.

Meeting and pickup

Local tour guide will meet guests at the lobby of hotel.

End point

Return time is 21:00

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Show all 21

Local Japanese travelers may join the tour together.
This tour is operated on the basis of Japanese tourist industry regulation.
Joining this tour on your last day in Hokkaido is not recommended. As there is a possibility of traffic congestion or other delay during the tour. In this case, no compensation will be made.
In the event that the icebreaker cruise is cancelled or roads are closed due to inclement weather, the tour will proceed with a visit to an alternative sightseeing location. Please note that if a customer chooses to cancel their reservation because the tour is operating with this alternative itinerary, the standard cancellation fees will apply.
■About drift ice conditions and replacements and refunds in the event of the cancellation of the Garinko■ Depending on the weather and docking conditions, you may not be able to see the drift ice. 1) If the drift ice breaker is canceled due to weather, etc. -- We will refund 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children, 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 children, and instead we will stop at the Ice Pavilion.
This course will be shared with another course that includes lunch.
Staff who can speak English (very simple)and Japanese will accompany the tour. No detailed tour sightseeing guidance will be provided. Please kindly be noted.（About 3,000 people who do not understand Japanese participate every year, but there is no particular problem.）
Large luggage such as suitcases will be stored in the trunk of the bus. You will not be able to take your luggage in or out during the tour, so please prepare everything you need for sightseeing in your hand luggage. When checking in on the day, please let the staff know that you have luggage to check.
Please note that we do not accept bus seat requests.
We returned to Sapporo Station around 9 p.m.
Lunch will be on your own at the Ocean Exchange Center. There is a food court, a ramen shop, and a convenience store in the Ocean Exchange Center near the Garinko boat dock.
You will need your passport number when boarding the Garinko. Please be sure to bring your passport with you on the day, or write down 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 the ship.
Please note that depending on the weather and docking conditions, you may not be able to see the drift ice even from the boat (no refunds will be given).
We will only make a stop at Marukaichi Suisan from February onwards. Please note that we will not stop there if arrival in Monbetsu is delayed or on scheduled closed days (February 2, 15, and 23; March 2).
A tour fee of 4,500 yen applies to infants (ages 0–2), and a seat will be provided for them. Participation while sitting on an accompanying adult's lap is not permitted.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Sapporo, Japan

6 hours

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