Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship Aurora

A Thrilling Winter Cruise Through Hokkaido’s Frozen Sea

Every year in late January, drift ice from the Sea of Okhotsk reaches the coast of eastern Hokkaido, turning the sea into a vast white landscape. The Aurora, a powerful icebreaker sightseeing ship, takes visitors on a thrilling 60-minute cruise, breaking a path through the ice.


Inside the heated cabin, guests can enjoy the scenery in comfort through large panoramic windows, while different areas of the ship offer varied perspectives of the drifting ice. For a more immersive experience, the open observation deck brings you closer to the action — the deep cracking sounds and powerful jolts as the ship cuts through the ice create an unforgettable sense of excitement.


The Aurora operates seasonally from late January to late March. Direct buses run from Memanbetsu Airport and Abashiri Station, making access easy for visitors. If you are fortunate, you may also encounter wildlife resting on the ice, such as seals basking on drifting floes or majestic Steller’s sea eagles perched on the frozen seascape.


Since 2023, the new Aurora 3 has joined the fleet, offering real-time underwater drone footage. Monitors stream live images beneath the ice, revealing the Arctic environment above and below the surface.

  • * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
Nearest airports
New Chitose Airport Sapporo Okadama Airport Hakodate Airport Okushiri Airport Asahikawa Airport Wakkanai Airport Rishiri Airport Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport Memanbetsu Airport Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport Tancho Kushiro Airport Tokachi Obihiro Airport

General Information

Postal code
〒093-0003　
Address
北海道網走市南3条東4丁目5-1道の駅流氷街道網走内
Telephone Number
0152-43-6000（Doutou Kanko Kaihatsu）
Open
Daily flights, cancelled in bad weather
9:00/11:00/13:00/15:00(January)
9:30/11:00/12:30/14:00/15:30(February)
9:30/11:00/12:30/14:00/15:30(early March)
9:30/11:30/13:30(late March)
Closed
Open every day during the period
Prices
Various discounts available (see related links)
Car Park
106 spaces, free
Directions
●By car: About 10 minutes from JR Abashiri Station
●By car: About 30 minutes from Memanbetsu Airport
Website

Official site

Safety measures and safety operation initiatives of sightseeing ship operators, etc.

* Information on facilities is subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.

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