Two icebreaker cruises take visitors out into the drift ice on Hokkaido's Okhotsk coast: the Aurora from Abashiri and the Garinko-go from Monbetsu. For winter 2027, the Garinko-go runs daily from January 15 to March 31, 2027, and bookings opened on October 9, 2026. The Aurora lists an operating period of January 20 to March 31.
| Aurora (Abashiri) | Garinko-go (Monbetsu) | |
|---|---|---|
| Season | January 20 – March 31 | January 15 – March 31, 2027, daily |
| Cruise | Large ship Aurora, about 1 hour | Garinko-go III IMERU, which pushes through the ice with large drills |
| Adult fare | ¥5,000 (January and March), ¥6,000 (February) | Check the operator's booking page |
| If there is no ice | The large ship sails along the coast to Cape Notoro instead | Cancellation fees still apply if you cancel because there is no ice |
| Getting there | Direct bus from Memanbetsu Airport and Abashiri Station; taxi about 8 minutes from JR Abashiri | Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport; intercity bus from Sapporo or Asahikawa (reservation required) |
Everything in the table comes from the two operators' official pages, checked on 12 October 2026. Drift ice depends on the weather and the sea, so neither operator can promise it on a given day.
Abashiri: the Aurora
The Aurora is run by Doto Kanko Kaihatsu, based at the Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido roadside station in Abashiri. The operator lists the large ship's cruise as about one hour, varying with the ice.
Fares on the official price page are by month. An adult ticket on the large ship Aurora is ¥5,000 in January and March and ¥6,000 in February; elementary school children pay ¥2,500 and ¥3,000. Junior high school students and older pay the adult fare, and infants ride free. A special seat costs ¥500 more; it cannot be reserved and is offered on board on the day, first come, first served. The operator also lists an offshore route at ¥7,000 for adults, and a smaller ship, the Aurora 3, on an offshore route at ¥9,800 (planned for March).
Without ice, the large ship makes a sightseeing cruise to Cape Notoro instead, and the small Aurora 3 does not sail. The operator asks visitors to book only their first-choice sailing rather than several as a backup for bad weather or no ice, because duplicate bookings stop other people from getting seats. Check in about 20 minutes before departure.
Getting there: direct buses run from Memanbetsu Airport and from JR Abashiri Station and the bus terminal. By taxi from JR Abashiri Station it is about 8 minutes and about ¥1,000 one way, according to the operator.
Monbetsu: the Garinko-go
The Garinko-go is known for the large drills it uses to break through the ice. The current ship, Garinko-go III IMERU, entered service on January 9, 2021; "imeru" means "light" in the Ainu language. It carries up to 235 passengers, and the third-floor cabin has seats facing the windows.
2027 winter season: daily from Friday, January 15 to Wednesday, March 31, 2027. Bookings opened on October 9, 2026.
Cancellation fees apply on a sliding scale: 10% from 14 to 8 days before, 30% from 7 to 2 days before, 50% the day before and 100% on the day. The operator states that these fees still apply if you cancel because drift ice cannot be seen, or looks unlikely.
On the day: every passenger has to be on a passenger list, required by law since April 2024. Ticket exchange opens one hour before departure and closes 30 minutes before, and boarding starts about 15 minutes before. Web bookings with names entered in advance only need changes noted on the day.
Getting there: the boat leaves from the Kaiyo Koryukan building in Monbetsu. The operator's access page lists Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport (ANA from Haneda), the reservation-only intercity bus from Sapporo or Asahikawa, and a winter shuttle bus, the Gariya-go, linking central Monbetsu with the harbour area. There is no direct bus from Memanbetsu Airport; a winter-only express bus links Abashiri and Monbetsu.
Which one should you choose?
These are our planning suggestions, not official advice.
- Choose by the rest of your route. Abashiri has direct buses from Memanbetsu Airport and shares the Okhotsk region with Shiretoko, so the Aurora fits an eastern trip. Monbetsu is easier to reach directly from Sapporo or Asahikawa by intercity bus, or by air from Haneda.
- Give the cruise more than one possible day. Ice moves with the wind. Staying two nights in the area gives you a second chance without booking backup sailings, which the Aurora asks visitors not to do.
- Read the cancellation rules before you book. At Monbetsu, a no-ice day is not a free cancellation.
- Drive only if you are used to winter roads. Our winter transport guide explains why buses and booked transfers are often the safer choice in snow.
Fitting drift ice into a winter trip
The Okhotsk coast is a long way from Sapporo, so treat drift ice as its own part of the trip rather than a day out from the city. Abashiri pairs naturally with the rest of eastern Hokkaido; see our eastern Hokkaido guide and the Shiretoko National Park guide for the wider region. If you are also coming for the Sapporo Snow Festival (February 4–11, 2027), plan Sapporo and the Okhotsk coast as separate stays.
Frequently asked questions
When is drift ice season in Hokkaido? The two icebreakers run from mid- to late January until March 31: the Garinko-go from January 15, 2027 and the Aurora from January 20. Whether ice is present on a given day depends on the conditions.
Can I book the Garinko-go for 2027 now? Yes. Bookings for the 2027 winter cruises opened on October 9, 2026.
What happens if there is no drift ice? On the Aurora, the large ship cruises to Cape Notoro instead and the small Aurora 3 does not sail. On the Garinko-go, cancellation fees still apply if you cancel because there is no ice.
How much does the Aurora cost? Adults pay ¥5,000 in January and March and ¥6,000 in February on the large ship, per the operator's price page.
Sources checked 12 October 2026: Aurora — price and timetable page, course page and access page (Doto Kanko Kaihatsu); Garinko-go — official Garinko-go page and access page (Okhotsk Garinko Tower). Planning suggestions are our editorial judgement. Drift ice is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan