Verified in Japan

Abashiri, Hokkaido / 網走流氷観光砕氷船おーろら

Aurora Drift Ice Sightseeing Icebreaker, Abashiri

A one-hour icebreaker cruise into the Sea of Okhotsk drift ice, running only from late January to March; with no ice nearby it becomes a coastal cruise to Cape Notoro.

Drift ice on the sea and the ship's wake, seen from the stern with a Japanese flag
Drift ice from the Aurora (photo taken February 2019)Photo: Lkj12344321 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized) · License · Source

Last official check

25 Sept 2026

Traveler reports

0

Reports open in Phase 2

Next scheduled check

24 Dec 2026

Before you go

Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.

Opening hours

Runs January 20 to March 31 (no year given on the page). The large ship Aurora takes about 1 hour, with 3-5 sailings a day depending on the period (e.g. in February 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30). Check in about 20 min before departure.

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Closed

Whether a sailing goes is decided about 1 hour before. There is no individual notice to bookers if it is cancelled. Sailings may be cancelled if too few people book.

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Admission

Large ship Aurora: adults (junior high and above) 7,000 yen, elementary 3,500 yen (January-March; groups 6,650 / 3,330 yen); special seats +500 yen. Preschool children free. 50% off the basic fare for holders of a Class 1 physical disability certificate, an A-grade rehabilitation (ryoiku) certificate or a Grade 1-3 mental health certificate, plus one carer.

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Getting there

Direct buses from Memanbetsu Airport and JR Abashiri Station. About 8 min by taxi from JR Abashiri Station (about 1,000 yen).

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Parking

Free parking at the Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri roadside station, where the boat departs.

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Payment

Some credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and code payments are accepted (check brands at the counter).

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
Accessibility

On the large ship staff help at the gangway, but moving around inside involves stairs, so wheelchair use is very limited. The small ship Aurora 3 is not wheelchair accessible.

Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site

Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know

Address: Abashiri, Hokkaido (Japanese address: 北海道網走市南3条東4丁目5の1)

Official site: https://www.ms-aurora.com/abashiri/

Location

Smaller pins are other spots nearby.

Open in Google MapsGet directions

Nearby spots

Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.

Crowds

Crowd level

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Best time to visit

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Peak time

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Busiest days

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Busiest season

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Latest traveler report
None yet

Drift ice is usually best from mid-February to early March, but it now arrives later and covers less area each year. The ship can go only about 10 km out in an hour; if there is no ice within that range, the cruise goes to Cape Notoro instead (the small ship is cancelled). Seating is unreserved and there are fewer seats than passengers; board in queue order.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site

Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).

Visiting respectfully

  • Local etiquetteOutdoor decks are around -10 to 0°C and colder at sea: bring a thick coat plus ear muffs and a scarf. The ship can roll, and seasickness tablets are not sold on board. Live-streaming for profit is not allowed.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site
  • Local etiquetteYou can board without a booking if there is space on the day, but full sailings may turn people away, so booking is safer.Checked 25 Sept 2026 on the official site

Verification log