4-Days Classic Winter Tour of Eastern Hokkaido [Memanbetsu Airport Arrival / Kushiro Airport Departure] Stay in Abashiri, Shiretoko Utoro, and Lake Akan
- # Aurora
- # Drift Ice Walk
- # Notsuke Ice Horizon
- # Frost Flower
Highlights
This course allows you to fully enjoy winter in East Hokkaido by staying in Kitami, the central city of Okhotsk. You can also enjoy the drift ice, ice lakes and famous barbeque cuisine to the fullest!
Recommended Points of This Tour!
✔︎ This loop bus takes you to the sightseeing spots on a highly efficient route, so you don't need to worry about transportation! You can go sightseeing without the hassle of changing buses.
✔︎ The tour covers the highlights of East Hokkaido in winter. You will go on a drift ice cruise in Abashiri, visit Abashiri Prison, Lake Mashu and Lake Akan.
✔︎ You will be staying in Kitami, where there are hotels to suit everybody's budget. This is a great way to keep accommodation costs down, even if you are travelling alone.
Schedule
DAY1
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) / Shin Chitose Airport (CTS)
Memanbetsu Airport (MMB)
Experience The Aurora cruise
Dormy Inn Abashiri
DAY2
Abashiri
Shiretoko Utoro
Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort
DAY3
Shiretoko Utoro
Notsuke Peninsula
Lake Mashu
Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga
DAY4
Lake Akan Sightseeing
Kushiro Airport (KUH)
Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Shin Chitose Airport (CTS)
Course Details
DAY1
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) / Shin Chitose Airport (CTS)
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Memanbetsu Airport (MMB)
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Local bus ¥1,000
15:30 Abashiri – Experience The Aurora cruise (15:30–16:30)
Board the Aurora Icebreaker Cruise at the Ticket Counter Inside Roadside Station Abashiri, and embark on an unforgettable journey! This large ship, with a capacity of 450 passengers, allows you to witness drift ice up close from both the deck and inside. Experience the thrill as the ship powers through the ice, breaking it under its weight for a truly exhilarating cruise.
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Dormy Inn Abashiri
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網走
DAY2
Abashiri
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Abashiri Bus Terminal 10:05 → Utoro Onsen Bus Terminal 11:48
Shiretoko Airport Liner ¥2,800
15:00
Shiretoko Utoro – Enjoy the Drift Ice Walk (15:00–17:00)
Dress in a special dry suit and take a walk on the drift ice covering the sea in Utoro. Feel the ice beneath your feet, and even float in the icy waters if you wish! This is a unique experience only Shiretoko can offer during this season.
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Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort
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Shiretoko Utoro
DAY3
Shiretoko Utoro
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8:00
Eastern Hokkaido Express Bus No. 5 ¥5,687 (Utoro → Lake Akan)
Notsuke Peninsula
Notsuke Peninsula, which extends into the Nemuro Strait, is a treasure trove of Alpine Plants in summer, and in winter, the inland sea between the peninsula and the mainland transforms into a vast frozen landscape. This breathtaking view, known as the "Ice Horizon," stretches endlessly across the ice. The Ice Horizon Walk, where you explore this frozen expanse with a guide, is a unique winter experience only found on the Notsuke Peninsula.
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12:25→14:35
Eastern Hokkaido Express Bus No. 5
Lake Mashu
Lake Mashu, a Caldera Lake with a maximum depth of 211.4 meters and World-Class Clarity, occasionally freezes over in winter, offering a rare and breathtaking sight. At the adjacent Mashu Lake Kamui Terrace, you can enjoy the stunning views of the lake from the comfort of indoors in the coldest months. The terrace also offers light meals, soft- ice cream, and coffee.
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15:05→16:30
Eastern Hokkaido Express Bus No. 5
Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga
One of the most renowned hot spring resorts in Lake Akan, famous for the sky-view open-air baths.
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Lake Akan Onsen
DAY4
Lake Akan Onsen
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Lake Akan Morning Café Tour
Morning Café Tour by "Tsuruga Adventure Base SIRI", located on the first floor of "Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga," this unique tour lets you walk and play on the frozen Lake Akan in the early morning. The experience concludes with a warm cup of Coffee as you watch the Sunrise—an unforgettable way to start your day in the heart of nature.
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Akan Airport Liner | Local bus (¥2,150)
Kushiro Airport (KUH)
Return to Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Shin Chitose Airport (CTS)