Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival & Icebreaker Cruise from Sapporo

Drift ice and frozen waterfalls in a single winter day

A full-day tour from Sapporo that pairs a Garinko-go icebreaker cruise through the drift ice of the Shiretoko Peninsula with the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival, where frozen waterfalls and ice sculptures are lit after dark. The tour includes air-conditioned transport, a Japanese-speaking guide, and festival admission. You choose between a seafood bowl lunch or a meal-on-your-own plan. Weather and ice conditions may affect the icebreaker departure, with refunds issued if the cruise is canceled.

Step-by-step itinerary

Icebreaker cruise and ice festival visit

• Garinko-go icebreaker cruise
• Lunch and shopping at Marukaichi Suisan Fisheries
• Free time at Ocean Exchange Center
• Visit Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival

The experience

You start from Sapporo and travel north toward the coast, stopping first at Marukaichi Suisan Fisheries for shopping and a meal break. If you've chosen the lunch plan, you eat the Drift Ice Bowl (a seafood bowl filled with snow crab, salmon roe and scallops), here. Otherwise you have 20 minutes to browse. The route then passes through the Ocean Exchange Center, where you have free time to visit the Okhotsk Tower and Tokkari Center (admission is separate) or grab lunch if you didn't book the meal plan.

The main event is the Garinko-go icebreaker cruise in Monbetsu. This specially designed ship breaks through the drift ice of the Shiretoko Peninsula, and you stand on deck watching the ice floes shift around the hull. Seals sometimes appear on the ice. The cruise lasts 40 minutes. Weather and ice conditions determine whether the ship can depart. If it cannot, you receive a refund and visit the Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center instead.

After the cruise, you drive to Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival. The festival centers on frozen waterfalls and hand-carved ice sculptures of varying sizes, all illuminated after dark to create what the operator describes as a fantastical sight. You have time to walk among them before returning to Sapporo. The full day is roughly 12 and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. An attendant travels with the group. Dinner is on your own, though the operator notes that food options are limited, so bringing a light meal is wise.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with an attendant on board.
• Japanese-speaking guide.
• Garinko-go icebreaker cruise through Shiretoko Peninsula drift ice.
• Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival admission.
• Drift Ice Bowl seafood lunch with snow crab, salmon roe and scallops (lunch plan only).

Options for this experience

2 options

One-day tour without a meal planGuide in Japanese · Available from 24 Jan 2027

Includes a seafood bowl lunch planGuide in Japanese · Available from 24 Jan 2027Drift-ice seafood bowl: loaded with luxurious seafood such as snow crab, salmon roe and scallops, plus crab soup, classic flavors of the Sea of Okhotsk

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 24 Jan 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideJapanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 30 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Pick the lunch plan if you want to eat regional seafood (snow crab, salmon roe, scallops) without breaking from the tour. Skip it if you need different dietary options or prefer to eat elsewhere.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What happens if the icebreaker cruise is canceled because of weather?

If the Garinko-go cannot depart due to weather or ice conditions, the operator refunds 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children, and the tour stops at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center instead. If you booked the lunch plan, the refund covers the meal cost as well, and you'll need to arrange your own lunch.

Is lunch included, and what are my options?

You choose at checkout between a plan with the Drift Ice Bowl seafood lunch and a plan without. The bowl includes snow crab, salmon roe and scallops. If you skip the lunch plan, you can buy food at the Ocean Exchange Center or bring your own.

What is the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival like?

The festival features frozen waterfalls and ice sculptures of all sizes carved from the extreme cold. When lit up after dark, they create illuminated structures throughout the site. You walk among them at your own pace.

Can I see wildlife on the icebreaker cruise?

Seals sometimes appear on the drift ice during the Garinko-go cruise, though sightings are not guaranteed. The 40-minute cruise passes through the ice floes of the Shiretoko Peninsula.

How long is the full tour, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs about 12 and a half hours from Sapporo. Included are the air-conditioned vehicle, Japanese-speaking guide, Garinko-go icebreaker boarding fee, and Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival admission. Lunch is included only if you book the seafood bowl plan.

What should I bring or know about meals and timing?

Dinner is not included and must be purchased on your own. The operator recommends bringing a light meal since food options are limited. You cannot eat or drink on the bus, so meals happen during stops. Wear warm winter clothing for the icebreaker deck.