Hokkaido Icebreaker Experience: A Unique Ice Journey

Hokkaido in winter is covered with a white coat of ice and snow, captivating all eyes. What could be more exciting than gliding on the thick ice of the northern sea of ​​Japan, where cold winds blow from Siberia, creating a majestic scene of floating icebergs like an icy kingdom. The icebreaker in Hokkaido, with its power, will take you on an adventure to challenge the deep ice layers, blending with the wild and majestic nature, bringing an incomparable experience.

Every step of the train is like a cut into the silent ice screen, creating a magical sound of nature when the ice cracks and breaks. Standing on the icebreaker in Hokkaido , visitors will feel the cold wind, the beauty of the vast, endless nature. That feeling not only makes people feel small before the power of creation but also awakens a silent joy when standing in the midst of the magical beauty of Hokkaido in winter.

1. Introduction to the Abashiri Drift Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora

Abashiri Drift Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora (Photo source: Collected)

Every winter, the Okhotsk coast cracks into sparkling ice floes, creating a majestic and magical natural scene in Hokkaido. Departing from Abashiri Port, the 1-hour Hokkaido icebreaker cruise will take visitors to explore a magical frozen world . During the journey, visitors will admire giant ice floes floating on the sea surface, creating a beautiful ink painting. In addition, the opportunity to meet wild animals such as white-winged sea eagles, whales, seals, and even polar bears will make the trip more interesting and memorable than ever.

The Aurora Icebreaker, a giant ship gliding across the surface of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, offers visitors a truly unique experience of exploring the frozen land. With its modern design and state-of-the-art heating system, visitors can comfortably enjoy the stunning view of the icebergs sparkling under the sun without worrying about the cold.

The Aurora ship is equipped with a super powerful drilling system (Photo source: Collected)

One of the special features of the Aurora is its super powerful drilling system. When the ship encounters thick layers of ice, the drilling machine will be activated, creating deep sounds and impressive water splashes. Visitors can observe the entire ice-breaking process from the observation deck on the deck, clearly feeling the power of nature and technology.

Aurora, with a capacity of up to 450 passengers, is a modern and impressive icebreaker ship in Hokkaido. The unique feature of Aurora lies in its pointed hull design, which helps the ship easily break through thick ice thanks to its own weight. With spacious and comfortable space, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the drift ice from the seats arranged throughout the deck.

2. Method of transportation

There are many options to get to the departure points of ice-breaking trains in Hokkaido (Photo source: Collected)

To explore the magical beauty of Hokkaido’s drift ice, you have several options for getting to the departure points of Hokkaido’s ice-breaking trains. From major cities like Tokyo and Sapporo, you can easily book a flight to one of the three airports serving the area: Monbetsu Airport, Memanbetsu Airport (the closest to Abashiri), and Nakashibetsu Airport (the gateway to Rausu).

• From Memanbetsu Airport: This is the most popular option for travelers wanting to explore Abashiri. After landing, it is a 35-minute limousine bus ride to the Abashiri bus terminal. From here, a short 5-minute bus ride will take you right to the famous Aurora icebreaker.
• From Nakashibetsu Airport: If your destination is Rausu, choose a flight to Nakashibetsu Airport. After landing, you will travel by bus to Rausu for about 75 minutes. When you arrive at the michi-no-eki rest stop, you will easily find the entrance to start your journey to explore the wild nature.
• From Monbetsu Airport: To experience the journey on the Garinko 2 icebreaker, you can choose to travel by taxi from the airport or Monbetsu bus station. The taxi ride will take about 15 minutes.

If your destination is Hokkaido’s famous coastal towns for ice-breaking trains like Monbetsu or Abashiri, the trip will take around 6 hours. To explore the pristine beaches and majestic volcanoes of Nakashibetsu, you will need to spend around 7.5 hours on the bus.

3. The ideal time to experience the icebreaker in Hokkaido

The golden time to experience the icebreaker in Hokkaido is in February (Photo source: Collected)

February is considered the golden time to explore the magical beauty of the Okhotsk Sea and experience the thrill of icebreakers in Hokkaido. It is during this month that drift ice reaches its peak, creating a beautiful and unique natural scene that you can hardly find anywhere else.

When winter covers the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, millions of large and small icebergs drift freely on the sea surface, creating a beautiful ink painting under the sunlight. Choosing February to join the journey on the Aurora icebreaker will give you the opportunity to admire icebergs of different shapes, sizes and colors. From crystal clear icebergs to rough emerald green icebergs, all create a vivid and colorful natural picture.

4. Experiences when taking an icebreaker train in Hokkaido

4.1. Experience the feeling of “walking on ice”

Walking on ice is a wonderful experience that you should not miss (Photo source: Collected)

Besides icebreaker cruises in Hokkaido, a unique and challenging experience awaits visitors at the Shiretoko Peninsula - a World Natural Heritage - which is walking on drift ice.

Imagine you are surrounded by a vast icy world, where icebergs of all shapes and sizes float on the sea surface. Wearing a special dry diving suit, you will have the opportunity to set foot on giant icebergs, feel the cold of ice and snow and enjoy the unique feeling of floating in the middle of the vast ocean. This is truly an experience that not everyone has the opportunity to experience.

What makes the Shiretoko Peninsula special is that the northern part of the peninsula has very distinct geographical features. Drift ice from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk drifts in and gets stuck in this area, forming thick layers of ice. Due to the influence of wind and ocean currents, these icebergs move slowly every day, creating a natural landscape that is always changing and full of surprises. This has created an ideal condition for visitors to experience walking on drift ice safely and interestingly.

4.2. Observing the majestic iceberg scene

This is an opportunity for you to observe the majestic phenomenon of iceberg watching (Photo source: Collected)

As the icebreaker breaks through the waves and enters the iceberg sea, visitors will experience a very special feeling. The rumbling sound of the engine echoes throughout the ship, signaling the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery. Thick layers of ice gradually appear before their eyes, large and small icebergs floating on the water, creating a beautiful and majestic natural scene. The sunlight shines down on the ice blocks, creating sparkling rays of light, shimmering like giant diamonds.

The deeper you go into the iceberg area, the more magical and mysterious the scene becomes. Icebergs of different shapes, sizes and colors pile up on each other, forming an icy maze. The sound of the icebergs colliding as the icebreaker moves forward creates a deep, reverberating sound that echoes throughout the space, making visitors feel overwhelmed by the power of nature. The sea breeze blows strongly, carrying the freezing cold, along with the murmuring sound of the waves, creating a unique symphony of the ice sea.

4.3. Experience the Arctic air in the middle of pristine nature

The northern sea of ​​Hokkaido in winter offers a majestic scene no less than the Arctic (Photo source: Collected)

Although not located within the Arctic Circle, the northern seas of Hokkaido in winter offer a majestic and equally harsh natural landscape. The bitter cold seeps into every corner, making visitors feel as if they are lost in the coldest and most remote land in the world. When the icebreaker in Hokkaido cuts through the waves and enters the drifting ice sea, the bone-chilling wind blows into the face, carrying with it salty air and tiny snowflakes.

Standing on the deck, visitors can clearly feel the power of nature. Strong winds blow through, shaking the entire ship, making us feel like we are facing some invisible force. The cold feeling spreads throughout the body, but at the same time brings an indescribable excitement. Touching the cold ice blocks, hearing the sound of them breaking under our feet, is an extremely unique experience, helping us better understand the power of nature.

4.4. Enjoy warm food in the freezing cold

Don't forget to enjoy a hot pot of oden on the icebreaker (Photo source: Collected)

In the cold space, sipping traditional hot Japanese dishes such as oden (a Japanese-style hot pot) or hot tea will add to the feeling of warmth and relaxation. Many icebreakers in Hokkaido also serve fresh seafood, allowing visitors to enjoy the essence of local cuisine right on the sea, amidst the majestic snow and ice landscape.

4.5. Encountering wild animals

Seals around the sea of ​​Hokkaido (Photo source: Collected)

The waters around Hokkaido are home to a variety of wildlife, including seals and Steller's sea eagles. In winter, birds of prey such as white-tailed eagles and Steller's eagles appear, circling the icy skies, providing a spectacular sight. Watching them hunt or rest on the ice is a rare and wonderful experience on board Hokkaido's icebreakers.

The journey on the icebreaker in Hokkaido opens up before the eyes of visitors a sea of ​​white ice, touching the depths of emotions, where people are immersed with the majestic and immortal nature. This trip is not simply a tourist experience, but an invitation to return, to live once again in the vast and mysterious nature of Hokkaido, where all emotions are washed away in the wild and cold beauty of winter.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/tau-pha-bang-o-hokkaido-v15954.aspx