Swim in Frozen Sea: Drift Ice Tour in Shiretoko, Hokkaido
Can you imagine how it feels like swimming in the sea with drift ice? If you are looking for an unique winter activity in Hokkaido, this is definitely what you should try. I always recommend this to anyone who is interested in visiting Hokkaido, because it is such a fun and unforgettable experience that everyone will enjoy.
What is Drift Ice?
Drift ice shows up along the coast of the Okhotsk Sea in winter. It is sea ice carried by winds and currents from the Amur River in Russia, which is 1,000 km away from Hokkaido. This natural phenomenon attracts many tourists to see incredible views of the ocean covered with ice.
When Can We see Drift Ice?
The best time to see drift ice in Hokkaido is mid-February to early March when the ice reaches the coast.
Where SHould we go?
The popular spots to see drift ice are Shiretoko, Abashiri and Mombetsu. Each place has great viewpoints and tours to enjoy the . In this article, Shiretoko. You can access Shiretoko from Memambetsu Airport by car, or take busses from Kitami, Abashiri and other major cities in the Eastern Hokkaido.
Drift Ice Tours in Shiretoko
The best way to experience drift ice is to take a walking tour on drift ice in Shiretoko. It is said “walking,” but actually you can swim in the frozen sea! The tour shops provide you dry suits that are thick enough to swim in sea water below freezing, so no worries about getting cold or wet.
After a briefing from the guide, you will walk on the drift ice around 20 min off the coast. Enjoy the spectacular view and sounds around you that the powerful nature creates. Then when you reach the area where there are some cracks big enough to swim around, you will jump into the water! It feels like swimming in slushy. The dry suits help you to float, so it’s easier to be in the water than it might look.
The tours are organized only for February and March. It’s better to plan and book early! There are several shops offering the tour. I just list a few below.
Drift Ice Walk
When to do: February and March
Tour shops
Gojiraiwa Kanko: https://kamuiwakka.jp/driftice/index-en.php
Shinra: https://shinrashiretoko.wixsite.com/shinra/ice-walking
Fee: 6,000 yen /person
Tour time: 1.5 hour