Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!
Traveler rating
3.0/5
Based on 2 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! worth booking?
Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! is a 13-hour experience in Sapporo, Japan, from $220 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3/5 rating across 2 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 3/5 (2)
- Duration
- 13 hours
- From
- $220 per person
・Make a refreshing cool experience on the awe-inspiring Sea of Okhotsk and watch the huge chunks of drift ice only in this season! Ticket of the Ice Crusher Cruise "Garinkogo " is included. ・Ice Crusher "Garinkogo Ⅲ" is specially designed for sightseeing. With a total weight of 150 tons, it can accommodate maximum 195 people. Air-conditioning, heating, vending machines etc. are equipped on board, providing a comfortable sail experience for passengers. ・Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival is a snow event held in Sounkyo Onsen in east of Asahikawa city, and has a history of over 30 years. The purified ice sculptures are in different shapes, even with amusing creative character to be found! Warm outfit is strongly recommended for this outdoor activity.
What you get
About this experience
・Make a refreshing cool experience on the awe-inspiring Sea of Okhotsk and watch the huge chunks of drift ice only in this season! Ticket of the Ice Crusher Cruise "Garinkogo " is included. ・Ice Crusher "Garinkogo Ⅲ" is specially designed for sightseeing. With a total weight of 150 tons, it can accommodate maximum 195 people. Air-conditioning, heating, vending machines etc. are equipped on board, providing a comfortable sail experience for passengers. ・Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival is a snow event held in Sounkyo Onsen in east of Asahikawa city, and has a history of over 30 years. The purified ice sculptures are in different shapes, even with amusing creative character to be found! Warm outfit is strongly recommended for this outdoor activity.
What's included
Included
- Sounkyo Ice Falls Festival admission fee
- Drift ice ship Garinko III
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Shop for local seafood products. ※Only available from February onwards
20 minutes here
Ocean Communication Hall Garinko Station
At the Marine Exchange Center, you will have free time to do as you like. In addition to dining facilities, there is also the Seal Center, Okhotsk Tower, and Seal Sea Paradise. Here you will have the chance to encounter seals and cliones (naked sea butterflies), and you can see the underwater world beneath the drift ice. (If you wish to enter these facilities, you will have to pay for them yourself. The Seal Center costs 400 yen, the Okhotsk Tower 1000 yen, and Seal Sea Paradise 500 yen.)
50 minutes here
Embark on "Garinkogo Ⅲ" to sail on the northern sea of Okhotsk to see floating ice. Feel the vastness and powerfulness of this nature's view. You may encounter marine creatures too if lucky!
60 minutes here · Admission included
Sounkyo Hot Spring Ice Fall Festival
Visit the festival with various ice sculpture. Admission is 500 JPY per person.
40 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Sapporo
Local tour guide will meet guests at the lobby of hotel.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Return time is 21:00
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ja
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Tour&Charter International
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Local Japanese travelers may join the tour together.
- This tour is operated on the basis of Japanese tourist industry regulation.
- Joining this tour on your last day in Hokkaido is not recommended. As there is a possibility of traffic congestion or other delay during the tour. In this case, no compensation will be made.
- In the event that the icebreaker cruise is cancelled or roads are closed due to inclement weather, the tour will proceed with a visit to an alternative sightseeing location. Please note that if a customer chooses to cancel their reservation because the tour is operating with this alternative itinerary, the standard cancellation fees will apply.
- ■About drift ice conditions and replacements and refunds in the event of the cancellation of the Garinko■ Depending on the weather and docking conditions, you may not be able to see the drift ice. 1) If the drift ice breaker is canceled due to weather, etc. -- We will refund 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children, and instead we will stop at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center "Giza". 2) If we are unable to reach Monbetsu due to road conditions -- We will refund 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children, and instead we will stop at the Ice Pavilion.
- This course will be shared with another course that includes lunch.
- Staff who can speak English (very simple)and Japanese will accompany the tour. No detailed tour sightseeing guidance will be provided. Please kindly be noted.（About 3,000 people who do not understand Japanese participate every year, but there is no particular problem.）
- Large luggage such as suitcases will be stored in the trunk of the bus. You will not be able to take your luggage in or out during the tour, so please prepare everything you need for sightseeing in your hand luggage. When checking in on the day, please let the staff know that you have luggage to check.
- Please note that we do not accept bus seat requests.
- We returned to Sapporo Station around 9 p.m.
- Lunch will be on your own at the Ocean Exchange Center. There is a food court, a ramen shop, and a convenience store in the Ocean Exchange Center near the Garinko boat dock.
- You will need your passport number when boarding the Garinko. Please be sure to bring your passport with you on the day, or write down your passport number. An attendant will ask you for it on the day. Please note that if you do not know your passport number, you will not be able to board the ship.
- Please note that depending on the weather and docking conditions, you may not be able to see the drift ice even from the boat (no refunds will be given).
- We will only make a stop at Marukaichi Suisan from February onwards. Please note that we will not stop there if arrival in Monbetsu is delayed or on scheduled closed days (February 2, 15, and 23; March 2).
- A tour fee of 4,500 yen applies to infants (ages 0–2), and a seat will be provided for them. Participation while sitting on an accompanying adult's lap is not permitted.
Photos
Traveler reviews
2 verified traveler reviews for Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Mombetsu ice drifting cruise
The ice driving experience was good worth spending a long hour journeying to there. The guide and driver was good. It is truly a good experience.
Response from the operator: I am glad that you were satisfied. There are many other good places in Hokkaido, so I look forward to working with you again.
via Viator
Total Disappointment!
Very dissatisfied and disappointed!!! Insignificant sighting of drift ice. The tour operator should cancel the tour so that we are not left feeling disappointed. A total waste of money and time and even my children think it’s a scam. I fully understand that it’s due to weather but think it’s only fair that the operator decide to cancel. Wasted one whole day.
Response from the operator: Hi, thank you for the feedback about this tour. The drift ice does not appear as early as in past years due to climate reason, and we are really sorry that the scene could not be witnessed during your trip. We do not cancel this tour when drift ice cannot be seen, and other activities are still operated. We hope you managed to make the experience of visiting the ocean park area and ice festival in the evening. Again we apologize for missing the drift ice, and would like to wish you the best for other trips.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 13 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $220 to $33,800
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Tour&Charter International, who run 26 experiences we rank across 6 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 58.6.
See everything Tour&Charter International runsWhy this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sapporo.
How much does Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! cost?
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Prices start at $220 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sapporo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! take?
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Plan for about 13 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sapporo is not rushed.
Is Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3/5 across 2 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Sapporo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 13-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sapporo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sapporo and add a light layer if any part of the 13-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sapporo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Sapporo?
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On Outty we rank every Sapporo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour, Wagashi traditional japanese sweets class, Mondo's most popular No.1!Private experienceThe king of buckwheat noodles making and Japanese food in Sapporo!A plan to enjoy tempura!. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Sapporo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Sapporo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!?
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Included: Sounkyo Ice Falls Festival admission fee; and Drift ice ship Garinko III. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!?
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Local tour guide will meet guests at the lobby of hotel. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! offered in?
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It runs in Japanese. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture!?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Hokkaido's Winter Awe-inspiring Drift Ice & Sounkyo Ice Sculpture! if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
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