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Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival 2025: Highlights, Key Dates, Access
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The Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival is a celebration of Hokkaido’s connection to the natural annual wonder of the drift ice floes. The 2025 festival takes place February 8 - 9. Read on to learn highlights and access tips.
Written by
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
Hokkaido's Drift Ice
The drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk is a natural phenomenon that attracts visitors from Japan and around the world. Sightseers can appreciate this stunning spectacle in various ways, whether aboard impressive icebreakers or on exhilarating walks across the ice.
The drift ice season in Abashiri is usually from late January to early March. This is when you can enjoy drift ice cruises, drift ice walking, and seasonal treats.
However, the two-day Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival in February is a special event to celebrate winter and drift ice, offering visitors a chance to experience local culture.
Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival 2025
1. Key Dates and Venues
2. Highlights of the Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival
3. How to Get to Abashiri Commercial Port
4. Where to Stay in Abashiri
Key Dates and Venues
Photo courtesy of Co-op Travel Co., Ltd.
The Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival in 2025 will be held from February 8 to February 9, coinciding with the weekend.
The main venue for the festival will be Abashiri Commercial Port, which is easily accessible by taxi or a short walk from Abashiri Station. Attendees can enjoy a variety of food stalls featuring local cuisine, as well as stages hosting traditional performances and the festival's ceremonies.
While the festival is stunning during the day, visitors will also be amazed by the intricate ice sculptures illuminated during a special light display from sunset until approximately 8 PM each night of the festival.
Official website: Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival 2025
Highlights of the Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival
Photo courtesy of Co-op Travel Co., Ltd.
1. Marvel at the Ice Sculpture Illuminations
Like the Sapporo Snow Festival, the Drift Ice Festival features elaborate ice sculptures for visitors to admire.
In previous years, the festival has showcased a major centerpiece that celebrates local culture. Notable sculptures have included recreations of the Abashiri Prison Museum and tributes to the TV anime "Golden Kamui," often highlighting aspects of Ainu culture.
Guests are invited to capture photographs of these intricate ice sculptures, which truly dazzle and sparkle during the festival’s nighttime illumination.
2. Enjoy Live Music, Comedy, and Traditional Performances
The festival stages will come alive with a variety of performances for visitors to enjoy throughout the two days.
The festivities will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring a traditional Yosakoi dance performance. This lively dance, popularized in Hokkaido, originates from Kochi Prefecture and incorporates a traditional fishing song.
Additionally, guests familiar with classic Japanese Manzai comedy will likely enjoy the antics of Tom Brown, a duo known for being finalists in a nationwide comedy show in 2024.
3. Get a Deeper Understanding of the Drift Ice Culture in Abashiri
Ryuhyo float. Picture from A Unique Phenomenon! How to Enjoy Hokkaido’s Drift Ice
Throughout the weekend, various activities will highlight the connection between local culture and the drift ice.
On February 8, visitors can participate in a kayak-pulling competition with friends across the icy port grounds. Those interested in joining must submit an application by January 29. If there are more than 10 teams, a lottery will be held to determine who can participate.
On February 9, a portable shrine, or Mikoshi, will be paraded through the port area, accompanied by a mochi-throwing event where participants can receive good luck and blessings from the festivities.
Drift ice has inspired many local treats such as drift ice curry, drift ice beer, and desserts like drift ice floats. The festival is a great chance to try some of these seasonal delights.
Read also
How to Get to Abashiri Commercial Port
Photo Courtesy of Co-op Travel Co., Ltd.
From Memanbetsu Airport
Getting to the port is easiest by bus. Take the Abashiri Bus from Memanbetsu Airport to Abashiri Station (about 35 minutes).
From Abashiri Station, it's a short taxi ride (around 10 minutes) or a 20-minute walk to the Commercial Port.
From Kushiro
Your best option from Kushiro is the train. Take the JR Nemuro Main Line from Kushiro Station to Abashiri Station (approximately 3.5 hours). Then, take a taxi or walk to the Commercial Port as before.
From New Chitose Airport
From the New Chitose Airport, it's also recommended to use the train. Take the JR Rapid Airport Train to Sapporo Station (about 40 minutes). Transfer to the JR Limited Express Okhotsk bound for Abashiri (about 5.5 hours).
From Abashiri Station, reach the Commercial Port by taxi or on foot.
We recommend using the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass for cost-efficient travel by train from New Chitose and Sapporo to Abashiri.
Where to Stay in Abashiri
Kagariya
Photo courtesy of Booking.com
Kagariya offers a traditional stay full of character and charm, perfect for those seeking an authentic Japanese experience. Guests can enjoy a complimentary shuttle service to and from Abashiri Station, making travel hassle-free.
With delicious Japanese meals provided for both breakfast and lunch, it’s an ideal base for exploring the drift ice and immersing in local culture.
Sea Side Stay / Vacation Stay 1785
Photo courtesy of Booking.com
Sea Side Stay / Vacation Stay 1785 offers a cozy, tiny-home vibe with all the comforts you need, including a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities.
The warm and welcoming host goes the extra mile to ensure guests have a memorable stay. It’s the perfect spot for those seeking a comfortable, homely atmosphere while exploring the Abashiri area.
The Villa Seaside
Photo courtesy of Booking.com
The Villa Seaside provides a spacious, well-furnished residence-style stay, offering all the comforts of home. Conveniently located just north of Abashiri Station, it’s perfect for those looking to explore the area at their own pace.
With free parking available, it’s an excellent choice for visitors traveling with a hire car, offering the ideal blend of convenience and comfort.
Enjoy the Drift Ice in Hokkaido
From atop a powerful ice breaker or marveling at the clash of ice and sea on an ice floe walk, the drift ice around Abashiri is truly a unique quirk of nature here.
The Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival promises visitors a way to deepen their enjoyment of the drift ice and a chance to sample local cuisines and activities along the way. And the environmental message of “save the ice, save the Earth” is more poignant now than ever!
Read also
Main image courtesy of Doto Kanko Kaihatsu Corp.
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
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