Drift ice season at Abashiri

The 2027 season is expected to run from January to March. These dates are estimated rather than confirmed, and nothing guarantees the ice will arrive in that window. The usual pattern puts the season between 20 January and 15 March. The ice tends to arrive on the Okhotsk Sea coast of Hokkaido, the stretch that includes Abashiri, in the period from late January into early February.

Abashiri is in Hokkaido, Japan. The phenomenon is also known by its local name, 網走の流氷. The Abashiri Tourism Association is the official source for the event.

Drift ice is a natural phenomenon, and it can be seen from the shore, so watching it from land needs no ticket. A separate paid option is the icebreaker cruise Aurora. Its official page lists fares and gives a run of dates from 20 January to 31 March, but names no year, so check with the operator before making plans.