Every year, a messenger of winter, known as "drift ice," arrives along the Okhotsk coast.
 
Drift ice refers to sea ice (frozen seawater) that is drifting and floating. It is said that the sea ice that forms at the mouth of the Amur River, the largest river in the Far East, flows into the Okhotsk Sea coast.
 
The first day of drift ice usually occurs in late January (although there have been exceptions in recent years), but since drift ice drifts freely like living things, you can't see it every day, even during the peak viewing season.
 
But there is a place where you can encounter drift ice all year round!

Let me introduce you to the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, which reopened in 2015 after renovations, making it an even more attractive and easily accessible place to visit.

 
Table of contents
1. What kind of place is the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum?
2. Highlights of the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum
2-1. A bright and open "entrance hall"
2-2. Hokkaido's largest "projection mapping"
2-3. "Creatures of the Drift Ice Sea" where you can see sea angels (Clione)
2-4. A world of -15℃: "Drift Ice Experience Terrace"
2-5. Where do they come from? "The Mysteries of Drift Ice"
2-6. The breathtaking "Floe Drift Fantasy Theater"
3. The wildly popular drift ice soft serve ice cream! "Café de Clione"
4. Don't miss the "Museum Shop" for limited-edition souvenirs.
5. Enjoy breathtaking views from Mount Tiandu for free! "Observation Terrace"
6. "Café & restaurant 360" - a place where you can easily drop in for lunch.
7. How to access the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum
 

 
Located on the scenic "Tentozan" mountain, which rises to an altitude of 207m, the "Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum" is an interactive facility where visitors can encounter drift ice and marine life from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
 
This is a place where both children and adults can enjoy themselves, from touching real drift ice in a world of minus 15℃, to experiencing the power of drift ice that seems to be alive in the "Drift Ice Fantasy Theater," and seeing the drift ice angels, "Clione," up close.
 
With its "Observation Terrace" offering panoramic views of the Shiretoko mountain range, the "Café & Restaurant 360" observation restaurant, the hugely popular "Drift Ice Soft Serve Ice Cream," and souvenirs you can only buy here, the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum is a place you'll want to visit again and again!
 

 
It's a place where you can experience drift ice firsthand, but it's also recommended as a rest stop, a place to eat, and a photo spot during your drive.
 
The Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum is divided into areas that require an admission fee and areas that can be used for free, and it is a place of relaxation for locals as well. We will introduce the highlights of the museum in an easy-to-understand way, area by area.
 

 
Upon entering the entrance, you'll find yourself in a spacious area predominantly decorated in white and navy blue.
 
The entrance hall, designed as a "landscape museum," is free to enter and features canvases depicting the seasonal landscapes of Okhotsk. Through large glass windows, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Shiretoko mountain range unfold as if painted on a canvas.
 

 
The BF floor is an area where you can experience drift ice, and an admission fee is required for this area.
 
As you descend the staircase, which is designed to resemble a fantastical drift ice formation, you'll find yourself surrounded by Hokkaido's largest projection mapping display, showcasing drift ice and marine life through video.

 

 
The sea angel, also known as the "Clione," is on permanent display, swimming around in its adorable form.

 
In the tank, which resembles a mini aquarium, you can also see other creatures such as balloonfish, wolf eels, striped shrimp, and lumpsuckers with their somehow endearing expressions, all leisurely going about their business.

 

Now, can you imagine a world of minus 15 degrees Celsius? If you live in Hokkaido, it's a temperature you can normally experience on a winter morning in some areas... but it's a temperature you don't usually encounter in everyday life, right?

 
The "Drift Ice Experience Terrace" is where you can actually experience such unprecedented temperatures!
There are some wet towels provided at the entrance, so be sure to take one with you when you enter.
 
On the terrace, where real drift ice is displayed, you can actually touch the ice and experience just how cold a temperature of minus 15℃ is.
 
Now, if you swing a wet towel around and try the "freeze experiment"...it freezes in no time!
*In the Hokkaido dialect, the word "shibareru" is used to describe extreme cold or something that freezes to a crisp.

 

 
Where do the drift ice that covers the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in winter come from?
 
The "Mysteries of Drift Ice" area offers answers to such questions, revealing the mysterious power of nature and demonstrating just how precious and miraculous drift ice truly is.
 
Many people may think that "drift ice" is simply frozen seawater, but the ice actually originates at the mouth of the Amur River, the largest river in the Far East, and travels all the way to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
 

 
In the approximately 8-minute "Drift Ice Fantasy Theater," stunning images of drift ice are projected onto five screens, accompanied by powerful sound effects.
 
The video showcases various aspects of drift ice, including footage from a bird's-eye view, ice being ripped apart by icebreaker sightseeing ships, mirages of ice floes, creatures associated with drift ice, and the sounds of ice floes colliding, known as "drift ice noise."
 

The entrance hall, which is free to use, has a casual cafe called "Café de Clione."
The menu includes coffee, soft drinks, and parfaits, and you can also enjoy "Chigiri Tempura," a frozen fish paste dish that originated in Abashiri.
 
The most popular item is the "Drift Ice Soft Serve Ice Cream," which features a delicious salted caramel flavor made with salt from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk!
 
Actually, this soft serve ice cream is made by "Risu no Mori," a popular gelato shop in Yobito, but unfortunately, it's not sold at "Risu no Mori" and is an exclusive menu item at "Café de Clione."

 
It's worth stopping by the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum just to try this "drift ice soft serve ice cream."
 

 
The "Museum Shop" sells a wide variety of delightful souvenirs, including mascots of the namedango fish, Abashiri beer, scones made with Hokkaido ingredients, cookies made with Kitahonami wheat from Abashiri, and sweets originating from Abashiri or exclusive to the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum.

 
"Drift Ice Rusk" from Daniel de Nou, a popular bakery and cake shop in Abashiri City, and "Drift Ice Drops" in a cute tin featuring an illustration of a sea angel (Clione), are exclusive products available only at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum.

 
 

 
The "Observation Terrace" at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum is free to use and offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view.
 
From here, you can see Lake Abashiri, Lake Notori, Lake Tofutsu, Lake Mokoto, as well as the Shiretoko mountain range, Mount Oakan, Mount Meakan, and Mount Mashu. On clear days, you can even see Mount Asahi, which is 200km away—it's truly amazing!

 
Among the scenery that can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons, there are many views to enjoy depending on the time of year, such as cherry blossoms in spring on the terrace overlooking the Shiretoko mountain range, and sunflowers and coral grass in September on the terrace overlooking Lake Abashiri and Lake Notori.
 
The facility is designed to be barrier-free, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views from indoors. Therefore, those who are apprehensive about climbing to high places or who use wheelchairs can visit with peace of mind.

 

 
"Café & restaurant 360" offers a luxurious dining experience with stunning views. It's a panoramic restaurant where you can enjoy lunch or coffee without having to pay to enter the area where you can experience the drift ice.

 
The 360 ​​Lunch Course, named after Mount Tento, consists of three options: "Ten" (Heaven) - a fresh pasta course (choose from two types), "To" (City) - a course featuring Hokkaido-produced meat or fish as the main dish, and "Yama" (Mountain) - a skillet dish course. All courses use seasonal ingredients, with a focus on Hokkaido and Abashiri-produced ingredients.
 
This time, I had the "Ten" course, which included a creamy salmon platter with autumn salmon from Abashiri.
The course includes fresh pasta from Abashiri, seasonal autumn salmon, salad, soup, bread, dessert, and coffee – it's incredibly filling!

 
The other dish was pasta with Abashiri Wagyu beef.
The pasta menu changes regularly, so you'll want to visit again to try other seasonal flavors.

 
The dessert that day was almond tofu, whose gentle sweetness filled the mouth and paired perfectly with the 360 ​​original blend coffee from "Hazeya Coffee," a renowned coffee shop in Abashiri.

 
The menu is extensive, including the "Tento Gozen" bento box with a Japanese twist and dishes made with Hokkaido venison.
They also have a selection of easy-to-eat sweets, so you can relax and enjoy a break during your drive.
 
The restaurant also sells original pottery made by inmates at Abashiri Prison.
This ceramic piece, called "Hyoretsu-yaki," is inspired by the drift ice floating on the blue Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and beautifully captures the mystical natural beauty of the Okhotsk Sea.

 

◆When using a car
Approximately 20 minutes (about 17 km) from Memanbetsu Airport.
　Taxi fare: (Summer) Approximately 4,500 yen (Winter) Approximately 5,500 yen
Approximately 10 minutes (about 5 km) from JR Abashiri Station.
　Taxi fare: (Summer) Approximately 1,600 yen (Winter) Approximately 1,900 yen
 
◆When using the bus
Take the "Sightseeing Tour Bus," which departs from and arrives at Abashiri Bus Terminal (via Abashiri Station) and tours various tourist attractions.
Travel time: Approximately 15 minutes from Abashiri Station
Price: 1-day pass - Adults 800 yen, Children 400 yen
Ticket sales locations: Abashiri Bus Terminal, Abashiri City Tourism Association, Abashiri Station Tourist Information Center, Toyoko Inn Abashiri Ekimae
Contact: 0152-43-4101
Note: Operating hours and frequency vary between summer and winter, so please check in advance.
 
◎Abashiri Sightseeing Bus
A great value 1-day pass recommended for those who want to tour Abashiri's sights by bus!
http://www.abakanko.jp/news/event/kankoushisetsumeguribus.html

 
[Basic Information] Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum
URL:https://www.ryuhyokan.com/
Address: 244-3 Tentozan, Abashiri City, Hokkaido 093-0044
Telephone number: 0152-43-5951
Admission fees: Adults 750 yen (group 600 yen), high school students 640 yen (group 510 yen), elementary and junior high school students 540 yen (group 430 yen)
Opening hours: Summer (May to October) 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM) No regular closing days.
                  Winter season (November to April): 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM). No regular closing days.
                  年末年始（12月28日～1月5日）10:00～15:00（最終入館14:30）
The operating hours of the restaurant "Café & restaurant 360" will also be the same as those of the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum.
(Last order for all lunch courses and the Tento Gozen set meal is 14:30 PM)
 

Final thoughts

 
The Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, which was renovated in 2015, has become a relaxing place where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, have lunch, and just drop by casually.
 
During the winter drift ice season, snow slides are created, and there are fun events such as the thrilling "Drift Ice Scenic Slider," where you can slide down on a tube while enjoying views of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
 
Whether you've already visited or are thinking of going, please do visit the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, a place that's becoming more and more appealing and enjoyable throughout the year.

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