Monbetsu Icebreaker & Asahiyama Zoo & Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival 2-Day 1-Night Tour (Departure from Sapporo, Guaranteed Departure)

The main draw is the chance to ride an icebreaker into the Okhotsk Sea, where the ship’s rotating cutters break through drift ice when conditions allow. You also get two very different Hokkaido winter scenes: Asahiyama Zoo’s penguin walk and Sounkyo’s illuminated ice formations.

I like that the tour bundles the long-distance transport, an onsen night and meals with the headline sights. I also like the chance to see the coast from both the Okhotsk Tower and the icebreaker, a useful pairing when you have only two days.

The trade-off is the schedule: stops are short, and the long winter bus journeys can feel tiring. Neither the icebreaker nor the penguin parade is guaranteed, so book for the whole winter itinerary, not just one hoped-for sight.

At a glance

• Icebreaker outing: Sail aboard the Garinko icebreaker for a close-up look at the Okhotsk coast. Drift ice and departures depend on sea and weather conditions.
• Penguin walk: Asahiyama Zoo’s parade is scheduled for the first afternoon, but the zoo may cancel it because of snow or other conditions.
• One night in Sounkyo: The package includes a hot spring hotel stay, dinner and breakfast. The hotel is assigned based on availability.
• Snow-play choice: Plan A includes basic activities; Plan B adds options such as a mini snowmobile, ATV and raft, but queues can eat into your limited time.
• Four meals included: Expect lunch and dinner on day one, then breakfast and lunch on day two. Menus can change with the season and ingredient supply.
• A Chinese-guided group trip: The guide handles the schedule and practical details. Specific guides, such as Tina, Li Qiu and Cai, are not guaranteed.

👉 See our pick of the 10 Best Guided Tours In Sapporo

From Sapporo to the Okhotsk Sea in two days

1 / 7

2 / 7

3 / 7

4 / 7

5 / 7

6 / 7

7 / 7

1 / 7

This is an ambitious winter sampler, designed to link inland Hokkaido’s snow parks, zoo and gorge with the drift-ice coast near Mombetsu. You leave Sapporo at 8:00 am on day one and are due back the next evening, with a planned arrival between 7:20 and 8:30 pm. That is a lot of ground to cover in a short time, especially in winter, when road and weather conditions can change the pace.

The convenience is the point. You do not need to arrange separate transport to Bibai, Asahiyama Zoo, Sounkyo and Mombetsu, or find a hotel for the night. The tour includes a Chinese-speaking guide, round-trip transfers, admission tickets, tolls and parking, plus one night in a Sounkyo-area onsen hotel. If you want a fast, organized introduction to several winter experiences, that bundle can be worth more than the headline price alone suggests.

The listed starting price is $274.75. Check the date and package when you book, as Plan A and Plan B include different snow activities. Also note the departure condition: the tour requires at least eight participants, and the operator says it may cancel if that minimum is not met. The title describes a guaranteed departure, but the stated minimum still applies.

Bibai Snow Land: choose play over posing

The first stop is Bibai Snow Land, where Plan A includes basic snow play such as tubing, bubble ball and snow-bike activities, along with access to a viewing terrace. The scheduled visit is about 75 minutes, though some accounts describe roughly an hour to an hour and a half at the park. In either case, it is a brief stop, not a full snow day.

That short window matters when you choose a package. Plan B adds activities including a mini snowmobile, four-wheel ATV and raft. They sound like fun, but each ride takes time, and queues can leave little opportunity to try the basic activities or take photos. If you want a few motorized rides, Plan B may suit you. If you prefer to play casually, take pictures and avoid feeling rushed, Plan A is the safer choice.

Bring warm, practical clothing and footwear suited to snow and ice. The tour provides no child seats, and snow activities carry some risk; assess your comfort and insurance needs before joining. Keep an eye on the meeting time, too. The bus cannot wait for late arrivals.

Asahiyama Zoo: the penguin parade is the prize

After a buffet lunch at MINORI Restaurant in Asahikawa, you have about two hours at Asahiyama Zoo. The penguin parade is scheduled for around 2:30 pm, subject to the zoo’s decision based on conditions. It is a memorable winter sight, but the zoo can cancel the walk, and animal flu concerns have also affected the parade in the past.

You will have time to see more than the penguins, but do not expect to linger at every exhibit. The stop is self-guided, and the visit is short for a zoo with many animals and displays. Some animals may be less active in cold weather, so treat the penguin walk as a possible highlight rather than the only reason to go.

I would use the zoo map as soon as you enter and choose a sensible route. One practical complaint about the visit has been unnecessary backtracking. With a fixed departure time, a little planning can save you from hurrying past an exhibit you wanted to see.

Sounkyo: waterfalls, ice and an onsen night

The bus reaches Ginga no Taki and Ryusei no Taki, known in English as Galaxy Falls and Meteor Falls, for a short photo stop of about 15 minutes. In winter, the frozen waterfalls and surrounding snow make a striking scene. It is a quick look, though, and several groups may arrive at once. Dress for standing outdoors, not just walking from the bus.

The evening is devoted to the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival, scheduled for January 24 to March 8, 2026. The festival is self-guided, and you may need to walk from the hotel to the site. That walk can feel much longer in blowing snow or strong wind, so take the weather seriously. The festival itself can also be affected by conditions, and dates outside its operating period will not offer the same event.

The night’s hotel is in the Sounkyo area, with Choyo Resort or Sounkyo Kanko Hotel listed as reference properties. You cannot choose a specific hotel or room type, and another hotel of the same level may be used if rooms are full. The stay includes a buffet dinner and access to hot springs. The onsen is a welcome counterweight to a day in the cold, though hotel standards and room condition can vary. If you have a smoking preference or other room request, note it when booking, but the hotel makes the final arrangement.

Okhotsk Tower and the Garinko icebreaker

Day two brings the tour to Mombetsu, on Hokkaido’s Okhotsk coast. At Okhotsk Tower, you have about 50 minutes for a guided visit and views over the sea. It gives you a useful sense of the coast before boarding the icebreaker, and can still be worthwhile if the ship cannot sail.

The main event is the Garinko cruise, scheduled for about 80 minutes. The vessel is built for icebreaking, and the encounter with drifting floes is the reason many people choose this tour. When ice is present and the ship is operating, you can watch the cutters break through it at close range. But sea ice is a natural phenomenon, not a booked attraction you can summon on a particular day. Some departures reach drift ice; others sail without it, or are cancelled because of wind, waves or official restrictions.

If the cruise is suspended, the stated alternative is a visit to the Hokkaido Okhotsk Sea Ice Science Center GIZA. The tour information says a group-ticket amount of ¥4,000 per adult, for those aged six and up, will be refunded in that case. Confirm the details with the operator if this affects your booking decision.

There is an important booking requirement: Japanese maritime rules require your passport number in the passenger information for the icebreaker. Enter it accurately. One serious concern raised about tour operations was the public handling of passengers’ personal details, including passport numbers. Since this information is required, it is reasonable to ask the operator how it will be protected and not to accept it being displayed openly to the group.

After the cruise, the group stops at Mombetsu’s giant crab-claw landmark for photos, then has a robatayaki lunch with a mini crab rice bowl. The menu can change with season and ingredient availability. From there, the bus returns to Sapporo, a long drive that can stretch in winter weather. The planned arrival is between 7:20 and 8:30 pm, but the actual time may shift with road conditions.

Food, guiding and the pace of the trip

Four meals are included: a buffet lunch and dinner on day one, then breakfast and lunch on day two. That is practical on a tightly scheduled route with few chances to choose where to eat. The meals are generally group-tour fare, and expectations should be measured rather than gourmet. The Sounkyo buffet and the seafood-focused lunch in Mombetsu add local character, but menus and quality can vary.

The Chinese-speaking guide gives explanations and coordinates meeting times, meals and stops. Guides named in accounts of past departures include Tina, Li Qiu, Cai and others, but you cannot request a particular person. Many people have appreciated guides who explain Hokkaido’s customs and history and keep the group moving. At the same time, guide quality is not uniform, and one reported lapse involving private information is worth taking seriously.

The tour requires punctuality and a willingness to follow a group schedule. A minimum of eight people applies, and a smaller group may use a minibus, with the driver also guiding. If you are used to independent travel, you may find the fixed stops and shared meal arrangements restrictive. In exchange, you avoid driving long snowy roads and organizing several remote stops yourself.

What the price buys, and who should book

At $274.75 and up, the value depends on how much of the package you would otherwise arrange independently. The price covers two days of transport, attraction admissions, a hotel night, four meals, the icebreaker ticket and the snow-park entry. For someone without a rental car, connecting these places in two days would be difficult. A private vehicle offers more freedom, but it also means handling winter roads, parking and a long route.

The strongest value is the range of experiences: snow play, a major zoo, an onsen stay, a winter festival and the chance to ride an icebreaker. The weakness is that each stop gets limited time, especially the snow park, and the cruise that gives the tour its name may not deliver drift ice or may not operate at all. Do not judge the trip solely by whether ice appears.

This tour suits you if you have limited time, want the logistics handled, and are content with a busy group itinerary. It is a good fit for families and first-time Hokkaido visitors who want several winter highlights without planning each transfer. It is less suitable if you want a leisurely zoo visit, long snow-play sessions, a guaranteed ice sighting or control over your hotel and daily pace.

FAQ

Is drift ice guaranteed on the Garinko cruise?

No. Drift ice is a natural condition and cannot be guaranteed. The cruise may also be suspended because of weather or official reasons.

What happens if the icebreaker is cancelled?

The stated alternative is a visit to the Hokkaido Okhotsk Sea Ice Science Center GIZA. The tour information says the group-ticket price of ¥4,000 per adult aged six and up will be refunded.

When is the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival scheduled?

For 2026, the festival is scheduled from January 24 to March 8. Weather or other conditions may affect viewing, and the festival may not be open on dates outside its operating period.

Is the Asahiyama Zoo penguin walk guaranteed?

No. It is scheduled for around 2:30 pm, but the zoo may cancel it depending on snow or other conditions.

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes round-trip transfers, listed attraction admissions, one night at a Sounkyo-area onsen hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner, tolls, parking, environmental fees, fuel and operator-provided insurance. Personal expenses and tips are not included.

Which snow activities are included?

Plan A includes basic snow activities such as snow tubing, bubble ball and snow-bike activities. Plan B adds options such as a mini snowmobile, four-wheel ATV and raft. Activity time is limited, and queues can affect how much you can try.

Do I need to provide my passport number?

Yes. The tour requires your passport number in the passenger information for boarding the icebreaker. If it is missing or incorrect and you cannot board, the information provided says no refund will be given.

Can I choose my hotel or room type?

No. The hotel and room type depend on availability. Choyo Resort and Sounkyo Kanko Hotel are reference properties, and another hotel of the same level may be arranged if rooms are full.

Where does the tour leave from, and when does it return?

Meet at 8:00 am at the JR Sapporo Station South Exit red statue area, next to PAUL bakery. The return is planned for Sapporo Station North Exit between 7:20 and 8:30 pm the following day, subject to winter road conditions.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a well-packed winter sampler and value having transport, meals and an onsen night arranged for you. Choose Plan A for simpler snow play, or Plan B if the added rides matter enough to justify queues. Go in with flexible expectations about drift ice, the penguin parade and the schedule, and this can be a satisfying way to see several far-flung parts of Hokkaido without driving them yourself.