Things to do in Abashiri City

Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship

The Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship is a specially designed vessel that takes travelers through the frozen waters of the Sea of Okhotsk for up-close views of spectacular drift ice. Onboard, travelers can enjoy comfortable amenities while admiring the beauty of the icy sea through large windows. Beyond ice viewing, the ship offers informative commentary to help travelers understand the formation and ecological significance of drift ice. Guides share insights about local wildlife, including seals and seabirds often spotted among the ice, adding to the journey's natural wonders. Travelers can also step onto the deck to feel the crisp Arctic breeze and experience a unique connection with nature.

Road Station Ryūhyō-kaido Abashiri

Road Station Ryūhyō-kaido Abashiri is located near the center of Abashiri City, Hokkaido. It is a comprehensive facility that combines sightseeing, relaxation, dining, and travel inquiry services. It also serves as a key departure point for the winter drift ice sightseeing icebreaker "Aurora," making it especially lively during the winter season and giving it the overall atmosphere of a "winter harbor tourist station." Facing the Sea of Okhotsk, it offers views of the Shiretoko Peninsula in the distance. During the drift ice season, the sea is covered in white ice, transforming the harbor, ships, and coastline into a scene resembling an ice field—a truly iconic travel image of Abashiri. The facility features local specialty shops, restaurants, and takeout areas, where you can not only taste local delicacies but also purchase Abashiri pudding and icebreaker-themed souvenirs. As an important starting point for winter travel in Abashiri, Road Station Ryūhyō-kaido Abashiri integrates transportation, supplies, sightseeing, and drift ice cultural experiences, making it a representative stop for getting to know Abashiri.

Abashiri Prison Museum

The museum was originally Abashiri Prison, which is very old in Japan, difficult to escape, and is currently open to the public. The museum consists of the prison cells, bathrooms, single cells and so on. There are also thick wooden doors and cold iron windows, which reproduce the living environment of prisoners in prison.

Mt.Tentozan Observatory, Okhotsk Ryuhyō Museum

The Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum is a drift ice science museum with the theme of drift ice. There is a drift ice experience room at minus 15 degrees in the museum, displaying huge ice cubes with real ice flow. You can experience the low temperature and cold of drift ice all year round. In the high-definition TV screen theater, you can enjoy three-dimensional images of the four seasons of Okhotsk on three screens. You can also operate the drift ice sightseeing icebreaker simulator to experience the feeling of an icebreaker crushing drift ice.

Mount Tento

Tiandu Mountain, with an elevation of 207 meters, belongs to Abashiri Quasi-National Park. From the 360-degree glass-enclosed Tendosan observation deck, you can see the cityscape of Abashiri, Lake Notori, Lake Abashiri, and Lake Tobubuki, and if the weather is clear, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Shiretoko Peninsula and the Akan Mountains. In addition, there is the "Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum" where real drift ice is displayed, and the drift ice experience room at minus 18 degrees is not to be missed.

Abashiri National Park

Cape Notoro-misaki

Cape Notori is a cliff that juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk, and it is also a good place to look at the Sea of Okhotsk. This is also one of the filming locations of the movie "If You Are the One". In the movie, Shu Qi gave Ge Youliyan, Shu Qi jumped into the sea and other scenes were shot here. In winter, you can still enjoy drift ice covering the sea.

No. 1 of Ski Resorts in Abashiri City

Abashiri Lake View Ski Area

Ubaranai Glasswort community

Hokkaidōritsu Hoppou-minzoku Hakubutsukan (Museum of Northern People)

The Hokkaido Museum of Northern Ethnics is a museum that introduces the life and culture of northern ethnic groups such as the Ainu ethnic minority in Hokkaido, the Eskimos living in Greenland, and the Sami people in Scandinavia. The museum displays themes such as clothing, food, housing, transportation and culture. Through rich audio-visual and pictures, as well as physical and model data, visitors can contact and understand the life and culture of northern peoples.