Cruise through the drift ice and taste the delicacies of Hokkaido Arrive at Memanbetsu Airport and depart from Wakkanai Airport

From Memanbetsu Airport, rent a car and head for our first destination: Lake Abashiri. Lake Abashiri is a lake where you can enjoy a variety of activities throughout the four seasons but is especially famous for wakasagi ice fishing during the winter, where you make a hole in the frozen surface of the lake and drop a line to fish out the wakasagi pond smelt. You can rent equipment for fishing and try the freshly caught pond smelt as tempura on the spot.

Let’s head on to our next activity, which is learning about and observing the drift ice. Visit the Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum to learn about this extraordinary phenomenon, and head out to the sea where you can see the drift ice for yourself. You will board the Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship Aurora which breaks up the drift ice that blocks the sea as you venture out into the icy ocean. We will stop by Cape Notoro, which juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk, and stay overnight in Monbetsu City on the first day.

The second day will be another adventure to see the drift ice. This time, we will take the Garinko II Icebreaker Cruise from Monbetsu Port to the Sea of Okhotsk, as the boat runs as it crushes up the drift ice. You may see wildlife like seals and the Steller's sea eagles resting on the ice floes. After appreciating the views of the drift ice, you can shop for fresh seafood and processed food items at direct sales stores around Monbetsu Port. From here, we will head further north and take a lunch break on the way and drive to Nayoro City.

In Nayoro City, you can take part in a curling class at the Sun Pillar Park, or gaze at the stars in the northern sky at the planetarium at the Nayoro Observatory KITASUBARU next door. For your second night, you will have a relaxing stay in Shibetsu City, where you can unwind in peace.

The Sheep of the World Museum is a must-visit in the sheep town of Shibetsu. This museum introduces to the world the charm of the sheep, with 15 different kinds raised within the vicinity. You can look at, feed, and interact with the adorable sheep here. At the Sheep Craft Center, you can try your hand at handicrafts using wool felt made in Shibetsu. At the restaurant, the dish which features Suffolk lamb is highly recommended. The next stop is Haboro Town! Enjoy the scenic drive of the Oloron Line along the coast, for the view of the Uehira Greenhill Wind Farm, lined with massive wind turbines.

In the afternoon, take a walk in the snow at Sarobetsu Wetlands in Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Park and spend a relaxing time at Toyotomi Onsen in the evening.

On the last day of our four-day trip around the northeastern areas of Hokkaido, we will finally reach the northernmost part of the country. After soaking in the skin-nourishing waters of Toyotomi Hot Spring, leave your accommodation in perfect condition to visit Cape Noshappu. Cape Noshappu, which means "near the cape" or "where the cape juts out like a chin" in the Ainu language, offers a brilliant view of Mount Rishiri, commonly referred to as "Rishiri Fuji," and Rebun Island.

You'll then tour Cape Soya, the northernmost point in Japan. On a clear day, you can see Sakhalin just 43 kilometers away. Don't forget to take a photo at the Monument to the Northernmost Point of Japan standing at the tip of the cape. Head over to Wakkanai Airport, the last stop on this four-day tour, and enjoy shopping for souvenirs to bring home along with the cherishable memories that you have made in Hokkaido!