[Kansai departure] 2025 Drift ice sightseeing flight tour and trip on a chartered plane

Club Tourism 's Okhotsk Drift Ice Sightseeing Flight lets you see the drift ice from the sky! By using a charter flight, you can see the drift ice scenery from the sky Sea of Okhotsk on the way there and back. With a tour conductor, you will be well supported! Searching and applying for tours is also easy.

Tour Information
Key Points of the Special Charter Plan
There's more! Hokkaido Special
Related Features

Information on drift ice sightseeing flight tours

A chartered flight connects the Sapporo Snow Festival and the drift ice!

It's easy to travel between Kobe Airport and Memanbetsu Airport, where there are no scheduled flights!

There's more! Tours recommended by our staff

Key Points of the Special Charter Plan

1. Low-altitude flight at an altitude of about 1,000m!

The ship will circle over the drifting ice Sea of Okhotsk for about 20 minutes!

View from the window *Photo taken by our staff last year (for Image purposes)

FDA aircraft (Image)

The cabin is equipped with high-performance air filters that circulate the air every three minutes (Image)

Depending on the wind, drift ice may or may not be visible on some days.
Your chances of encountering them are much higher when viewing from the air than from a boat or land!!

2. Greatly reduce travel time!

A charter flight connects two major tourist destinations, the Sapporo Snow Festival and the drift ice!

Sapporo Snow Festival (Image)

Aurora (Image)

If you travel by bus, it takes about six hours from Sapporo to Abashiri Port.
Our tour involves a chartered flight from New Chitose to Memanbetsu Airport in just about an hour!

*Try a drift ice tour before arriving at Memanbetsu Airport
*The applicable courses are 73760, 73761, 83632, 83635, and 83638.

3. There are no scheduled flights between Kobe Airport and Memanbetsu Airport, making travel easy!

In-flight service (Image)

Drift ice (Image)

You'll have to wait until the day to find out which color it will be.

Normally in Feb. you can only get to Memanbetsu Airport, the gateway to the drift ice from Nagoya and the Kansai area, via Haneda Airport or New Chitose.
Our tour takes you on a direct flight from Kobe Airport to Memanbetsu Airport.

*Try a drift ice tour before arriving at Memanbetsu Airport
*The applicable courses are 83738 and 83770

Comments from the planning staff on board

Kansai Domestic Travel Center Planning Officer: Aya Nakae

It was the most moving moment I've had in my seven years in charge of Hokkaido.
As we approach Sea of Okhotsk, an experienced pilot makes an announcement and our viewing of the drift ice begins.
As the aircraft gradually descends, a spectacular view of the drifting ice stretching out as far as the eye can see appears, providing a truly breathtaking and moving experience.
This is the only plan that allows you to see the magnificent scenery created by Hokkaido 's natural beauty from a special area that can only be reached by charter flights!
Enjoy a valuable experience recommended by our staff that you can't get on a regular tour.

Kansai Domestic Travel Center Planning Officer: Aya Nakae

*The tour may not be possible in the event of bad weather.

Watch the video of the 2022 event

*This was the first time this event was held in Feb. 2022, and the footage was taken by our staff on their smartphones from inside the aircraft.

Drift ice conditions over the past two years

Monbetsu

	First day of drift ice (※1)	First day of docking (※2)	Last drift ice (※3)
2023	Feb. 5	Feb. 9	Mar. 4th (※4)
2024	Jan. 21st	Jan. 26th	Mar. 27

Abashiri

	First day of drift ice (※1)	First day of docking (※2)	Last drift ice (※3)
2023	Feb. 2	Feb. 10	Mar. 12th (※5)
2024	Jan. 20	Jan. 22nd	Apr. 2

*According to research by Abashiri Regional Meteorological Observatory and Monbetsu City

*1) The day when drift ice was first visible to the naked eye from land
*2) The first day that drift ice comes ashore or adheres to fast ice, making it impossible for ships to navigate.
*3) The last day that drift ice could be seen on the surface of the ocean within sight
*4) The last day that drift ice could be seen with passengers on the Garinko (according to the Okhotsk Garinko Tower)
*5) The last day that drift ice could be seen with the Aurora on board (according to a survey Eastern Hokkaido)