Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival 2027: Feb 6–7 Dates, Highlights, Aurora Icebreaker and Parking by Campervan

The 2027 Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival (the 62nd) runs for two days: Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7. The venue is the Abashiri Commercial Port wharf, and the Abashiri City official tourism site lists hours of 10:00–20:00 on the 6th and 10:00–16:00 on the 7th (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07).

The dates are set, but the official page does not list an admission fee or parking. This article keeps the 2026 results apart from the 2027 plans, and goes on to show how to fit the festival into a trip to see Abashiri’s drift ice. Drift ice is a natural phenomenon, so you may not be able to see it at sea on the day of the festival.

When is the 2027 Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival? Two days: Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7

The official site says the 62nd festival is “scheduled” for Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7, 2027 (Reiwa 9) at the Abashiri Commercial Port wharf. Details will be announced later. The previous festival, the 61st, ran on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8, 2026, so the two-day weekend format is the same (Abashiri City official tourism site, HOKKAIDO LOVE!, checked 2026-10-07).

Edition	Dates	Venue	Status
61st (2026)	Feb 7 (Sat)–Feb 8 (Sun)	Abashiri Commercial Port wharf, special venue	Held
62nd (2027)	Feb 6 (Sat)–Feb 7 (Sun)	Abashiri Commercial Port wharf venue	Scheduled. Details to be announced later

February 6 also overlaps with the Sapporo Snow Festival (February 4–11) and the Asahikawa Winter Festival (February 6–11). To compare the dates and decide which festival to choose, see our winter events roundup: a date calendar of 14 winter events in Hokkaido.

What time should you go, and where is the venue? Open until 20:00 on the 6th, scheduled to end at 16:00 on the 7th

The scheduled hours are 10:00–20:00 on Saturday, February 6 and 10:00–16:00 on Sunday, February 7. Both are “scheduled,” and the official site says details will be announced later (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07). In 2026 the festival ran 10:00–20:00, with only the last day ending at 16:00 (HOKKAIDO LOVE!, checked 2026-10-07).

In winter, the sun sets early in Abashiri and it gets dark by evening. The HOKKAIDO LOVE! description of the snow and ice sculpture lighting says “the whole venue is lit up at night,” but it does not give the time the lights come on. If you want to see the venue at night, aim for the evening of the 6th.

The venue is the Abashiri Commercial Port wharf. By route bus, get off at “Michi-no-Eki Icebreaker Boarding Point” (Michi-no-Eki Saihyosen-noriba) and walk about 10 minutes, according to the official site (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07). For inquiries, contact the Abashiri City Tourism Division (0152-61-2360).

What can you see, and what does it cost? Citizens’ snow sculptures, the drift ice ring toss, and scallop throwing

For 2027, the official site lists a comedy or music stage show, scallop throwing, citizens’ performances, and hands-on activities (drift ice kayaking and the drift ice ring toss). The theme continues from last time: “SAVE THE ICE SAVE THE EARTH” (protecting the drift ice means protecting the Earth) (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07).

For 2026, the results mention an ice slide, a drift ice ring toss with seafood such as crab as prizes, the festival’s signature scallop throwing, and local food such as Abashiri champon noodles, venison miso ramen, and clam soup made with shijimi clams from Lake Abashiri (HOKKAIDO LOVE!, checked 2026-10-07).

The snow sculptures are made by local citizens. At the 61st festival there were 14 citizens’ sculptures, and the grand prize went to the “Labubu slide.” Others included works based on “Golden Kamuy,” “Moomin Friends,” and the Siberian long-tailed tit (shima-enaga) (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07). For the 2027 works, wait for the official announcement.

The “Drift Ice Kayak Pulling Contest,” which visitors can enter, was held at 15:15 on February 7 in 2026. Teams of four compete for time, with two people riding in the kayak and two pulling it (Abashiri City official site, checked 2026-10-07).

Neither the 2027 official page nor the 2026 HOKKAIDO LOVE! page gives an admission fee. Because I cannot state an amount, please check with the Abashiri City Tourism Division (0152-61-2360) or the official page before you go.

Will you see drift ice on festival day? In a normal year, the first drift ice reaches the shore on February 4. It is not the same every year

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s normals (1991–2020), the first sighting of drift ice in Abashiri is on January 22, and the first day drift ice reaches the shore is February 4. In a normal year, the festival dates of February 6 and 7 fall just after the ice arrives. This is a typical-year guide, not the conditions on the day (Japan Meteorological Agency, sea ice observations along the Hokkaido coast (normals and extremes), checked 2026-10-07).

Year-to-year differences are large. The latest first sighting of drift ice in Abashiri was February 15, 2025. The official records of the Aurora icebreaker sightseeing ship also show a first drift ice date of February 16 in 2025 and 28 drift ice voyage days. In 2026 the first drift ice date was January 22, with 54 drift ice voyage days (Aurora official site, drift ice data, checked 2026-10-07).

One more point: starting with the 2025 winter season, the Japan Meteorological Agency ended its visual observation of the first sighting and first shore arrival of drift ice. From now on, drift ice is tracked through sea ice distribution information from weather satellites and similar sources (Japan Meteorological Agency, press release 2025-12-09, checked 2026-10-07). Right before your trip, check the sea ice bulletin from the First Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, which reports sea ice distribution, and the Aurora’s operating status.

You can see the festival’s snow and ice sculptures even when there is no drift ice. Treat drift ice as a bonus that you enjoy if you get to see it.

Can you ride the Aurora icebreaker? January 20 to March 31, five departures a day from 9:30 in February

The Aurora drift ice sightseeing icebreaker runs from January 20 to March 31, according to the official fares and timetable page. The fare for the large Aurora ship (about 1 hour) in January–March for individual passengers is ¥7,000 for adults (junior high school age and up) and ¥3,500 for elementary school children. The special seats at the front of the second deck cost ¥500, available on a first-come basis on board on the day (Aurora official fares and timetable, checked 2026-10-07).

Period	Departure times of the large Aurora ship
Jan 20–31	9:00 / 11:00 / 13:00 / 15:00 (extra departures possible)
February	9:30 / 11:00 / 12:30 / 14:00 / 15:30
Mar 1–14	9:30 / 11:00 / 12:30 / 14:00 / 15:30
Mar 15–31	9:30 / 11:30 / 13:30

On festival days (February 6 and 7), if the February timetable applies, there are five departures from 9:30 to 15:30. Boarding procedures close about 20 minutes before departure, and check-in closes 5 minutes before. Whether the ship sails is decided about 1 hour before departure (Aurora official FAQ, checked 2026-10-07).

When there is no drift ice, the large ship makes a sightseeing cruise out to Cape Notoro. The official FAQ explains that the ship can go up to 10 km one way within the trip time, and if there is no drift ice within that range, it cannot reach the ice field. The operator itself writes that “drift ice is a natural phenomenon, so you may not be able to see it” (Aurora official FAQ, checked 2026-10-07).

Reservations are not required, and you can board on the day if seats are available. However, you may be turned away if the ship is full, and the official site recommends booking. The official site also asks that you not reserve several departures as backup days. Book only the one departure you want most.

How cold is it, and what should you wear? In early February Abashiri’s daily low is -10.4°C, and it is colder still at sea

The early-February normals for Abashiri are a daily high of -2.8°C and a daily low of -10.4°C. The normal for the maximum snow depth in February is 58 cm (Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 normals, ten-day values and monthly values, checked 2026-10-07). These are typical-year guides, not the forecast for the day.

The Aurora’s official FAQ puts the temperature on deck at “about -10 to 0°C” and says it is colder still out at sea. If you go out on the observation deck, you need earmuffs and a scarf in addition to a thick outer coat (Aurora official FAQ, checked 2026-10-07).

The port wharf is a place with little to block the wind. Prepare for both long stretches of standing to watch and the ship’s deck, and choose shoes with non-slip soles. For temperatures and gear, see our article on Hokkaido winter temperatures.

How do you get there from Memanbetsu Airport or Abashiri Station? By car, 16 km and about 22 minutes from the airport

If you are coming from outside Hokkaido, the gateway is Memanbetsu Airport. By car, it was about 16 km and about 22 minutes from Memanbetsu Airport to the area near Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri (calculated with OSRM, no snow and no breaks, calculated 2026-10-07). For picking up a campervan at the airport, see how to rent a campervan at Memanbetsu Airport.

Starting point	Distance to the area near Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri	Time (no snow, no breaks)
Memanbetsu Airport	about 16km	about 22 min
Kitami	about 52km	about 40 min
Asahikawa	about 212km	about 2 hr 50 min
New Chitose Airport	about 324km	about 4 hr 5 min

From New Chitose Airport it is about 324 km, which exceeds this site’s guideline of “200 km and 9 hours of driving per day” (this is not an official standard). Do not try to cover it in one day; plan an itinerary with an overnight stop along the way. From Asahikawa it is about 212 km, which also exceeds 200 km.

In winter, eastern Hokkaido means packed snow, ice, and poor visibility in blowing snow. Avoid long drives after dark and plan to arrive while it is still light. To check which roads close in winter, see Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter.

By public transport, take the route bus to “Michi-no-Eki Icebreaker Boarding Point” and walk about 10 minutes from there. For buses from Memanbetsu Airport to Abashiri, the Abashiri Bus airport line is listed on the Abashiri drift ice icebreaker boarding point bus timetable page (checked 2026-10-07).

What about parking if you drive? Festival parking is not announced. Parking at the Aurora is free

The 2027 official page does not mention parking at the festival venue. For the number of spaces, location, and fees, check later official announcements or the Abashiri City Tourism Division (0152-61-2360) (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07).

If you are riding the Aurora, the Aurora official FAQ says the parking lot at Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri is free (checked 2026-10-07). Assume that same lot will be crowded on festival days. Choosing a morning Aurora departure and doing it first will make the day easier.

A campervan has height and length to deal with. At the parking lot entrance, check the height limit and the size of the spaces, and if you cannot fit, switch to another place. On snowy days, also assume that piles of plowed snow may reduce the number of spaces.

Where to stay in Abashiri? RV Park ABASHIRI BAY, and how to find places that work in winter

For RV parks in Abashiri, the Abashiri Tourism Association page lists RV Park ABASHIRI BAY. It is in the Mokoto area, 12 minutes by car from JR Abashiri Station and 10 minutes by car from the Michi-no-Eki. It has 3 free sites for cars and 2 sites with electricity, and a toilet available 24 hours a day (Abashiri City official tourism site, checked 2026-10-07).

This page does not say whether it operates in winter. To find out whether you can use it in winter, check the booking site RV-Park.jp. Before you book, also ask whether the site is plowed and how the electricity hookup works.

For the full picture of places where you can stay overnight in a vehicle in winter, see 13 RV parks and Michi-no-Eki where you can stay overnight in winter. Avoid staying overnight at a Michi-no-Eki or a parking lot that does not say it accepts overnight guests, because it gets in the way of overnight snow removal.

On a day when you watch the festival at night and then head back, book a hotel or a confirmed RV park first. On a below-freezing night, the fuel left for your FF heater is exactly how long you can stay warm. Do not sleep with the engine running: if snow buries the muffler, exhaust gas can come back into the cabin.

What to do before and after the festival? Combining Shiretoko, Memanbetsu, and the whole winter trip

For how to build a trip around drift ice, see the complete guide to drift ice by campervan rental. For highlights across the whole area, including Abashiri, Lake Saroma, and Lake Notoro, see the guide to Abashiri, Lake Saroma, and Okhotsk.

According to the Aurora’s official site, the large ship goes out for a sightseeing cruise to Cape Notoro even on days without drift ice. If you extend your trip toward Shiretoko, some sections, such as Shiretoko Pass, are impassable in winter. Check the winter closure periods before you leave in the article from the previous section.

For an example that puts the festival, drift ice, the Snow Festival, and Obihiro in one trip, see a model 10-day winter itinerary around Hokkaido.

Pages to read next

• 14 winter events in Hokkaido on a map and a date calendar
• The complete guide to drift ice by campervan rental
• A guide to Abashiri, Lake Saroma, and Okhotsk
• A model 10-day winter itinerary around Hokkaido
• 13 RV parks and Michi-no-Eki where you can stay overnight in winter