How to choose a Hokkaido icebreaker cruise? Monbetsu or Abashiri?

For those heading to Hokkaido in winter, who doesn’t want to chase the blue ice sea on an icebreaker! But stuck between Abashiri or Monbetsu? This article will help you figure it out, with car charter itineraries + self-guided travel tips～
🌟Monbetsu 1-day tour (for car charter lovers! Easy round trip in one day)
✅Suitable for: Those who want to ride the icebreaker but don’t want to stay overnight, departing from Sapporo
🚗Car charter itinerary (example from Sapporo):
8:00 Pick up from Sapporo hotel → 10:30 Arrive at Monbetsu Port (2.5h drive, enjoy snowy plain scenery along the way)
11:00 Ride the “Garinko” icebreaker (1.5h experience! The “crack” sound of the ship breaking the floating ice is super impressive, you can shoot blue ice and drift ice up close on the deck, and if lucky, see seals sunbathing on the ice)
12:30 Lunch: Eat northern crab set meal near Monbetsu Port, the crab meat is fresh and juicy to the max
14:00 Monbetsu Port Ice Sculpture Park (free! Check out the giant ice slide, drift ice-themed ice sculptures, and capture atmospheric snowy scenes)
15:00 Drift Ice Museum (experience the -20℃ ice bar, have a cup of Hokkaido sake with ice, the cups are made of ice!)
16:00 Return to Sapporo → 18:30 Arrive at hotel
✨Advantages of car charter: No need to rush JR schedules, can spend more time taking photos at the ice sculpture park anytime, and the driver will help with luggage～
🌌Abashiri 2 days 1 night (deep experience! Stay at a hot spring hotel, super relaxing)
✅Suitable for: Those who want to explore slowly and check out the surroundings of Abashiri
🚗Car charter itinerary (departing from Sapporo):
Day 1
9:00 Pick up from Sapporo → 12:30 Lunch in Abashiri city (try Genghis Khan grilled lamb, paired with Hokkaido beer, amazing)
14:00 Ride the “Aurora” icebreaker (2h! Longer than Monbetsu route, can go deep into the drift ice area, hot drinks available on deck so you won’t feel cold)
16:30 Ice activities on Lake Abashiri (ice fishing for pond smelt, cook them directly in hot pot! Or ride snowmobiles)
18:00 Dinner: Abashiri seafood hot pot, scallops and Arctic surf clams so fresh they’ll blow your mind
19:30 Check in at Abashiri hot spring hotel (soak in the open-air hot spring while watching the snowy plain night view, relieve the day’s fatigue)
Day 2
9:00 After hotel breakfast → 10:00 Abashiri Prison Museum (winter snow scenery + red brick buildings, take vintage-style photos, learn about the drift ice era history)
12:00 Lunch: Abashiri specialty salt-flavored ramen

13:30 Kitami Fox Village (pet the soft white foxes! In winter, the foxes wear little scarves, super cute)
15:00 Return to Sapporo → 18:30 Arrive
🚌 How to get there on your own?
❌Disadvantages: Tight schedule + inconvenient transfers, JR trains often delayed in winter

⚠️Important reminder!
Car charters in Hokkaido are super popular in winter! Especially during the drift ice season in January and February, our company’s 7-seat business vehicles (with heater + luggage space) are often fully booked a month in advance. If you want peace of mind, book early! Chinese-speaking drivers accompany you throughout and can help take stunning snow photos～
This winter, stop hesitating! Choose Monbetsu for a relaxed single-day trip, or Abashiri for a deep exploration. Car charter will maximize your winter romance～