photo:(c) Shiretoko Shari-cho Tourist Association

Drift ice, or frozen chunks of seawater drifting in the ocean in winter, is a natural phenomenon that occurs only in a small handful of areas around the world. In Japan, drift ice can only be seen along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, including the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.

The drift ice seen in Shiretoko forms in northeastern Sakhalin and then drifts south. It washes ashore in late January every year and can be seen until around March. The ice is about 50 cm thick, and the sight of it covering the entire surface of the ocean is spectacular.

The coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula is made up of sheer cliffs, which are said to be the result of carving and erosion by the drift ice. When the drift ice arrives, all the ships in the port are also pulled ashore to prevent them from being crushed by the pressure from the drift ice, which shows how incredibly powerful it is.

photo:(c) Shiretoko Shari-cho Tourist Association

In the Utoro area, not only can you view the drift ice from the coast and from observation decks, but there are also activities where you ride on and touch the drift ice.

As the name suggests, the drift ice walk is an experience that lets you walk on drift ice that’s floating on the sea surface. There are also drift ice paddleboarding and drift ice kayaking, where you can paddle through the drift ice. The drift ice can also be seen from underneath via scuba diving. While scuba diving, you may also encounter underwater creatures such as tiny 1-3 cm long sea angels, known as drift ice angels, which makes for an experience that is very different from being on top of the ice.

There are a variety of tours available from various operators, so find one that you’re interested in and join it!