The trip to Shiretoko 25-26th, Mar. 2003

We joined the group tour named "Enjoy ice & hot spring in Hokkaido 2days" organized by Hankyu Express Tours.

<Itinerary>

Day 1 : Leaving Haneda Airport by JAS135 at 11:55 => Arrival at Kushiro Airport at 13:30 => Kushiro wild field => Oshinkoshin fall => Prince hotel in Utoro

Day 2 : Hotel => lake Tofutsu (swan watching) => Boat tour => Lunch at Abashiri seafood market => Tento-zan hill => Leaving Memanbetsu Airport at 16:30 => Arrive at Haneda at 18:00

Yes, we went to Hokkaido and saw the floating ice!!
I have been saying so far that there is no need to spend many to watch the block of ice. Because I was born in Sapporo, I have seen snow and ice in every winter and there was nothing to be exited.
But, I must admit that I was wrong. It was really impressive! It was worth to pay!!
We had to book the date to be during our son's spring school holiday, but usually ice will leave away from the coast of Hokkaido by the end of Mar. so that our worry was whether we were still able to see the ice on that day. We have been checking the location of ice at web site of Japan Cost Guard and boat tour company every day.

Japan Coast Guard:
http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/KAN1/1center.html

Ice breaking boat tour company:
http://www.meitetsu.co.jp/meitetsu/group/121.html

Yes, they were! The red part of the chart shows the location of ice and the density. Some of them already left the coast at northern part, but the area we were going has been still completely covered by the ice. However, they say that the ice may disappear in one night by strong wind or sea stream pushing them far away to the North East. I hoped that weather to be stable until we get to there.

On Mar. 25th, we left rainy Tokyo and arrived at Kushiro Airport under warm clear sky of 10 deg.C. Two buses were waiting for us.
First, we visited a field behind Kushiro city. It is a national park and a lot of cranes were staying here during winter season. Then we drove across mountains and arrived at the Okhotsk seaside. Just as we expected, the coast was completely covered with ice.
On the way to the Hotel, we stopped at Oshinkoshin fall. We could see a lot of wild dears at the road side. They looked fat because of winter hairs. They are not so popular among the local people because they eat all kind of yang trees in winter.

The next day was much colder and cloudy.
We drove to North to Lake Tofutsu to see swans. They also come from Siberia to spend winter season at here. When a tourist fed a piece of bred, a lot of swans come together asking for more food, and they were so noisy.
The weather was getting better when we arrived at Abashiri port. We took a special boat named "Aurora", the capacity of 400 person, to cruise the sea of ice. Just after the port, there were already some separated ice, and soon the boat started to brake through the ice field. 80cm of thick ice once dived under the sharp bow of the boat and then came up in peaces with noise. The two hours cruising was very exiting and impressive to all of us.

Lunch was served at very large restaurant and the ground floor was also a big souvenir shop for tourist. There were many fish shops selling fresh crabs, salmons, and all kind of souvenir goods. We were not interested in fishes, as you understand because front sea was covered by ice and all fishing boats were lifted up on the land, there should not be any local fish. We only bought some cookies from them.
At the last, the bus went up to Tento-zan hill, where we could see whole city of Abashiri and also the Okhotsk sea covered with ice.
We left snow land Hokkaido from Memanbetsu Airport to get back to Tokyo where already in spring warm air.
The total price for air ticket, hotel, boat ticket and bus transport was only Yen 19,800.- per person.
We were so happy and satisfied by the trip, both in the contents and the price!

The wild field of Kushiro. Too wide to take in a photo.	Mark of a crane is on a telephone box.
The cranes were supplied food by local people.	A road going to the horizon.
Sunset in Hokkaido.	Typical scenery of Hokkaido.
Getting to Okhotsk sea fully covered by ice.	The Oshinkoshin fall.
Dinner at the hotel.	There are many dears around the road side.
Spring has just come to Hokkaido!	Rausu port has still been covered with ice!
These trees were the food of the dears in winter.	The weather is not as good as yesterday.
Lake Tofutsu.	A lot of swans stay during winter.
Taking a boat to see the ice.	More and more ice.
Braking through the ice.	Braking through the ice.
Blue ice was so beautiful!	The ice covering far away to hilizon.
Ice at seashore. The next ice block is a floating one. Danger!	The Abashiri prison.

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