Approximately 30 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport, the gateway to Okhotsk, lies the port town of Abashiri City, facing the Okhotsk Sea. Among the regions of Eastern Hokkaido, which are known for their extreme temperature variations, Abashiri has a relatively comfortable climate, although the cold sea breeze is distinctive. In winter, the Okhotsk Sea is covered with "drift ice," a seasonal spectacle that attracts numerous tourists from both domestic and international locations each year. Local residents living in Abashiri for many years claim they can sense the approach of drift ice through the direction of the wind and the feel of the air. At Lake Abashiri, located slightly away from the city center, you can enjoy smelt fishing in winter and canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in summer. The area is also rich with expansive farmland, allowing for farm tourism experiences.

Once feared by prisoners as "the most difficult prison to escape from in Japan," the old Abashiri Prison has been preserved as a museum, showcasing the harsh conditions of life there. The museum includes the actual structures formerly used, such as the five radially extending cell blocks, the government office, and the chapel, all designated as important cultural properties by the nation. Besides visiting the facility, you can watch immersive videos in the Prison Experience Theater, depicting the harsh labor endured by prisoners 120 years ago. Inside, the "Prison Cafeteria" offers meals that are currently served to inmates at Abashiri Prison. Due to its appearance in key scenes from the popular manga "Golden Kamuy," many fans visit as part of a pilgrimage to this iconic location.

At the summit of Mount Tento in Abashiri City, the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum is themed around drift ice and the Okhotsk Sea. Inside the museum, the Drift Ice Experience Terrace allows visitors to touch real drift ice in a room set at minus 15 degrees Celsius. The popular “Shibare Experiment” involves swinging a wet towel until it freezes. The museum also exhibits unusual creatures like clione, known as "sea angels of drift ice." The observation terrace on the third floor offers a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view, spanning from Lake Abashiri to Lake Notoro and the Shiretoko Mountain Range across the Okhotsk Sea. At the café within the museum, you can enjoy "drift ice soft serve" with a salted caramel flavor made with sea salt from the Okhotsk Sea.

About a 10-minute drive along the coastline from Abashiri City, you'll find the "Abashiri Gensei Pasture Tourist Center." Located on a gentle hill, it offers a panoramic view of the Shiretoko Mountain Range and the Okhotsk Sea, as well as a quintessentially Hokkaido pastoral landscape. The horseback riding experience, which allows for a leisurely exploration of the vast natural surroundings, is especially popular among families. There's also a petting zoo where children can feed and interact with animals such as horses, cows, goats, and llamas. After enjoying the farm activities, you can dine at the "Ranch Restaurant" with a sea view. The menu features steaks and grilled meat made from home-produced beef, alongside fresh seafood and vegetables sourced locally. On clear days, there's also an option to enjoy a barbecue outdoors, which is highly recommended.

Located near the summit of Mount Tento is the Hokkaido Northern Peoples Museum, the only museum in Japan dedicated to showcasing the cultures of the world’s northern peoples and the Okhotsk culture. The museum displays the history and lifestyles of various cultures extending from Greenland in the east to Northern Europe in the west. Inside, you can find life-sized tools and clothing used by northern peoples, along with various materials and exhibits. There’s also a lesser-known spot where you can touch the fur of reindeer and other animals. Visitors can use complimentary headphones to listen to audio guides. You can also try on traditional Ainu clothing, making it a perfect spot for fans of the popular manga "Golden Kamuy" to deepen their understanding of its world. While there are no dining facilities, there is a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs decorated with traditional northern peoples' designs.

For sightseeing in Abashiri, the "Abashiri Free Pass" provided by Abashiri Bus is highly recommended, allowing you to hop on and off freely. It also offers benefits at various tourist facilities, making it an economical way to enjoy your visit to Abashiri.

The area surrounding Abashiri City is blessed with the expansive and majestic nature characteristic of Okhotsk. The cycling road, which utilizes the old Kushiro-Obihiro Line route, is ideal for exploring on an e-bike. In the summer, you can enjoy landscapes adorned with sunflowers and cosmos in full bloom, while in the fall, you can witness the beautiful sight of Abashiri's famous coral grass turning vibrant red. Additionally, kayak experiences that allow you to cross Lake Notoro and Lake Abashiri, both part of the Abashiri Quasi-National Park, are extremely popular for offering exclusive views of the changing seasons. You might also have the chance to observe water birds or, if lucky, spot rare wildlife such as the white-tailed eagle. A guided tour that includes a stone oven pizza-making experience using abundant local ingredients is also highly recommended.

The sightseeing ship that breaks through the drift ice floating on the sea is a memorable experience. The large ship "Aurora" has minimal rocking when breaking the ice, making it comfortable even for those prone to seasickness. The first floor has non-reserved seating, allowing you to enjoy the drift ice up close at eye level. On the second floor with reserved seating, you can watch the ship crush through the ice right before your eyes or feel the grandeur of the endless drift ice from the observation deck—the way you enjoy it is up to you. You might also encounter seals and Steller’s sea eagles resting on the ice, or northern foxes and Ezo deer that have wandered from the mainland. The newly constructed "Aurora 3," a small sightseeing vessel in 2023, offers the unique experience of viewing underwater footage of the drift ice captured by a submersible drone on monitors inside the ship. In Abashiri, the drift ice can approach the shore as early as the end of January. Compared to Shiretoko, the ice packs are less dense, allowing you to admire the blue sea visible through the gaps in the ice.

During the harsh winter season, when the lakes freeze over, it’s time for smelt fishing. Among these, Lake Abashiri is famously known as the "sacred place for ice smelt fishing." Lake Abashiri is a brackish lake where seawater flows in, bringing numerous smelt from the Okhotsk Sea via the Abashiri River. At Lake Abashiri, you can rent all the necessary equipment, including fishing gear, tents, and ice drills to make holes in the frozen lake surface. Facilities are available where you can fry and eat the smelt you catch right on the spot. Since you'll be waiting outside in the cold for the moment a fish bites, it's important to dress appropriately. Snow wear for both top and bottom, hats, scarves to cover your ears and neck, and gloves are essential. As cold can come from the feet up, make sure to wear thick socks and snow boots.
There are many other recommended tours as well. Please check out this site!

About a 40-minute drive inland from Abashiri City brings you to the center of Kitami City, the largest city in the Okhotsk region. Kitami has gained fame as the base for the curling team "Loco Solare." The city is surrounded by mountains, giving it a basin-specific climate characterized by significant temperature variations. Summers can reach 35°C, and winters can drop to -20°C. However, the low humidity and high sunshine rates make the climate quite pleasant. Interestingly, Kitami City is also renowned as a "city of grilled meat." The city is home to many yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurants, and each winter, the "Kitami Frigid Yakiniku Festival" is held, where people gather around charcoal grills outdoors in the severe cold. Furthermore, Kitami boasts the highest onion production in Japan and is one of the top places for scallop harvesting. The city is also known for its many bars where you can enjoy delicious drinks, making it a place where both gourmet dining and sightseeing can be enjoyed.

As you drive about an hour from Kitami City towards Asahikawa, you will arrive at Onneyu Onsen. Here you will find "Yama no Suizokukan" or the "Northern Land Aquarium," a unique aquarium known for its exclusive display of freshwater fish. The aquarium features rare fish indigenous to Hokkaido and has become quite well-known across Japan. It gained attention on the internet for a feature where you can press a "Director Appearance Button" to receive a guided tour directly from the director. In the waterfall basin tank, where the Dolly Varden char swim freely, you can have a simulated experience of looking up from the bottom of a waterfall, feeling as if you’ve become a dragon god. The world's first "Seasonal Tank" offers a view where, in winter, the surface freezes, allowing visitors to observe fish enduring the cold beneath the ice. The adjacent roadside station offers local souvenirs, including items related to the aquarium.

Located very close to the Yama no Suizokukan, Kitakitsune Farm is home to more than 60 Ezo red foxes that roam freely in an environment close to their natural habitat. Visitors can watch these foxes run freely around the facility or see the Ezo raccoon dogs enjoy leisurely naps. Their adorable behavior is sure to warm your heart. Don't forget to capture their cute antics in photos! However, it's important to remember that these animals are still wild. Be cautious, as items like phones, gloves, or masks can be snatched away by curious foxes. While Kitakitsune Farm has comprehensive measures to prevent the spread of the parasite Echinococcus, which can be transmitted by touching wild foxes, it's vital not to touch wild foxes you may encounter by the roadside, as they do not have such protection.

About a 10-minute drive from Kitami City center, you’ll find "Kitami Family Land," an amusement park that serves as a relaxation spot for residents. Surrounded by forested areas, this quaint amusement park exudes a retro charm. Surprisingly, there's no entrance fee. Visitors can purchase ride tickets at the facilities within the park to enjoy attractions like the merry-go-round and the small roller coaster "Crazy Mouse." There’s also a large slide, making it an ideal spot for families with children. While it functions as an amusement park, it's also a lovely green park for leisurely enjoyment.

The women's curling team "Loco Solare" gained fame at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and their home base is in Tokoro Town, Kitami City. At the "Advics Tokoro Curling Hall" in Tokoro, you can tour the facilities and experience curling, and if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the "Loco Solare" team practicing. In 2020, a new curling hall, "Argographics Kitami Curling Hall," was established. Located conveniently close to the center of Kitami City, it offers easy access. Here, you can enjoy curling on the pristine ice used by professionals for practice. All necessary equipment is available for rent, and you can also hire an instructor to teach you how to use the equipment and basic techniques. Depending on the timing, you might even get to see professional teams in action during their practice sessions!

The Kitami area is dotted with numerous lesser-known but exquisite onsens and saunas. Here are some local recommendations:

During the winter season in Onneyu Onsen, you can enjoy a unique fat bike experience, equipped with wide, spiked tires. Ride through the snow-covered, natural forests, surrounded by the pristine white snow fields. There's a chance you might encounter the footprints of wild animals or even see some of the local wildlife up close! The special course starts at Shiobetsu Tsurutsuru Onsen and turns around at Onneyu Onsen, allowing you to explore various tourist spots while enjoying the winter scenery of Kitami City. After your ride, you can warm up your chilled body by soaking in the onsen.