Every winter, JR Hokkaido runs certainly one of Japan’s most original seasonal sightseeing trains: the Ryuhyo Monogatari (Drift Ice Story) practice. Working from late January to early March, it travels the Senmo Line between Abashiri and Shiretoko-Shari. On clear days, drift ice from the Sea of Okhotsk traces the coast, and the snow-covered Shiretoko Mountains rise within the distance. With solely two round-trip providers day by day, the journey has turn out to be a preferred winter attraction and certainly one of Hokkaido’s most memorable rail journeys.

The Ryuhyo Monogatari Practice consists of two automobiles, every impressed by a unique aspect of Hokkaido’s winter panorama.
- Automobile 1: “Hokkaido North: Blessings of Drift Ice” displays the stark great thing about the frozen Sea of Okhotsk by cool blue tones and ice-like patterns.
- Automobile 2: “Doto Forest Blessings” attracts inspiration from japanese Hokkaido’s forests, utilizing hotter colors impressed by native wildlife and woodland surroundings.
Inside, huge home windows, desk seating and heat interiors make it simple to look at the surroundings change. Many passengers transfer across the carriage to take pictures. Seats on the Sea of Okhotsk aspect are principally reserved, so reserving forward helps if drift-ice views are your precedence.
At occasions, native volunteers from the MOT Rail Membership trip alongside to share tales, level out landmarks and promote limited-edition souvenirs. A small onboard gross sales space additionally affords native items, postcards and drift-ice-themed gadgets.
Surroundings Alongside the Route
After leaving Abashiri, the practice quickly runs alongside the Sea of Okhotsk. At its peak, ice floes drift proper as much as the shore and typically stretch to the horizon. One spotlight is a brief cease at Kitahama Station (北浜駅), the closest station to the ocean. Trains No. 1 and No. 3 cease right here for round 10 minutes, permitting passengers to step onto the statement deck and take within the frozen seascape.
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