FAQ

Before booking a tour, you must read through the entire FAQ section before doing so.

Drift ice walk

Where does the drift ice walk take place?: At the seaside near Utoro. The exact location depends on drift ice conditions on the day of the tour.
When can you be sure there’s drift ice? What’s the best time to visit?: We’d love to know, too! But it’s different every year. Drift ice is influenced by the winds, so ice conditions change all the time. Generally speaking, when the wind is blowing from the northwest, the drift ice will be close to shore, but if the wind is blowing from the south over land, the drift ice will be blown away from the shore. That’s why you could see completely different ice conditions every day during drift ice season.
In the past years, the period between early February and mid-March is when the drift ice comes close to the shore, but sometimes there could be no drift ice at all. If there’s not enough drift ice, we can only do the drift ice walk within the harbor.
Can I check the condition of the drift ice online?: Yes. For the drift ice on the Sea of Okhotsk, you can visit this page.
For sea ice conditions, you can also visit this page.
When has the tour taken place in the past years?: 2024: Feb. 1 – Mar. 20 (tour was cancelled for 2 days)
2023: Feb. 4 – Mar. 15 (tour was cancelled for 2 days)
2022: Feb. 1 – Mar. 24 (tour was cancelled for 1.5 days)
2021: Feb. 2 – Mar. 26 (tour was cancelled for 1 day)
2020: Feb. 10 – Mar. 23 (tour was cancelled for 3 days)
2019: Feb. 1 – Mar. 21 (tour was cancelled for 1 day)
2018: Feb. 2 – Mar. 21 (tour was cancelled for 5 days)
Do you recommend going in the morning or in the afternoon?: It depends on the ice conditions and the weather of the day. Generally speaking, we take people out on the tour during the warmest part of the day when there’s the most sunlight; the photos turn out better, too.
How many people can go on a single tour?: The minimum is 1 and the maximum is 30. The number of guides depends on the number of participants.
Can I ask for a specific guide?: It is our honor as guides that you would appreciate us so much, but as of now, we do not offer the opportunity for people to designate specific guides. Your understanding for arrangments made on the day of the tour is appreciated.
Will I need to take a boat for the drift ice walk?: There is no need to take a boat. All you have to do is put on the dry suit, listen to instructions from your guide, and walk onto the drift ice directly from the shore.
When can I find out if my tour will take place?: Since weather conditions determine whether a tour can take place, we cannot make any guarantee about time, but we will post updates on our website, so please check it for the latest news.
If my tour is cancelled due to bad weather, will I get a substitute itinerary or another tour on a different date?: If your tour is cancelled due to bad weather, there will be no substitute itinerary. If there are spots open at other times, we can help you book one; if you’d like that, please come to the meeting point at the time of your original tour for confirmation.
If my travel companions aren’t taking part in the tour, where can they watch the tour?: The location of the drift ice walk is along the coast of Utoro, Shiretoko. The guide will decide the best spot. The group will be pretty far from the coast, so it’ll be hard to see the group from there, and it would be cold, too. If they’d like to watch, we recommend they drive to the spot themselves on the day of the tour. If they don’t have access to a vehicle, we recommend that they schedule something else to do since it takes a while to get there on foot.

What to wear and take with you

What is a dry suit?

It is 3.5 mm thick and buoyant, so it floats in the sea. The neck and cuffs are tight to prevent water from entering it. You will feel some discomfort right after putting it on, but don’t worry, you’ll stop noticing it during the tour. If you engage in more vigorous activities (such as jumping, swimming, etc.), there is a possibility that some water may get in. If you want to do all kinds of things, we recommend that you bring a change of clothes.

Can I wear a watch during the activity?

We recommend not wearing any accessories, including hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, rings, and so on. Because once they’re lost, they cannot be found.

Can people who don’t know how to swim go on the tour?

Yes, there’s no need to worry as long as you listen to instructions from your guide. Those who can’t swim can still have a good time.

Can I participate during my menstrual period?

Please assess your physical condition on your own. If you feel unwell, do not force yourself to participate. As long as the dry suit is worn correctly, it is essentially waterproof. And you will be wearing your own outfits under the dry suit. If you are concerned about leaks, we recommend using period underwears.

How do you put on a dry suit?

Please refer to this video.（YouTube）

What should I wear underneath the dry suit?

We recommend wearing comfortable, easy-to-move-in long-sleeved shirts, or cotton sweatshirts, etc. anything that can keep you warm (you can decide whether to wear something thinner or thicker depending on the temperature of the day)

* To prevent water from going into the dry suit, the neck area is rather tight, so please don’t wear hoodies or turtlenecks.

* Please do not wear long-haired fleece or down jackets, as they may cause inconvenience or be damaged while you put on the dry suit.

* Please wear trousers. Do not wear skirts, short-sleeved tops, or shorts.

Do I need to wear extra clothing to protect against the cold?

During the drift ice walk, you’ll be wearing a special dry suit. Since it is worn over your personal clothing, please remove thick clothing such as skiwear and jackets before you put on the dry suit. The dry suit comes with a hood, but please prepare a beanie to protect your ears from the cold anyway.

Which parts of the outfit needed for the tour will LANTOKO provide?

・One-piece dry suit
・Gloves

If I exceed the height or weight limit slightly, can I try on the gear?

Please note this when making your reservation, and try on the gear the day before (between 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM) or 10 minutes before the meeting time on the day of the activity (between 8:00 AM and 8:20 AM for the morning tour, and between 12:00 PM and 12:20 PM for the afternoon tour) at the meeting point. If you still cannot fit into the gear after trying it on, you will not be able to participate in the activity. Since your spot has already been reserved, no refund will be issued. We appreciate your understanding.

Why can’t children who are less than 130 cm tall go on the tour?

The special dry suit weighs about 5 kilograms, so we make the judgment based on whether the child can move freely on the drift ice after putting it on. For safety and waterproofing purposes, the dry suit is tight at the neck and wrists, which most children aren’t used to, so children under 130cm cannot participate in the activity.

Can I leave my luggage at LANTOKO?

While you’re on the tour, you can leave your luggage at our office. But keep in mind that we won’t be able to take responsibility for it. If you’ve got any valuables, it’s best to store them at the hotel.You can use the 24 hours coin-operated lockers at the following locations: Roadside Rest Area “Utoro-Shirietoku”, Utoro Onsen Bus Terminal.

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About the Company

Information about our company, which runs the LANTOKO Drift Ice Walk Tour, can be found here :

About the Company