BUS TRIP EASTERN HOKKAIDO

[Important]
About suspension of operation

Due to the spread of coronavirus infection, the contents of the "Higashi Hokkaido Express Bus"
scheduled to operate from January 23 have been changed to the following
1: No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, No. 10, and No. 11 will be suspended for all dates.
2: No. 5 and 6 will be suspended until 2/19 and will operate from 2/20 to 3/7.
3: No. 8 and 9 will be suspended until 2/10 and will operate from 2/11 to 3/7.

Enjoy easy access to famous and unique spots!

Take the East Hokkaido Express Bus!

Wintertime in Eastern Hokkaido is
packed with amazing scenery and
experiences not not available elsewhere in
Japan, like drift ice, art made from
snow
and ice, and the ice horizon
expanse. The “East Hokkaido Express
Bus” is a
seasonal bus that travels to all
sorts of tourist spots in wintertime
Eastern
Hokkaido. It gives you easy
access to famous spots difficult to
reach by car,
including Mombetsu,
Shiretoko, Abashiri, Kushiro, and the
Notsuke Peninsula.
Visit Eastern Hokkaido aboard
buses in search of amazing
experiences only available there!

The Weather in Eastern Hokkaido

Clothing guide You will need to wear a down jacket or a winter coat
You will also need a scarf and gloves.

Januaryaverage temperature

-5.4°

High-0.6°

Low-10.4°

Februaryaverage temperature

-4.7°

High-0.4°

Low-9.9°

Marchaverage temperature

-0.9°

High2.7°

Low-4.9°

In wintertime Eastern Hokkaido,
enjoy amazing experiences not
possible anywhere else.

The island of Hokkaido presents an
expansive array of locations, and the
winter
wonderland of Eastern Hokkaido
is an especially magnificent treasure
trove of
breathtaking scenery and
experiences not available anywhere
else. Below are some of
the best
Eastern Hokkaido experiences the East
Hokkaido Express Bus can take you to.

Experience intense cold and
go exploring in this midwinter Shiretoko adventure.

A World Natural Heritage Site, Shiretoko is packed with activities only available here, and only in midwinter. “Drift Ice Walk” and “Drift Ice Lounging” both present leisurely chances to soak-in breathtaking views of the ice covered ocean. The “Shiretoko Goko Lakes Tour” is an opportunity to explore the expansive natural world with no traces of human life. These and other extremely rare opportunities to dynamically enjoy intense cold await.

See details

New for this winter! A drift ice cruise aboard Garinko III.

The third Mombetsu icebreaker and tourist ship “Garinko III IMERU” will start service in January 2021. Board an even more powerful ship for this cruise and be amazed as it crushes drift ice on its course. Experience a drift ice adventure only possible in the Sea of Okhotsk, and only in Mombetsu, aboard this winter season’s highlight,
the all new Garinko!

See details

Betsukai Ice Horizon, a 360 degree breathtaking ice panorama

The Notsuke Peninsula juts into both the Sea of Okhotsk and Notsuke Bay. In midwinter, the waters freeze and the surface transforms into an ice expanse. The sprawling white plains surrounded by the ocean is gaining popularity as an “Ice Horizon”. Walk atop the frozen Notsuke Bay with snowshoes in the “Todowara Ice Horizon Walk Tour”, a tour quickly garnering massive popularity on social media!

See details

Frost crystal form flower shapes:
Lake Akan Frost Flowers

Frost crystals form on the frozen lake surface. As the air grows colder, they swell and blossom into frost flower shapes. This is miraculous natural art that can only form because the environs experience an intensely winter season with temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius. This magical world where the frozen lake surface can transform into a field of white flowers in a single night is a beautiful sight only possible at Lake Akan.

See details

There’s more fun!
Check out these amazing Eastern
Hokkaido winter scenes.

天に続く道空に向かって道路が続いているように見える斜里町の絶景スポット。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス1号・7号で観られます！ More →

美幌峠広大無辺な氷と雪の光景、神秘的な冬の屈斜路湖を一望できる。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス 5号・9号で観られます！ More →

冬の摩周湖湖面が結氷する1〜2月、摩周湖はサファイアブルーの輝きに。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス5号・8号で観られます！ More →

流氷砕氷船おーろら号オホーツク海の流氷を高速で追いかける爽快クルーズ体験を。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス1・2・3・4号で観られます！ More →

鶴居伊藤タンチョウサンクチュアリ特別天然記念物タンチョウを観察できる、日本有数の生息・繁殖地。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス2号で観られます！ More →

阿寒国際ツルセンター阿寒の雪原に舞う優雅なタンチョウの姿を観察できる。ひがし北海道エクスプレスパス5号で観られます！ More →

What is the East Hokkaido Express Bus?

East Hokkaido Express Bus is a seasonal bus that travels to midwinter Eastern Hokkaido
tourist spots. It gives you easy access to famous winter spots difficult to reach by car,
including Mombetsu, Shiretoko, Abashiri, Kushiro, and the Notsuke Peninsula.

See details

It is a winter-only bus
that operates in the
Eastern Hokkaido area
and always requires
prior-day reservation.

It covers Eastern
Hokkaido with 11
routes. Each route
operates once per day.

It will always traverse the
full circuit, even with only
one passenger. A taxi may
be employed depending
on the passenger count.

Reservations must be made
at least 7 days in advance. 3
day advance reservations
may be possible depending
on the reservation situation.

Reservations can be
made instantly online.

The winter Eastern Hokkaido Bus Network

The convenient Eastern Hokkaido Bus Network serves places difficult to reach by car in
winter and travelers unsure about driving. It covers all sorts of bus routes, including
seasonal buses and buses that link to Sapporo and other urban areas.

With a prior-day reservation, transfer for free among a network of over 20
bus routes, including the “Eastern Hokkaido Express Bus” and regional buses
linking cities! The perfect service to thoroughly enjoy travel in Eastern
Hokkaido in the winter!!