Kintetsu Group Wins Japan Award, Launches 2027 Hokkaido Drift Ice Tours

Club Tourism Co., Ltd., a Japanese travel agency, announced that its Hokkaido tour package for international tourists, which offers a drift ice experience, received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at the Tour Grand Prix 2026, the highest award for tourism products and services in Japan. Following the award, the company is preparing to launch this tour to the international market for the winter of 2027, primarily targeting tourists from East and Southeast Asia.

Key Highlights Leading to the Top Award

This tour is designed for Japanese and international tourists to travel together on the same itinerary, creating opportunities for cultural exchange through multilingual support. It also helps tourists access the Shiretoko and Abashiri areas, which are normally difficult to travel to independently during winter. The judging committee noted that this tour format helps reduce the risks associated with driving rental cars on snowy roads, as there are tour conductors and professional drivers throughout the trip.

In addition, the committee emphasised the support for the local economy and tourism sustainability, as the tour continuously brings tourists into the area, helping to distribute income to local accommodations and operators. It also incorporates knowledge about travel etiquette through the tour conductors.

7 Drift Ice Experience Highlights in 2 Days

The tour gathers Hokkaido's winter highlights into just two days across the Doto region, or eastern Hokkaido, which includes Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. There are a total of seven experience points:

• Viewing the panoramic scenery of the drift ice from Mount Tento
• Experiencing the drift ice in Shari town
• Viewing the drift ice from the large public bath at Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
• Oshinkoshin Waterfall
• Kitahama Station, the closest railway station to the drift ice
• Abashiri Roadside Station
• Boarding the Aurora icebreaker to experience the drift ice up close

For accommodation, the tour selects the Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel, a leading resort hotel in the Shiretoko area, allowing tourists to relax in the onsen and taste Hokkaido's unique cuisine after a full day of viewing the drift ice.

Departure Schedule and Booking Channels

The tour has scheduled departures from late January to early March 2027. Tourists from around the world can check departure dates and prices, and make bookings through Club Tourism's official multilingual website.

This tour package is of interest to trip planners and organisers looking for high-quality winter travel programmes in Japan, as well as tourists who wish to experience the drift ice without driving themselves, and hotel or tour professionals wanting to study a tour model that combines Japanese and international tourists on the same trip.