Train Travel for Ice and Snow Viewing (Part 1) / JR’s Winter-Only Ice Drift Limited Express, Entering a COOL World

By Wu Yongcheng

Winter in Hokkaido is covered in snow everywhere, creating a white world. The most eye-catching travel highlights during this time of year are undoubtedly the various ice and snow festivals and hot springs. Participating in these once-a-year events is actually quite simple — just refer to various JR Hokkaido information sources and plan carefully, and you can take winter-limited sightseeing trains to enjoy the vast snowy landscapes. For Taiwanese travelers from subtropical regions who rarely see snow, embarking on a challenging railway journey through the cold of Hokkaido offers a uniquely thrilling and invigorating experience of freezing fun!

JR Hokkaido launches various winter-limited sightseeing trains in the winter. Among them, the limited express train from Sapporo to Abashiri — the “Ice Drift Limited Express Ohō 0? Ma? I Rei” — is the first of its kind, allowing easy connections to the Abashiri Ice Drift Sightseeing Cruise to go out to sea and witness the spectacular sight of icebreakers crashing through the ice.

“Ohōtsk” (オホーツク) is the name of the sea area in northeastern Hokkaido, translated into Chinese as the “Sea of Okhotsk.” Normally, the limited express train from Sapporo to Abashiri is called the “Okhotsk,” but in winter, JR Hokkaido adds one extra daily run of the “Ice Drift Limited Express Ohō 0? Ma? I Rei.” This special train features higher seating that allows passengers to enjoy the scenery along the way through large windows. The most interesting part is the ride certificate issued onboard — it comes in the form of a postcard. Just write the recipient’s address, drop it in the mailbox, and it will be stamped with the train’s exclusive postmark!

The “Ice Drift Limited Express Ohō 0? Ma? I Rei” runs from January 30 to March 7 in 2010, with one round trip per day. It departs Sapporo at 7:55 AM and arrives in Abashiri at 1:31 PM. Additionally, the train stops at Asahikawa, making it convenient for those who wish to extend their trip to Asahikawa Zoo.
 

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