Hokkaido: Excursão de um dia no novo quebra-gelo GARINKO GO Ⅲ (partida de Sapporo)

Lång resa men bussen för vår återresa var inte lika bekväm som utresan, på något sätt bytte operatören buss men överlag var det en bra resa.

A unique experience to see ice breaking. We got to see some small towns along the way. Takinoue would be nice to come back to when the flowers are in bloom, and we were lucky to see two seals (so cute!). Thank you to Yamada-san, Miyamoto-san, and driver Sudo-san for a lovely experience.

It was a trip that made the whole family happy. Our 8-year-old had a blast, and we made many new family memories. I highly recommend this itinerary.

Highly recommended to join this tour. You can rest on the bus during the 5-hour journey to Monbetsu. There were a few stops for restroom breaks, so no need to worry about train schedules or finding the correct train or bus. A hassle-free trip! The tour guide couldn't speak English well, but she wrote down the information on paper and went to each foreigner individually to explain the bus rules and the trip itinerary. A very passionate person!

The Japanese guide's English was terrible. She barely shared any information and seemed more concerned about passengers littering the coach. However, she did provide details in Japanese, as there were Japanese passengers, and they were somehow seated in the front row. The seating plan was also poorly organized, causing a lot of confusion. They should have simply labeled the seats on the diagram. It was a 12-hour tour, with one hour dedicated to the cruise. It's worthwhile if you see the drift ice; otherwise, I'll be very disappointed.

Well, overall, this trip was excellent. The only real regret was that due to bad weather and rough seas, none of the icebreaker ships could depart. We were already about two-thirds of the way there when we received notification from the cruise company that all ships had to return to port. When we arrived at our destination, it was indeed true; we saw the incredibly rough waves. We can't blame the ship company for this; they did refund us in the end. It's just a real shame, as we traveled a long way specifically to see this natural wonder. However, throughout the trip, both the tour guide and the driver, who were locals from Sapporo, Japan, were very patient and kind, even though their English might not have been perfect. Communication wasn't really an issue. They also took us to other attractions, including the Ice Museum and the fish market, so overall, the experience was still quite good.

We were very lucky to see the ice floes! The 24-hour cancellation policy is very flexible, allowing us to continuously check the Hokkaido Coast Guard's ice floe status beforehand to make a decision. The assembly on the day of departure was smooth. Our guide, Mr. Miyagi, spoke a little English, and the onboard commentary was translated into English and Chinese via an app. The English translation was accurate, while the Chinese translation was not as good, but it was sufficient for the elderly to understand. The guide was also very friendly and tried his best to help with any questions. Although the drive was long, the scenery was beautiful, and bathroom breaks were well-arranged. This tour is perfect for allowing seniors to rest after a day of extensive walking on a self-guided tour. Overall, we are very satisfied and highly recommend this itinerary.

Sehr bequemer Innenplatz auf dem Schiff, wenn Sie es warm haben möchten. Die Tour ist sehr schön und die Schifffahrt ist ein sehr lustiges Erlebnis.

Although we couldn't see any drift ice, the experience was good. The boat was very stable. Even though it was a Japanese tour, the pick-up and meeting times were clear and easy to understand, and we could communicate with the guide.

A very special experience. Thank you to the tour guide for their attentiveness.