Abashiri City, the city with the earliest name of any city or town in Japan, faces the Sea of Okhotsk. It's relatively warm throughout the year, with fewer snowy or rainy days than most other parts of Hokkaido. However, the temperature difference is greater than in any other region, resulting in sudden, unseasonable snowfall and record-breaking summer days. One of the area's tourist attractions is the Aurora drift ice sightseeing icebreaker. Even in the cold, cruising between the drift ice is an experience that's truly moving. You can enjoy the rare opportunity to see animals that live in the Sea of Okhotsk, such as seals. And into autumn, you can enjoy clam digging at Lake Notoro.