Photo/Illutration The decommissioned icebreaker Shirase is anchored in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. (Satoko Uehara)

FUNABASHI, Chiba Prefecture--Looking for a great way to break the ice with someone? 

Then a self-guided tour of the refurbished icebreaker Shirase that went into service in 1983 might do the trick.

The vessel, Japan’s third icebreaker for Antarctic expeditions, is anchored at the south quay of the Keiyo Food Complex here. The self-guided tours start July 8.

Naturally, some areas of the ship remain off-limits.

Operated by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the ship served in 25 Antarctic expeditions and succeeded in coming alongside the pier of Japan's Syowa Station 24 times.

The observation vessel was decommissioned in 2008. The scrapyard then beckoned due to difficulties in finding a new owner and high maintenance costs.

But even that proved difficult because of a drastic decline in scrap iron prices.

Then Chiba-based forecasting company Weathernews Inc. stepped in at the last minute and purchased the vessel.

Officially renamed SHIRASE, the ship was given a new lease of life as an exhibition facility.

It is currently owned by the WNI WxBunka Foundation, which was set up by Hiroyoshi Ishibashi, the late founder of Weathernews.

The self-guided tours allow visitors to explore the bridge as well as the 01 Deck on which a helicopter hangar is installed, along with other areas of the vessel.

Exhibits on display include materials that introduce the history of Japan's Antarctic research expeditions, biological specimens provided by expedition members and observation tools.

Reservations must be made through the official website at (https://shirase.info/).

For the time being, a maximum of 50 people are being allowed for self-guided tours between 10:30 a.m. and noon and again between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

It costs 500 yen ($3.50) for junior high school students or older and 300 yen for elementary school pupils.

“It is a rare ship that makes Antarctica feel quite real, even if it is 14,000 kilometers away from Japan,” said Shigeru Saegusa, 53, secretary-general of the WNI WxBunka Foundation who has served as a member of an Antarctic expedition on Shirase.

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