Shell large (up to 158.8 mm), solid, rather thick. Shape broad with high spire. Whorls rather convex. Subsutural slope straight on upper spire whorls, convex on penultimate and body whorls. Colour pale brown to red brown. Protoconch globose, white, consisting of about 1 1/2 whorl, diameter 5.1 mm. About 6 telcoconch whorls. Upper spire whorls with 1 or 2 sharp primary spiral cords, abapical one occasionally partly concealed under lower suture. Interspaces smooth. Penultimate whorl and adapical part of body whorl with 2 or 3 strong primary spiral cords. Interspaces with numerous fine secondary spiral cords of which the middle one is usually slightly stronger. Primary spiral cords on base finer, occasionally of equal strength as secondary spiral cords.
Axial sculpture consisting of fine incremental lines. Occasionally with a somewhat foliated varix. Aperture semi-ovate, usually orange. Columella smooth. Callus rather thick, glossy, white, adapical part straight and following preceding whorl, abapical part slightly twisted with a gentle curve situated beside the siphonal fasciole. Outer lip white, simple, with a weak angulation situated under primary spiral cords, with a typical short, usually sharp, twist near the suture. Siphonal canal short, broad, wide open. Operculum corneous, thick, dark brown.

Neptunea aurigena apeliota n. subsp. has rather sharp primary spiral cords which become broader on the body whorl only. The secondary spiral cords are fine. The shells collected off southern Sakhalin are heavy and have a more angulate shape.
The broad form of Neptunea aurigena aurigena differs in having slightly broader but weaker primary and secondary spiral cords resulting in smoother interspaces, a smoother shape with convex whorls and usually a flaring lip.
Neptunea cybaea n. sp. differs in the broader primary but especially secondary spiral sculpture, the broader shape with rounder aperture, the thin shell and the paler colour. Also the range is different (off Japan).
Neptunea constricta is similar in shape but differs in having a higher number of primary spiral cords, broader interspaces and usually convexer whorls. Etymology: Neptunea aurigena apeliota n. subsp. is derived from the Latin expression apeliotes, meaning "easterly wind", which refers to where this subspecies comes from: Japan in the east where the nominal subspecies is living, as if it was blown to the west (Russia) by the wind.

Type locality: Russia, Russian coast of the Sea of Japan (Primoryc), Peter the Great Bay.
Neptunea aurigena apeliota n. subsp. lives off the south Russian coast and is known from Peter the Great Bay, from southern Sakhalin and eastern Sakhalin. If further study reveals that the much heavier shells collected off Sakhalin represent another distinct subspecies, the range will be limited to the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan (Primoryc).