It takes approximately 4-4.5 hours from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and then at least another 3.5 hours on express trains to get to Sapporo, with a combined total travel cost of 27,90028,160 one way (depending on non-reserved v.s reserved). Taking the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sapporo. This is relieving for a number of reasons, whether you want to be able to make the very most of your Japan Rail Pass, and even if your priority is simply to avoid domestic flights in Japan. At least not yet. However, in 2030, the Hokkaido Shinkansen will be extended from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo, connecting the cities in less than an hour, and connecting Sapporo to Tokyo in between 4-5 hours. A standard taxi from Narita airport is usually about $200USD, over four times the price of this shared taxi service! 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Filed Under: Japan Trains Tagged With: Hakodate, Hokkaido, Sapporo, Shinkansen. There can be rate-changes depending on the time of year and vehicle size too, so be sure to check ahead for your specific journey. Kutchan itself is not especially well-know, but the station will quickly become one of Hokkaidos busiest when the Shinkansen opens. Some of the articles on this site contain affiliate links. I delve into the business of travel, and often the fun too. Although you can only ride the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate, at the time Im publishing this article, youll eventually be able to ride it all the way to Sapporo. You can start by checking budget airlines like Peach,Jetstar andSkymark. Each to their own. From the creators of Tokyo Cheapo, Japan Cheapo is a site dedicated to helping you get the most from your yen while travelling around Japan. Although this district is a common crossroads, and is somewhat known in trivial circles for the fact that it faces both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan, it isnt a common travel destination. The fare varies, but a one-way flight is often 9,000 or less, going up to 9,800 in peak seasons. For roughly 11,000 each way, you can also take a ferryfrom Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture (an hour and a bit from Tokyo) to Tomakomai, an hour south of Sapporo by train. The Japan Rail Pass is excellent value for long-distance travel and the Shinkansen extension to Hakodate is no exception. Although they largely stick around the amount mentioned above, during peak travel times they range from 17,200 to 22,200 for the cheapest option, so do check your dates online for the twilight and for the overnight services. However, thats nearly a decade away. - and the art of its native Ainu people. The one-way fare between Tokyo and Hakodate is between JPY22,810 for a regular reserved seat and JPY38,600 for first class, called Gran Class (about $201-340). The new station is far from the center of Hakodate as well, so an additional 20 to 25 minute journey and 360yen is required to get into the city. Although construction has begun through central California, under current projections the system wont link San Francisco with Los Angeles and Anaheim until 2029. Most of the way, anyway. The shinkansen line addition from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo Station is scheduled to open in 2030. Read on for the best ways to get from Tokyo to Sapporo. The new shinkansen stations also include Oku-Tsugaru-Imabetsu (in Honshu), and in Hokkaido, Kikonai Station. So unless you greatly prefer rail travel to air (flying into an ice covered airport in Northern Japan during winter is entirely safe, but might not be gentle on your nerves) catching the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodatehokuto Station doesnt make a lot of sense. En route from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hokkaido Shinkansen travels under the Tsugaru Strait via the Seikan Tunnel, which is the worlds underwater tunnel and which connects Honshu and Hokkaido islands. All rights reserved. That is why in March of 2016, the Hokkaido Shinkansen, linking Aomori on Japans main island of Honshu with Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido via the Seikan Tunnel, was inaugurated. Currently, this takes just over four hours onboard the Shinkansen Hayabusa, which is currently the fastest bullet train operating in Japan. By using our website you accept our Cookies Policy. There are early evening and late night departures, and the whole trip takes about 19 hours. The journey from Tokyo to Hakodate takes approximately 4 hours and 4 minutes. Guide to rental shops + our video on getting the best kimono experience in Tokyo. By the time this line opened, in March 2016, there was still a chance that Hokkaido (specifically Sapporo) would be chosen as a site for an Integrated Resort, a special type of hotel that includes a casino. This weekend Japans iconic rail network launched the newest addition to its system of shinkansen "bullet trains," connecting Tokyo for the first time by high-speed rail with the northern island of Hokkaido. Currently, two trains are operating on the Hokkaido line: Hayabusa and Hayate. Questions or comments about this article? Since March 2016 its been possible to take theShinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. Skyscanner offers a good comparison of whats available right now, and at what price. (Photo credit: JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images), PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. On the other side, the train journey from Tomakomai to Sapporo can either be made on a Limited Express service in 47 minutes for 2,830, or on local lines with one change in an hour for 1,680. The good news, if youre patient, is that you will eventually be able to ride the Shinkansen directly from Tokyo to Sapporo. The extension fromShin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo is planned to open by March 2030.Tunneling work on the Murayama tunnel started in March 2015 and is scheduled to be completed by March 2021. Currently, the Limited Express train journey from Hakodate to Sapporo takes at least as long as the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate! Station on March 26, 2016, a landmark extension of the iconic superfast transportation network. The long lead time is largely attributed to work boring tunnels through the island's mountains. Hayate trains usually operate one return service per day during the morning and late evening between Morioka and Shin Hakodate and one return service per day between Shin Aomori and Shin Hakodate. Of special note is Air Do (rhymes with hairdo),Hokkaidos own carrier thats headquartered in Sapporo. Having made the trip from a Tokyo to Hakodate 4 times in the last 18 months I can wholeheartedly recommend this means of travel, it is fast, comfortable, unbelievably punctual and with a JR pass extremely good value for money. Users must present a non-Japanese passport and evidence of a ticket to and from Japan upon check-in. A one-way train ride from Tokyo to Sapporo costs about the same as the 7-day Japan Rail (JR) Pass (29,650), which gives you virtually unlimited rides on bullet trains and other JR trains countrywide. Although the Shinkansen will cut a huge amount of time from the regular rail journey from Tokyo to Hakodate, the average travel time of over 4 hours compares to just 1 hour and 20 minutes by air. Traveling in the western parts of Japan? Travel times are 15 to 22 minutes. The train fare itself is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, butholders must pay for an additional Gran Class charge, that is, the difference to the standard or Green Class ticket (depending on your pass). Hachinohe is to the east of Aomori prefecture, and is an hour closer than Aomori Prefecture, taking either 7-8 hour or 14 hours depending on your toll choices. The Shinkansen ride from Hakodate to Tokyo from is very comfortable (posting this while still on the bullet train, in fact). This compares to a flight time of about an hour from Tokyo-Haneda to Hakodate airport, not counting the time it takes to reach either airport, or undergo security screening. Get ready for summer travels with all of these rail passes that any foreign passport holder can purchase, regardless of visa status. The challenge is eating it before it melts or collapses! We don't endorse any of the companies we link to but we are selective in terms of the companies that we choose. Last updated in May, 2022. Planning a trip to Japan, or just dreaming of one? It takes The journey time of the Super Hokuto is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes, 10 minutes faster than that of the Hokuto. From Kikonai it is easy to access other parts of southwestern Hokkaido. Finally, when the section to Sapporo opens, the estimated travel time from Tokyo to Sapporo will be roughly 5 hours. You know the famous Japan Rail Pass. About Series H5 Bullet Train (Hokkaido Shinkansen). This bottom bit took more than 10 years of development as it is. You should exercise careful judgement with any online purchase. The Japan Rail Pass allows you to travel on all JR trains in Hokkaido, including the Shinkansen. Tokyo NRT (Narita) and HND (Haneda) Airport Transfer Low Cost Taxi, Go-Karting in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know, Your Prepaid SIM Card Options for Travel in Japan, Renting a Pocket Wifi Router in Japan: Best Options, Cheapest Way to Transfer Your Money Out of Japan. This train employs the colors and designs represented Hokkaido's vibrancy in each part of the car. You can book combo overnight ferry and Sapporo hotel packages. Again, it is mandatory to book your seat before boarding the Hayate train, since there are no non-reserved cars. Japan Rail Pass covers the new Hokkaido Shinkansen route, including the super fast Hayabusa train. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, A 15 minute walk south of the lighthouse is the, For more details of the attractions at Cape Tappi download the official English language Sotogahama, Specialty foods in Kikonai include wagyu beef, scallops, and mutton barbecue. Its only real attraction is Umemura Koen, a small garden known among locals for its autumn colors. Famous for the aforementioned beer, an impressivesnow festival, and being a jumping-off point for exploring the rest of the large island. In summertime, meanwhile, the city is home to one of Japans tallest soft cream cones. Travel in comfort, avoid crowds and public transport, and experience Japan's natural wonders in a beautifully appointed camper van from DreamDrive, for as little as JPY12,900/day. Its another approximately 20 minutes by a connector train into Hakodate proper. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Eventual plans are for the shinkansen to reach Sapporo, Hokkaidos capital and Japan's fifth largest city, by 2030. The Hokkaido Shinkansen extends the Tohoku Shinkansen from the city of Aomori in the far north of Honshu, through the Seikan undersea tunnel and onwards to the city of Hakodate in the south of the island of Hokkaido. For more information onbullet train costs across Japan, check out our Shinkansen Fare Calculator. From Sapporo, you can easily get to New-ChitoseSapporo: once you get to Shin Hakodate station, you need to take the Ltd Express Super Hokuto or Express Hokuto (3h30). So far the greatest progress in high speed rail in the U.S. has been in California. The relatively recent and very significant extension to the northern branch of Japans high-speed rail network, the Hokkaido Shinkansen is worth considering if youre heading up north. Before, it took 5hrs and 30mins from Tokyo to Hakodate, but on the Hokkaido Shinkansen it takes 4 hours and 2 minutes to reach Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station. Here's what you can do with them. The Hokkaido Shinkansen: Is It Worth Your Time and Money? The penultimate stop of the Hokkaido Shinkansen will be in Shin-Otaru. Niseko is marginally closer, but the travelling time will still be at least 5 and a half hours with multiple transport transfers. Trek the trails of Japans ultimate hiking paradise, Tropical paradise a short flight from Tokyo.