Introduction
JR Hokkaido is the regional railway operator in the island of Hokkaido, connecting Sapporo, Hakodate, Hokuto, Asahikawa, Wakkanai, Abashiri, Obihiro and Kushiro.
Trains operated by JR Hokkaido
JR Hokkaido operates the Shinkansen high-speed railway service with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
- - Hokkaido Shinkansen between Aomori and Hokuto
Shinkansen trains carry Gran Class Cars with first class seats, Green Cars with business class seats and Ordinary Cars with standard class seats. In total, Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Gran Class Car Seat, Green Car Seat and Reserved Seat.
JR Hokkaido also operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service stopping at major stations
- - Express is a semi-fast service stopping at major stations
- - Rapid is a fast service stopping at most stations
- - Local is a slow service stopping at all stations
When travelling on conventional rail, the standard ticket or the rail pass allows the passenger to access the platform and board Limited Express trains as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains.
On Limited Express trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat. In case of travelling on Reserved Seat, passengers are required an extra ticket for the Reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Japan.
Routes
Travel with ticket
We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido.
Hokkaido Shinkansen serving Aomori and Hokuto
| Stations | HAYABUSA | HAYATE |
| Shin-Aomori | ||
| Okutsugaru-Imabetsu | ||
| Kikonai | ||
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | HOKUTO | SUZURAN |
| Sapporo | ||
| Shin-Sapporo | ||
| Chitose | — | |
| Minami-Chitose | ||
| Numanohata | — | |
| Tomakomai | ||
| Shiraoi | — | |
| Noboribetsu | ||
| Horobetsu | — | |
| Washibetsu | — | |
| Higashi-Muroran | ||
| Datemombetsu | ||
| Toya | ||
| Oshamambe | ||
| Yakumo | ||
| Mori | ||
| Onumakoen | ||
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | ||
| Goryokaku | ||
| Hakodate |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | KAMUI | LILAC | SOYA | SAROBETSU |
| Sapporo | ||||
| Iwamizawa | ||||
| Bibai | ||||
| Sunagawa | ||||
| Takikawa | ||||
| Fukagawa | ||||
| Asahikawa | ||||
| Wassamu | ||||
| Shibetsu | ||||
| Nayoro | ||||
| Bifuka | ||||
| Otoineppu | ||||
| Teshio-Nakagawa | ||||
| Horonobe | ||||
| Toyotomi | ||||
| Minami-Wakkanai | ||||
| Wakkanai |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | KAMUI | LILAC | OKHOTSK | TAISETSU |
| Sapporo | ||||
| Iwamizawa | ||||
| Bibai | ||||
| Sunagawa | ||||
| Takikawa | ||||
| Fukagawa | ||||
| Asahikawa | ||||
| Kamikawa | ||||
| Shirataki | ||||
| Maruseppu | ||||
| Engaru | ||||
| Ikutahara | ||||
| Rubeshibe | ||||
| Kitami | ||||
| Bihoro | ||||
| Memambetsu | ||||
| Abashiri |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | TOKACHI | OZORA |
| Sapporo | ||
| Shin-Sapporo | ||
| Minami-Chitose | ||
| Oiwake | ||
| Shin-Yubari | ||
| Shimukappu | ||
| Tomamu | ||
| Shintoku | ||
| Tokachi-Shimizu | ||
| Memuro | ||
| Obihiro | ||
| Ikeda | ||
| Urahoro | ||
| Shiranuka | ||
| Kushiro |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Travel with rail pass
We facilitate the purchase of different rail pass with JR Hokkaido valid for unlimited travel between Sapporo, Hakodate, Hokuto, Asahikawa, Wakkanai, Abashiri, Obihiro and Kushiro in the island of Hokkaido.
Travellers with JR Hokkaido Rail Pass (5-day), JR Hokkaido Rail Pass (7-day) and JR Hokkaido Rail Pass (10-day) can travel on Express, Rapid and Local trains with Non-reserved seats. Passengers can also travel on Limited Express trains with Non-reserved seat or travel on Reserved Seat by receiving a Reserved Seat ticket before boarding, as this is included in the rail pass.
Hokkaido Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Hokkaido Area Pass (7-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 7 consecutive days.
Hokkaido Area Pass (10-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 10 consecutive days.
Destinations
JR Hokkaido serves the following destinations in Japan:
Hokkaido island
Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan and comprises only one prefecture, Hokkaido, whose capital is Sapporo. This region is served by the Hokkaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido.
Train routes to Hakodate and Hokuto
Train routes to Wakkanai
Train routes to Abashiri
Train routes to Obihiro
Train routes to Kushiro
Tohoku region
Tohoku region comprises Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. This region is served by the Hokkaido Shinkansen operated by JR Hokkaido.
Train routes to Aomori
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| JR Hokkaido | Change time/date |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Airport) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Hokuto) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hokuto) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kamui) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Lilac) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Lilac) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Okhotsk) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Ozora) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Ozora) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Sarobetsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Sarobetsu) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Soya) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Soya) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Tokachi) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tokachi) | Permitted |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (7-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (10-day) | Permitted |
If you wish to change your booking with JR Hokkaido, please Contact Us. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
- No change once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| JR Hokkaido | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Airport) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Hokuto) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hokuto) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Kamui) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Lilac) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Lilac) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Okhotsk) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Ozora) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Ozora) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Sarobetsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Sarobetsu) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Soya) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Soya) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Tokachi) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tokachi) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (7-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Hokkaido Pass (10-day) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your booking with JR Hokkaido, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 320 JPY of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the physical ticket has not been issued by the ticket vending machine
- No refund once the physical ticket has been issued by the ticket vending machine