In March of 2016, the Hokkaido Shinkansen, linking Aomori on Japan’s main island of Honshu with Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido via the Seikan Tunnel, was inaugurated. Until then, access to Hokkaido was challenging, but now with only one transfer, you can get there faster.
The Hokkaido Shinkansen will be extended to Sapporo, and it is scheduled to open by 2039.
Japan Rail Pass covers the Hokkaido Shinkansen route, including the super-fast Hayabusa train.
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Hokkaido Shinkansen route and map
Currently, two trains are operating on the Hokkaido line: Hayabusa and Hayate. These connect Japan’s main island of Honshu to Hokkaido. It offers you a convenient way to quickly travel north from either Tokyo or different cities in the Tohoku region.
Hayabusa Shinkansen
The Hayabusa is the main service running between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. From Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, the Hayabusa is on the Tohoku Shinkansen line. From Shin-Aomori on Honshu island to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on Hokkaido, it forms part of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
Hayabusa trains are operated jointly by JR East and JR Hokkaido.
Seat reservation is required on this service.
Departing from Tokyo Station, it stops at these stations:
- Ōmiya
- Sendai
- Morioka
- Shin-Aomori
- Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
Some Hayabusa trains also stop at a few smaller stations, such as Furukawa, Ichinoseki and Kitakama. However, most Hayabusa trains skip them.Once you arrive, you will need to take the local Hakodate Liner to reach the city of Hakodate.
Hayate Shinkansen
Hayate trains usually operate one return service per day during the morning and late evening between Morioka (Tohoku Shinkansen line) and Shin Hakodate and one return service per day between Shin Aomori and Shin Hakodate.
It typically stops at the following stations:
- Shin-Aomori
- Okutsugaru-Imabetsu
- Kikonai
- Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
Some Hayate trains also make stops at Ninohe, Hachinohe, and Shichinohe-Towada.
Again, it is mandatory to book your seat before boarding the Hayate train, since there are no non-reserved cars. If all reserved seats have already been booked, standing tickets will be made available.
Once in Shin Hakodate, the Hakodate Liner operates 16 shuttle services per day to reach Hakodate station. The Hakodate Liner connects Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station and Hakodate Station in just 15 minutes and links the shinkansen with all train lines with 16 round trips operating per day. Travel times are 15 to 22 minutes and ten return services are scheduled per day.
Stations along the Hokkaido Shinkansen
The Hokkaido line starts at Shin-aomori (where it connects with the Tohoku Shinkansen line to Tokyo) on Honshu island and goes to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, in Hokkaido. It stops at the following stations:
- Shin-Aomori
- Okutsugaru Imabetsu
- Kikonai
- Shin-Hakodate Hokuto
Below is a table illustrating all the stops from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. Please note that the section of the Hayabusa service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori is on the Tohoku Shinkansen line.
| Station | Hayabusa | Hayate |
| Tokyo | Yes | No |
| Ueno | Some | No |
| Ōmiya | Yes | No |
| Sendai | Yes | No |
| Morioka | Yes | Some |
| Ninohe | Some | Some |
| Hachinohe | Some | Some |
| Shichinohe-Towada | Some | Some |
| Shin-Aomori | Yes | Yes |
| Okutsugaru-Imabetsu | Some | Yes |
| Kikonai | Some | Yes |
| Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | Yes | Yes |
Hokkaido Shinkansen timetable
Hayabusa operates hourly services from Tokyo, providing a reliable connection to southern Hokkaido.
The Hayate trains operate a few times daily between Shin-Aomori or Morioka and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.
Below are the current departure times and travel duration for each route. All seats must be reserved, so make sure to book in advance.
From Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
| Departure | Arrival | Fare |
| 6:33 | 8:07 | 8,290 yen |
| 7:56 | 9:29 | 9,140 yen |
| 9:04 | 10:30 | 8,290 yen |
| 9:51 | 11:22 | 8,290 yen |
| 11:18 | 12:50 | 8,290 yen |
From Morioka to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
| Departure | Arrival | Fare |
| 6:54 | 9:29 | 14,750 yen |
| 7:59 | 10:30 | 13,900 yen |
| 8:50 | 11:22 | 13,900 yen |
| 21:38 | 23:57 | 13,900 yen |
Tokyo to Sapporo and Hokkaido
Traveling from Tokyo to Sapporo by train is easy and comfortable thanks to Japan’s high-speed rail network. The journey combines two Shinkansen lines and a limited express service.
You’ll start by boarding the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori. This continues seamlessly as the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. You do not need to make a transfer if you’re on a direct Hayabusa or Hayate train.
Below is a table with the timetable for the Hayabusa service from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto:
| Departure | Arrival | Travel Time |
| 6:32 | 11:11 | 4h 39m |
| 7:20 | 11:44 | 4h 24m |
| 8:20 | 12:47 | 4h 27m |
| 9:36 | 14:05 | 4h 29m |
| 10:20 | 14:44 | 4h 24m |
| 11:20 | 15:47 | 4h 27m |
| 12:20 | 16:47 | 4h 27m |
| 13:20 | 17:47 | 4h 27m |
| 14:20 | 18:47 | 4h 27m |
| 15:20 | 19:47 | 4h 27m |
| 16:20 | 20:47 | 4h 27m |
| 17:20 | 21:47 | 4h 27m |
| 18:20 | 22:47 | 4h 27m |
| 19:20 | 23:47 | 4h 27m |
From Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, transfer to the Limited Express Hokuto, which takes you directly to Sapporo Station in about 3 hours and 30 minutes. In total, the trip takes roughly 7.5 to 8 hours, depending on your connection, and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
From Sapporo, you can easily get to New-Chitose Airport taking a Rapid Airport Express via the JR Chitose line, which is also included in the JR Pass.
Super Hokuto trains
The Hokuto and Super Hokuto are limited express train services between Sapporo and Hakodate in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It takes The journey time of the Super Hokuto is approximately 30 minutes faster than the regular Hokuto.
Gran Class cars
The Hayabusa trains feature Gran Class cars – first-class travel that far exceeds that of the green class. The Gran Class involves the use of a special train car with ample seating room, as well as the constant attention of your host or hostess. Trains generally have one Gran Class car along with standard and green cars.
The train fare itself is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but holders must pay for an additional Gran Class charge, that is, the difference to the standard or Green Class ticket (depending on your pass). These charges vary slightly for a Hayabusa ride or for a Hayate ride from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo.
JR Pass and JR Hokkaido Rail Passes
The full journey from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Additionally, the JR East–South Hokkaido Rail Pass includes travel between Tokyo and southern Hokkaido, but does not include the Shinkansen.
If you only need a pass for within Hokkaido, the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass and the Hokkaido Free Pass cover travel between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo.
Future plans for the Hokkaido Shinkansen
The goal for the Hokkaido Shinkansen is for it to reach Sapporo. Plans to extend the line to Sapporo were slated to be completed by 2030 but, due largely to tunnel construction difficulties, have been delayed to 2039.
The 211.3 km extension will be approximately 76% in tunnels, including major tunnels such as Oshima, Teine, and Shiribeshi. When the section to finally Sapporo opens, estimated travel time from Tokyo to Sapporo will be 5 hours and 1 minute.