Transportation From Hakodate To Sapporo: Which Option Is The Best?

Last Updated on October 24, 2025 by Audrey

Sapporo and Hakodate are both popular cities to visit in Hokkaido, Japan’s northern region. While Sapporo is well-known as the largest city in Hokkaido, Hakodate has its own unique charm as a coastal onsen town with beautiful oceanside views and the stunning star-shaped Goryokaku Fort.

Although both cities are in Hokkaido, they’re a bit far from each other. Hakodate is located in southern Hokkaido and takes about four hours to reach by train. While the train may be the most popular option for its convenience, you can also travel between the two cities by plane, car, or express bus.

I took the train from Sapporo to Hakodate and flew out of Hakodate Airport when I left Hokkaido. I’ll walk you through my entire experience, analyze the other ways to travel, and recommend the best way for you to get from Hakodate to Sapporo.

Limited Express Train from Hakodate to Sapporo

The easiest way to get from Hakodate to Sapporo is undoubtedly the Limited Express train from Hakodate Station. You don’t have to drive, don’t need an international driver’s license, and won’t have to deal with baggage limit constraints.

The Limited Express Hokuto train takes around 3.5 to 4 hours to travel from Hakodate Station to Sapporo Station. Trains depart approximately every hour, starting around 06:00. The last train to Sapporo leaves just before 19:00.

How to Book Tickets

You can either book a one-way ticket or purchase the JR Hokkaido Pass if you plan to use the train frequently during your trip. I almost bought the JR Hokkaido Pass but ended up purchasing single-use tickets instead. I’ll explain why later in the post.

Tickets can be purchased online through the official website, on Klook, or at JR Ticket offices. Ticket sales and seat reservations open at 10:00 JST one month before the travel date. If you book online, you’ll need to print your tickets.

I paid ¥9,440 (around $60 USD) for a reserved seat on the train, which is the cheapest option. Green car seats are ¥13,100. Keep in mind that you can only buy up to 6 tickets at once.

This is the official JR East Website where I bought tickets, but you can also purchase on Klook.

For any help, I would go to the JR Information Office. I went there to print out all my tickets, and they have English speakers to assist foreigners. If you need to exchange a ticket, you can also do so at the JR Information Offices.

Booking on JR East

To book on JR East, you can search by station or by line. If you search by line, it is the Hakodate/Muroran Line (Sapporo - Hakodate). If you search by city, scroll to the bottom to Hakodate.

Input your date of travel, desired departure time, and the number of passengers (up to 6 in one entry).

The basic fare ticket and Limited express ticket are two separate tickets. If you have a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail pass, you can purchase just the limited express ticket for ¥3,170.

Booking on Klook

Klook seems more user-friendly for booking tickets, and they charge approximately the same price. It's an additional $1 to save yourself the headache of the extra clicking around on the JR East website.

When I searched for train tickets, all the available train times showed up, instead of JR East where you only see two available train times depending on what time you select. It’s easier to see all your options laid out.

I think next time I use a limited express train or Shinkansen I'll try Klook instead of booking on JR East.

🚅 You can use Klook to search for Hakodate to Sapporo tickets here! 🚅

Ordinary Car vs Green Car

When you buy tickets, you have the option between purchasing an ordinary car or green car.

Think of green car like 'first class'. They offer more space, and seating is a bit more comfortable and luxurious.

Personally, I think the ordinary cars are already very comfortable, and I had no problem riding it for 4 hours. People are very respectful and quiet in the ordinary car, so I suggest saving your money and riding the ordinary car.

What to expect on the train

I loved my experience riding the ordinary car on the Limited Express Hokuto between Hakodate and Sapporo!

The Limited Express train is really comfortable, with reclining seats, a meal tray, and a hanger for bags and coats. The seats are grouped together in twos. There’s overhead space for small bags, but not much room for large luggage (I recommend using a luggage delivery service to transport your checked bags). No food is served on the train, so make sure to grab a snack and drinks at the station before departing.

The scenery is very relaxing, with lots of mountain views and forests. You’ll pass by Mount Komagatake and Funka Bay. The train is quiet, with very few bumps, and I even fell asleep for an hour. I usually get carsick everywhere—subways, cars, boats, etc.—but I never got motion sickness taking the train in Japan!

Express Train Tips:

• Definitely arrive early! You’re in a foreign country, and the train system can be a little confusing. Aim to arrive at the train station 45 minutes early so you don’t miss your train.
• If you need assistance, the information desks at the station are very helpful. I use Google Translate to communicate and ask for directions, as there aren’t as many English speakers in Hakodate compared to Sapporo.
• Don’t bring large luggage—it’s difficult to store. I recommend using a luggage transport service like Yamato if you need to transport check-in luggage.
• I opted for reserved seating because I traveled in a group. As of now, the limited express train only accepts reserved seating, so you’ll have to make seat reservations after purchasing. You can do so online at JR East, at a machine kiosk, or at the JR Information Office.

Flying from Hakodate Airport

Flying from Hakodate to Sapporo is another option you can choose. Hakodate Airport isn't a big airport, so it's quite easy to get around pretty quickly.

ANA and Japan Airlines have frequent flights from Hakodate to Sapporo for around $50 (¥8,000) one way, which is very affordable. Flights usually leave every few hours.

Plane tickets are very comparable to train tickets in price, and at first glance, it might seem like you’d save a lot of time by flying.

But if you account for the flight time (40 minutes), time spent arriving at the airport (1 hour), and the additional time to get to Sapporo (35-45 minutes), the total transit time can almost become 3 hours, compared to 3.5-4 hours by train.

Another major thing to consider is that domestic flights limit carry-on baggage to 10 kg (20 lbs), which could be an issue for you (it was for me!).

✈️ Book flights to Sapporo on Trip.com or CheapOAir ✈️

Getting to Hakodate airport

We took a bus straight from our hotel in the Yunokawa Hot Spring area to Hakodate Airport. It was a super quick 10-15 minute bus ride for around ¥230.

There was lots of space for luggage storage and the bus was pretty crowded, but we managed to get seats.

Make sure to bring cash for the bus fare. This was the only bus that only took cash and didn't accept IC Transit cards, which was a first for me!

My Flight experience at Hakodate Airport

We arrived around 1.5 hours early to our flight and checked in super easily. The airport isn’t very big, so you don’t have to walk too far to the gate.

In addition to local shops, there's also gachapon to keep you entertained, plus some stores and restaurants to grab food from.

The only thing I would warn you to watch out for is domestic flight baggage weight! In the states, we're allowed to have a 30 lb carry-on. In domestic flights in Japan, the baggage limit is 20 lbs. Even though we shipped our main luggage between hotels with Yamato Luggage Delivery, I still had a bit of trouble making my carry-on weigh 20 lbs. I guess I bought too many souvenirs…

There are scales in the airport so you can test your luggage weight, but I recommend grabbing a luggage scale if you can. It's saved me tons of time on flights, and I always bring it when I travel!

Meeting a local artist at Hakodate Airport

While we were at the airport, we stumbled upon a hidden gem.

We met local artist Sho Onishi, who creates breathtaking paintings of Hakodate. I purchased this beautiful painting of Goryokaku Park and Tower for $140, and it's one of the pieces we're most proud of in our home. We carried it all along our trip and on the flights home. It was worth it!

I actually wanted the large painting of the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, but it was too big to fit in my suitcase! I don’t think I could have carried it all over Japan, and he doesn’t ship overseas, unfortunately. The colors of the sunset were so beautiful though.

Now, I’m not telling you to visit Hakodate Airport to grab a painting, but if you happen to fly from Hakodate Airport, check if he’s around! You can also check out his gallery here.

Who would have thought I'd find something so stunning in Hakodate Airport? Thank you, Sho!!!

Getting from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo

Once you arrive at New Chitose Airport, you actually still aren’t in Sapporo yet. You’ll arrive in New Chitose and need to commute to Sapporo city. It’s about 30 minutes by train to the station, 1 hour by car or taxi, and 1 hour and 20 minutes by airport bus.

I personally suggest taking the Rapid Airport Train because it’s the easiest way. The train departs from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Sapporo every 15 minutes and costs ¥1,150 ($7 USD) for a one-way trip. You’ll arrive at Sapporo Station in 35–45 minutes, but keep in mind getting out of the station and getting to your hotel could add an extra 15-20 minutes to your total commute.

You can opt for reserved seats for ¥530 more if you’d like. I took the unreserved car, and while it was very full, we still managed to get seats. If you have a large party, kids, or your Sapporo accommodations are far from Sapporo Station, then I would consider taking a taxi or airport bus.

The airport bus could be a good alternative if you have lots of luggage. You can check the official website to see if your hotel is a designated stop on the Airport Bus.

Is a Day Trip from Hakodate to Sapporo Worth It?

While I haven't done a Sapporo day trip, I have done a Hakodate day trip and have stayed in Sapporo as well, so I can give my input on whether I think a day trip to Sapporo is enough.

To be concise, I don't think a day trip from Hakodate to Sapporo is worth it because Sapporo is a big city and there are 2 to 3 days worth of things to do around there. I think if you can manage to stay in Sapporo for a night or two, it would be well worth your time.

However, if your circumstances only allow you to do a day trip from Hakodate to Sapporo, then I still think Sapporo is worth visiting. I suggest you hop on the earliest train at 06:00 AM to get to Sapporo by 10:00 AM to maximize your time.

The last train from Sapporo to Hakodate is just before 7, so you'll have 7-8 hours to enjoy the city.

One Day Sapporo Itinerary Ideas

I'll be working on a one-day Sapporo itinerary soon, but here are some suggestions of what you can do during your day trip to Sapporo. You can also check out my 3-day and 5-day Sapporo itineraries for more ideas.

• See Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower
• Visit one of Sapporo's oldest buildings, the Sapporo Clock Tower
• Eat kaisendon for lunch at Nijo Market
• If you're a beer fan, take a tour of the Sapporo Beer Museum
• Go thrift shopping at Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade
• Have soup curry at Garaku or Suage+ for dinner
• Walk around Susukino before heading back

I think a day trip to Sapporo would benefit people who don't want to stay in a big city for long but want to prioritize Sapporo's highlights or have limited time but still want to squeeze a trip to Sapporo in their itinerary.

Should you get the JR Hokkaido Pass?

If you think you’ll be visiting a lot of cities and riding the JR Trains frequently, you may want to look into the JR Hokkaido Pass.

What is the JR Pass?

The JR Pass is available only for foreign visitors, and you can ride the JR unlimited times (except for the Hokkaido Shinkansen) during your pass period. You also get to reserve seats for free.

Keep in mind that JR is only one type of railway train, and it’s typically the long-distance limited express trains and Shinkansen bullet trains. It may not cover the subway trains you’ll use when traveling inside Hakodate or Sapporo.

How to purchase the JR Hokkaido pass

There are three different Hokkaido JR Passes, but make sure you get the JR Hokkaido Pass that includes the total Hokkaido area so that Hakodate is also covered, not Sapporo-Noboribetsu or Sapporo-Furano.

You have a choice between the 5-day, 7-day, and 10-day pass. You can purchase via authorized agents like Klook or the official JR Pass website before arriving to Japan, and then print the pass at the JR information desk. You could also purchase it in person when you arrive in Japan for ¥1,000 more.

Why I skipped the JR Hokkaido Pass

I contemplated buying the 5-day for ¥20,000 since a one-way ticket on the Hokuto Limited Express costs ¥9,440, which is already half of the JR Rail pass.

I ended up not buying the pass after learning that the Sapporo Station JR ticketing office would be closed by the time I arrived and that you can’t pick up Hokkaido Rail Passes in Tokyo. You have to pick up the Hokkaido Rail Pass at a designated station in Hokkaido. I even emailed them to double-check that I couldn't pick up at Narita Airport.

I was hoping that the pass would also cover the rapid airport train from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo, but I couldn’t pick it up in time. After calculating all my other train tickets minus the Sapporo Rapid Airport, the cost of all my train tickets was pretty much equal to ¥20,000, so I skipped the pass.

If I had been able to pick up my pass before hopping on the Rapid Airport Train to Sapporo, then I would have gotten it. The free seat reservations and unlimited rides are a big plus. I recommend calculating all your expected train routes to figure out if the JR Hokkaido Pass is worth it for you.

💡 Pro tip: To maximize the JR Hokkaido Pass value, you should include visits to multiple cities like Sapporo, Otaru, or Asahikawa.

Other Transportation Options

Though I recommend the train and plane the most, there are a few other ways you could get from Hakodate to Sapporo.

Renting a car from Hakodate to Sapporo

If you’d like to drive, you could rent a car and drive to Sapporo. Rental car estimates are around $45-50/day.

While you definitely do not need a car while you’re in Sapporo, since the subway system is superb, a rental car in Hakodate could be beneficial since it’s a bit more spaced out and buses are used more frequently there.

Driving from Hakodate to Sapporo takes about 4 hours and 20 minutes, with a 3120 toll. I would recommend taking a car if you’d like to stop along Lake Toya and Shikotsu-Toya National Park, since there is very limited transit to those areas.

🚗 Book your car rental for Hakodate to Sapporo here! 🚗

Express Bus

Taking an express bus could be a great option, especially if a night bus fits with your schedule.

There are sightseeing buses that stop at popular tourist attractions at both Sapporo and Hakodate, like the Sapporo Clock Tower and Hokkaido Jingu Shrine in Sapporo, as well as the Goryokaku Fort and Yunokawa hot springs in Hakodate. Or you could hop on a night bus at 23:00 and arrive around 05:00-06:00!

Tickets are ¥3,660-¥4,900 ($23-31 USD). That’s half the price of trains and plane tickets!

The route takes about 5 hours, about an hour more than the limited express train. You’re allowed a free carry-on weighing up to 10 kg (20 lbs). Full-sized luggage is also allowed, but I couldn’t find out the price for luggage storage.

While I haven’t tried an express bus myself yet, it seems like the rows are arranged in staggered rows of 3 so everyone gets some space. The bus is air-conditioned, with blankets, privacy curtains, and reclining seats. You can check out more information on the Japan Bus Website here.

I think Express buses would suit young individuals who don’t mind taking a night bus to have more time to explore the city. I wouldn’t recommend it for families or those who have trouble sleeping in reclining chairs.

Choosing the Best Option for You

Here's a comparison chart of your different transportation options, taking in account several options like cost, duration, convenience, etc.!

Also, here's a cheat sheet for the best option based on your traveler type.

Conclusion: Hakodate to Sapporo

Overall, there are many different ways to get from Hakodate to Sapporo. It ultimately depends on your preferences, budget, and what stops you have on your itinerary.

I hope I was able to help you decide which route is best for you and how to purchase tickets! It can be very confusing booking train tickets and navigating your way through the station and airport, but as long as you give yourself a little extra time you’ll have a seamless journey getting to Sapporo from Hakodate.

Who knows, maybe you'll find a hidden gem along the way like I did!

If you need any help, you can always leave a comment or send me an email at audrey@getlostinjapan.com!

Feel free to check out my other Hakodate and Sapporo posts!

The BEST Places To Stay In Sapporo, Japan (2025)

Hakodate Hotel Guide: Where To Stay For The Best Experience

The Best Hakodate Itinerary: Stunning Views And Hokkaido Flavors

Is Hakodate Worth Visiting? A Beautiful Coastal Town in Japan