Hokkaido Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

Sapporo. A common brand of Japanese beer. Also, the capital city of Hokkaidō, Japan's northernmost island. Famous for the aforementioned beer, an impressive snow festival, and being Japan's biggest city and transit hub this far north. And now, here are the best ways to get from Tokyo to Sapporo. How to get from Tokyo to Sapporo Sapporo is approximately 500 miles (or about 800 km) from Tokyo as the crow flies. Options for making the trip from Tokyo to Sapporo include trains and planes but also roadtrips and ferries. If you have a JR Pass or a JR East–South Hokkaidō Pass we recommend taking the Shinkansen. Otherwise, flying will generally be the more economical choice -- especially if you're able to snag your tickets during a sale. If you're really here for the journey rather than the destination, then taking the ferry or roadtripping it up can be fun. We don't really recommend either though, since they're a lot slower and generally more expensive. Tokyo to Sapporo Travel Options Transport Comfort Price Time Emissions Booking Links Train ★★★★☆ –, cheaper with discount passes 7.5 – 8 hrs 14kg CO2 Order via Klook or Japan Experience or JRail Pass Flights ★★★★☆ - (exc. transfers) 1.5 hrs (exc. transfers) 147.8kg CO2 Search flights Ferry ★★☆☆☆ From (inc. transfers) 19 hrs (inc. transfers) 20.5kg CO2 Search ferries Roadtrip ★★★☆☆ Gas, rental + to ferry fee From 16 - 23 hours (without stops) 47.8kg CO2 (for 4 people) Search car rental Flying from Tokyo to Sapporo 1.5 hours flight time + airport travel time to Haneda or Narita to New Chitose Airport Air is by far the easiest way to get from Tokyo to Sapporo. The flight time is a reasonable 1.5 hours, though you have to take into account travel time to and from the airports. On the Tokyo side, different airlines fly out of both Narita and Haneda airports. If you book early enough or during a sale, you can snap up return tickets from Tokyo to Sapporo's New Chitose Airport for as little as (or, fellow Cheapos tell us, even less). The standard range is more like to . Those higher fares happen during peak periods such as Obon, New Year and Golden Week. In normal times, there are around 80 flights a day to New Chitose Airport from Haneda and Narita airports in Tokyo. That makes it one of the busiest air routes in the world. The disruptions caused by COVID-19 mean fewer flights each day, but you can still find plenty of flights between Tokyo and Sapporo. Haneda or Narita to Sapporo? Flights out of Haneda Airport tend to be at least more expensive than those out of Narita Airport. Still, don't rule Haneda out. The cost of getting all the way out to Narita Airport could end up cancelling out the savings on cheaper plane tickets. Check out our guides on traveling between Tokyo and Narita Airport and also for getting to Haneda Airport. Cheap flights to Sapporo It's best to look at LCCs (low-cost carriers) for good deals. You can start by checking budget airlines like Peach, Jetstar, and Skymark. Skyscanner offers a good comparison of what's available right now, and at what price. Air Do deals Of special note is Air Do (rhymes with hairdo), Hokkaidō's own carrier that's headquartered in Sapporo. Air Do has flights not only between Sapporo and other major cities in Japan, but also between Sapporo and smaller, regional Hokkaidō airports like Memanbetsu. For travelers living outside of Japan, Air Do offers a Welcome to Hokkaidō fare that can be purchased up to one day in advance. The fare varies, but a one-way flight is often or less, going up to in peak seasons. Users must present a non-Japanese passport and evidence of an international plane ticket to and from Japan upon check-in. Getting from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo New Chitose Airport is about 50 km from Sapporo, and there are regular direct trains and buses connecting the two. Trains take less than 40 minutes and cost only . For more details about airport trains and other transport options, check out our guide to getting from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo. Pro tip: Traveling with lots of luggage? Consider using a luggage delivery service to ship it onwards to your accommodation or the airport. Taking the Shinkansen to Sapporo (sort of) 8 hours ~ Tokyo to Hakodate by Shinkansen, Hakodate to Sapporo by Ltd. Express Can you take the bullet train from Tokyo to Sapporo? Yes. Most of the way, anyway. Since March 2016 it's been possible to take the Hokkaidō Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. That's in Hakodate, at the bottom of Hokkaidō, which is...not so close to Sapporo. While there are plans to extend the Shinkansen to Sapporo, that isn't scheduled to happen until 2030. In the meantime, there's a Ltd. Express service between Hakodate and Sapporo. It takes approximately 4–4.5 hours from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, which is currently the end of the line for the Hokkaidō Shinkansen. Then it's at least another 3.5 hours on express trains to get to Sapporo. So you're looking at a whole day of travel. How much does it cost? The total fare between Tokyo and Sapporo is . That's booking a through ticket on the Hokkaidō Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and the Ltd. Express Hokuto service between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen only has reserved seats but you can save by skipping the reserved seat on the Ltd. Express Hokuto. It's important to book the two segments of the journey together as a through ticket, in order to take advantage of JR East's transfer discount. This gives you a half-price discount on the Ltd. Express journey. Booking the tickets separately would cost significantly more. Working out train fares in Japan can be tricky. Learn more about how Shinkansen fares are calculated and how to find discount Shinkansen tickets from JR East. Getting a Japan Rail Pass for travel to Hokkaidō A one-way train ride from Tokyo to Sapporo costs over half as much as the 7-day Japan Rail (JR) Pass (), which gives you virtually unlimited rides on bullet trains and other JR trains countrywide. So if are keen on making a return trip to Hokkaidō you should seriously consider buying a JR Pass to economize. Regional rail passes for travel to Hokkaidō The East–South Hokkaidō Pass, which is a regional rail pass from JR East, also covers the train journey between Tokyo and Sapporo. The pass is a little cheaper at , but is only good for six consecutive days of travel. It also doesn't cover train travel in Hokkaidō beyond Sapporo. What about local trains? It's...possible. But, the journey is impossible to complete in one day. You're looking at 40 to 50 hours, including an overnight stop at some point when the trains stop running for the day. Plus, unless you have a Seishun 18 Ticket you're looking at or more one-way. If you really like the scenic route then it could be an interesting trip, but with 15 or more transfers it's not necessarily going to be relaxing. Also keep in mind that you'd still have to take the Shinkansen between Aomori (Honshū's northernmost prefecture) and Hokkaidō, since local trains no longer run on the Seikan Tunnel tracks. Or you could take a ferry instead (see below for more details on ferries between Aomori and Hokkaidō). Taking the ferry from Tokyo-ish to Sapporo-ish Around 19 hours to for the ferry alone Tokyo to Oarai port in Ibaraki, then Tomakomai port to Sapporo You can also take a ferry from Ōarai in Ibaraki prefecture (1 hour and a bit from Tokyo) to Tomakomai (1 hour south of Sapporo by train). There are early evening and late night departures, and the whole trip takes about 19 hours. Tickets start from about , but be aware that fares do vary depending on the time of year and whether you choose the twilight or overnight option (the latter being slightly pricier). During peak travel times they can range from to for the cheapest option, so do check your dates online for the twilight and for the overnight services. You can book combo overnight ferry and Sapporo hotel packages starting from . When booking, you can choose a cabin -- either economy or something slightly fancier, depending on your budget. The cheapest option involves a bit of floor space in a communal room. There is a kind of boat restaurant/cafeteria, so you'll be well-fed, in addition to well-bored by the time you arrive. Unless you're moving large objects or trying to tap into your inner pirate, we have to ask, why not just take the bullet train or fly? But we salute you, seafarer. Each to their own. Transfers eitherside The train journey from Tokyo to Ōarai takes 1 hour and 45 minutes, using a combination of limited express (JR Tokiwa or Hitachi service for Mito) and local Kashima Rinkai line trains, and costs . (Using regular trains costs and takes about 3 hours). On the other side, the train journey from Tomakomai to Sapporo can either be made on a limited express service in 47 minutes for or on local lines in an hour (with one change) for . You'll have to take a taxi or a local bus between Tomakomai Port and Tomakomai Station. Keep an eye out for bus and ferry deals in Hokkaidō when you book -- they vary depending on season but can be a better option price-wise, and smoother than dealing with trains too. Roadtripping from Tokyo to Sapporo 16 hours with toll roads (23 hours without) for tolls, to for the ferry, plus fuel Drive from Tokyo to Aomori, ferry to Hakodate or Tomakomai, then drive to Sapporo Unfortunately, you cannot drive directly to Hokkaidō as the Seikan Tunnel only takes bullet and freight trains. If you have the time, money, and the inclination, however, you can drive from Tokyo to Aomori prefecture in northern Honshū and then take a ferry across the strait. From there, you can continue on to Sapporo. Pro-tip: There are plenty of great stop-offs to choose from in Tōhoku along the way. Travel time and cost The main thing that will influence the time and cost of roadtripping from Tokyo to Sapporo is toll roads. If you don't mind paying around in tolls, you can make the trip in about 16 hours. On the other hand, if you'd rather avoid the tolls you're looking at over 23 hours driving. If you decide to go with the toll roads, make sure to check out our article on how to save money on tolls roads. Ferries from Aomori to Hokkaidō There are a few different ferry routes from which to choose. Keep in mind that car fares for the ferry are quite expensive, and while most companies include the driver's fare in the price, additional tickets are required for other passengers, with some discounts available. There can be changes to rates depending on the time of year and vehicle size too, so be sure to check ahead for your specific journey. From Aomori and Ōma to Hakodate Both Aomori City and Ōma have ports for ferries to Hakodate. Ōma, which is further north than Aomori City, is closer to Hokkaidō and therefore a little cheaper. The drive from Tokyo to Aomori City takes around 8–9 hours on toll roads (or 15 hours if avoiding tolls). Continuing to the port in Ōma adds an extra hour to this. From Hakodate, Sapporo is a 4.5 hour drive, taking you along the coast and through the mountains. Car fares from Aomori to Hakodate on the Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry range from to while those from Ōma range from to . From Hachinohe to Tomakomai Hachinohe is on the east coast of Aomori prefecture, and is 1 hour closer to Tokyo than Aomori City, taking either 7–8 hour or 14 hours depending on your toll choices. The Silver Ferry from Hachinohe goes to Tomakomai which is only a 1 hour drive from Sapporo with tolls or an extra half-hour without. Fares for this ferry are for vehicles less than 4m, for vehicles less than 5m and for vehicles less than 6m, but remain the same throughout the season. Things to do in Sapporo and the rest of Hokkaidō Once you're there, you won't be short of things to do. Sapporo is a fun place for foodies, and there are heaps of things to do and see in the city. Venturing out of the prefectural capital, the slopes of Niseko await powderhounds, and Hokkaidō road trips are an option for people keen to see other parts of the landscape. While we do our best to ensure that everything is correct, information is subject to change. Originally published in July, 2016. Last updated in May 2023 by Shyam Bhardwa.

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