The Hakodate Main Line for Hakodate, Niseko, Otaru, Sapporo, and Asahikawa

The Hakodate Main Line is a major railway line in Hokkaido that runs from Hakodate in the south as far north as Asahikawa. Along the way the line passes through Kutchan in the Niseko ski resort district, and the popular sightseeing destinations of Otaru and Sapporo. On the southern part of the line there is a branch line called the Sawara Line that forms a loop between Onuma and Mori stations, and this is also officially part of the Hakodate Main Line.

The Hakodate Main Line is just over 423 kilometers long and no single train travels its entire length. Passengers taking the Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo Station will either travel north towards Iwamizawa and Asahikawa, or west towards Teine and Otaru.

Because the Hakodate Main Line is so long, the direct passenger service between Sapporo and Hakodate (the Limited Express Hokuto) actually bypasses the Hakodate Main Line for most of its length and travels via the Chitose Line and Muroran Line until finally rejoining the Hakodate Main Line at Oshamambe Station. However, passengers traveling west from Sapporo who plan to make stops in Otaru and then Kutchan may well continue their journey south to Hakodate via the Hakodate Main Line.

At Sapporo Station westbound Hakodate Main Line services for Teine and Otaru depart from Platforms 1-3, while northbound services for Iwamizawa and Asahikawa depart from platforms 7-10. This line is operated by JR Hokkaido and so is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Key Destinations: Sapporo to Asahikawa

There are 28 stations between Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Sapporo – Naebo – Shiroishi – Atsubetsu – Shinrin-Koen – Oasa – Nopporo – Takasago – Ebetsu – Toyohoro – Horomui – Kami-Horomui – Iwamizawa – Minenobu – Koshunai – Bibai – Chashinai – Naie – Toyonuma – Sunagawa – Takikawa – Ebeotsu – Moseushi – Fukagawa – Osamunai – Ino – Chikabumi – Asahikawa

This section’s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Sapporo Station.

Popular Hotels near Sapporo Station

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Naebo Station

This station in Sapporo is convenient for Sapporo Beer Museum and Sapporo Beer Garden. Hokkaido Railway Technology Museum is a free museum which is also nearby. It exhibits photographs, models, a diorama and some railway vehicles, but is only open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month between 13.30 and 16.00.

Shinrin-Koen Station

This station in Sapporo is convenient for the regional culture and nature exhibits at Hokkaido Museum and an outdoor architectural museum called the Historical Village of Hokkaido.

Iwamizawa Station

The top attraction in Iwamizawa is Hokkaido Greenland amusement park which has 46 rides including Hokkaido’s longest roller-coaster and its tallest Ferris wheel.

Bibai Station

Bibai’s main attractions are the Arte Piazza sculpture park which features works by the contemporary artist Kan Yasuda, and Bibai Snow Land activity park which offers a range of wintertime activities including snow shoeing, snowmobile touring, snow rafting, and snow soccer.

Asahikawa Station

Asahikawa is Hokkaido’s second largest city and is a great base for visits to Daisetsuzan National Park or the lavender fields of Furano. The most popular attraction inside the city is Asahikawa Zoo which has animals from all over the world including snow leopards, timber wolves, Steller’s sea eagles, ring-tailed lemurs, and red pandas. Other attractions in Asahikawa include Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum and Kita-no-Arashiyama craft village which has pottery, glass, and woodwork workshops, ateliers, and galleries.

Outside the city Mount Asahi is a popular location all year round with the Asahidake Onsen hot spring resort at the foot of the mountain, the Asahidake Ropeway carrying passengers to the mountain summit, and Asahidake Ski Resort providing snow sports excitement throughout the winter months.

Key Destinations: Sapporo to Otaru

There are 15 stations between Sapporo and Otaru.

Sapporo – Soen – Kotoni – Hassamu-Chuo – Hassamu – Inazumi-Koen – Teine – Inaho – Hoshioki – Hoshimi – Zenibako – Asari – Otaru-Chikko – Minami-Otaru – Otaru

This section’s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Sapporo Station.

Soen Station

This station in Sapporo is convenient for Sapporo Racecourse and for the fresh seafood stalls and restaurants at Sapporo Central Wholesale Market.

Teine Station

This station in Sapporo is convenient for the digital planetarium Sapporo Starlight Dome. In the winter season Sapporo Teine Ski Resort can be accessed by bus from the south exit of Teine Station.

Otaru Station

This station serves the scenic port city of Otaru. Otaru has many beautiful historic buildings which are variously used to house art galleries, museums, craft and antique shops, and sea food restaurants.

Attractions in Otaru include the Otaru Museum Main Building with its impressive collection of railway vehicles, the Otaru Museum Canal Building with its local history and natural history exhibits, the stained glass and art nouveau galleries of Otaru Art Base, the glass craft works of Kitaichi Glass and Taisho Glass Palace, and the historic brick warehouses lining Otaru Canal. Fun activities include rickshaw rides, canal cruises, a sea cruise to the Blue Grotto, and taking a ropeway trip to the top of Mount Tenguyama.

Key Destinations: Otaru to Kutchan

There are 9 stations between Otaru and Kutchan.

Otaru – Shioya – Ranshima – Yoichi –Niki –Shikaribetsu – Ginzan –Kozawa – Kutchan

Most southbound trains from Otaru terminate at either Shikaribetsu Station or Kutchan Station. If you wish to travel directly from Otaru to Hakodate it is quicker to return to Sapporo and then change to the Limited Express Hokuto. This section’s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Otaru Station.

Ranshima Station

Ranshima Beach is a popular summertime camping and barbecue spot which is a 5 minute walk from this station.

Yoichi Station

Yoichi is a seaside town with several attractions including free tours and tastings at Yoichi Nikka Whisky Distillery, the space exploration museum and planetarium at Yoichi Space Dome, and local history museums such as Yoichi Fisheries Museum, the preserved fishing buildings of Old Fukuhara Gyojo, the historic herring mansion of Old Shimoyoichi Unjoya. Hamanaka Moire Kaisui-yokujo is a popular beach in the summer.

Kutchan Station

Kutchan is the exit point for the ski resorts of Niseko, all of which can be accessed from the station by either bus or taxi. This area is famous for its world-class winter sports facilities and deep powder snow and the ski season lasts from late November until early May. There are four main ski resort areas, all with excellent facilities. Niseko Grand Hirafu is the biggest resort and most easily accessible from Kutchan Station being served by bus and taxi services, while Niseko Hanazono is a smaller, family-friendly resort that can only be reached by taxi. Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri are also excellent resorts but are a little further away.

The natural scenery around Kutchan also attracts visitors in the summer months. Rafting and kayaking on the Shiribetsu River, hiking around Lake Hangetsu and the “mirror marsh” of Kagaminuma, or climbing the 1,898m high Mount Yotei are all popular summertime activities. Inside Kutchan, the Shu Ogawara Museum of Art has a permanent collection of colorful paintings by the local artist Shu Ogawara (1911 – 2002), Kutchan Natural History Museum has exhibits on local history, culture and natural history, and moss phlox flowers can be viewed for at Mishima’s Shibazakura Garden every year from May to June. Kutchan also hosts a lively Potato Festival every August which features a parade and delicious potato dishes.

Several hot spring bathing areas can be accessed from Kutchan. In the Hanazono Onsen area the Zaborin Ryokan is a traditional inn providing luxury accommodation and cuisine with private indoor and outdoor pools. In the Hirafu Onsen area the Vale Niseko is a boutique hotel with ski-to-the-door access, private apartments, an on-site restaurant, and heated outdoor baths. In the same area Hotel Niseko Alpen is a larger facility with two restaurants, souvenir and sports rental shops, a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, a stone sauna and karaoke facilities.

Key Destinations: Kutchan to Hakodate

There are 33 stations between Kutchan and Hakodate.

Kutchan – Hirafu – Niseko – Konbu – Rankoshi – Mena – Neppu – Kuromatsunai – Futamata – Oshamambe – Nakanosawa – Kunnui – Kuroiwa –Yamasaki – Yakumo – Yamakoshi – Nodaoi – Otoshibe – Ishikura – Hon-Ishikura – Ishiya – Mori – Komagatake – Akaigawa – Onumakoen – Onuma – Niyama – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto – Nanae – Onakayama – Kikyo – Goryokaku – Hakodate

Passengers traveling between Kutchan and Hakodate must change trains at Oshamambe Station. This section’s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Kutchan Station.

Komagatake Station

This station is convenient for Sonny’s Stable which offers horse riding lessons and horse trekking experiences in the dramatic landscape at the foot of Mount Komagatake.

Akaigawa Station

A short distance from Akaigawa Station is a nature preserve where you can see a large number of white mizubasho flowers blooming in mid-to-late April. This is also the closest railway station to the start of the mounting climbing trail for Mount Komagatake. This distinctive saddleback mountain dominates the landscape of the Oshima region and there is a wonderful view from the top of the trail. However, the distance between Akaigawa Station and the start of the trail at the 6th station car park is around 7 kilometers and will take at least 2 hours and 30 minutes to walk. Although Mount Komagatake stands 1,131 meters high, the trail only goes as far as 900 meters, so you can expect the climb from the 6th station to take between 3 and 4 hours. There are no taxis at Akaigawa Station, so if you wish to go direct to the 6th station car park, exit the train at the next stop, Onumakoen Station. A taxi ride from Onumakoen Station will take around 30 minutes.

Onumakoen Station

This station is a convenient exit point for Onuma Quasi-National Park a scenic area which includes the Onuma and Konuma lakes and Mount Komagatake. Recreational activities in this area include boating, canoeing, fishing, cycling, horseback trekking, and winter snowshoeing. This area is particularly famous for its colorful autumn foliage. In winter a free shuttle bus runs from Onumakoen Station to Hakodate Nanae Snow Park which has courses suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers and snow boarders. This ski resort has a ski school, equipment rental facilities, restaurants, and Hokkaido’s longest gondola ride to take you to the top of the mountain.

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station

This station is currently the northern terminus of the Hokkaido Shinkansen which provides a direct link between Hokkaido and Tokyo. For more information visit Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station guide.

Goryokaku Station

This station in Hakodate is named after the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort which dates from 1866. The fort’s location is now a park, but its five-pointed star shape can be seen very clearly from the observation deck of nearby Goryokaku Tower. A bus runs from the station area to the fort in 15 minutes or you can take a taxi and be there in 7 minutes.

Transfer here to the South Hokkaido Railway Line for services bound for Kikonai.

Hakodate Station

Hakodate is the third biggest city in Hokkaido and also one of the oldest as it was first established in the 15th century. A good way to view the city’s numerous attractions is to take one of Hakodate’s tramcars which can be boarded from a stop outside Hakodate Station.

The most famous sight in Hakodate is the spectacular nighttime city view from the top of Mount Hakodate. To see it, take a 3 minute cable car trip on the Mount Hakodate Ropeway.

Hakodate’s Motomachi district is a picturesque area with many 19th century Western-style buildings which are illuminated at night. Hakodate’s bay area also has many historic red brick warehouses that have been repurposed as restaurants and shops.

Hakodate Morning Market is a very popular seafood market that opens at 5.00 (or 6.00 in the winter) and closes at noon. The restaurant arcade in the market is famous for its delicious seafood rice bowls.

Yunokawa Onsen is a hot spring resort in Hakodate with many seafront hotels. Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei has large indoor and outdoor mineral baths with ocean views, a choice of Western or traditional Japanese style rooms, and facilities that include a sauna, a buffet restaurant, and a souvenir shop. Bourou Noguchi Hakodate is a modern luxury hotel with indoor and outdoor baths overlooking the city, a dry sauna, a Sky Salon for twilight views, Western and Japanese style guest rooms, and private dining.

Hakodate Airport has domestic services to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Okushiri Island as well as one international service to Taipei. A shuttle bus runs between Hakodate Station and Hakodate Airport in 20 minutes.

Key Destinations: The Sawara Line

There are 11 stations on the Sawara Line.

Onuma – Ikedaen – Nagareyama Onsen – Choshiguchi – Shikabe – Oshima-Numajiri – Oshima-Sawara – Kakarima – Oshironai – Higashi-Mori – Mori

This section’s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Hakodate Station.

Nagareyama Onsen Station

Paard Musee is a farm and ranch a short distance from this station which offers a variety of horseback riding, farming, and craft workshop activities. All activities require advance booking. Paard Musee is a 10 minute walk from Nagareyama Onsen Station.

Choshiguchi Station

This station is an 8 minute walk from Higashionuma Camping Ground on the north-east shore of Lake Onuma. This area is also a major spot for viewing large numbers of white mizubasho flowers which bloom here in mid-to-late April.

Shikabe Station

Shikabe is a seaside hot spring resort town with several hot spring hotels. A local tourist attraction here is Shikabe Geyser Park where columns of hot water jet from the ground every ten minutes. Royal Hotel Minami Hokkaido Shikabe is a luxury hotel here with spacious guest rooms, indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, and a buffet restaurant serving seafood fresh from Uchiura Bay. This hotel is 5 minutes by free shuttle bus from Shikabe Station.

Useful Information

All train times and fares for the key destinations listed above are for local trains, but in many cases paying extra for a limited express service will considerably reduce the travel time. To plan your journey, use the timetable and route finder on the JR Hokkaido English language website. A downloadable route map of the JR Hokkaido railway network can also be found on the same site.

Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Michael Lambe, Angkana Unthaya (5,8), ta98/pixta (7). All rights reserved.