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From Tokyo to Sapporo (about 1,100 km)
1 Air Time: about four hours (including time between city and airport Fare (one way, normal fare): 24,700 yen (JAL, ANA, JAS), 16,000 yen (AIRDO) Nearly all the passengers to from Tokyo to Hokkaido Island uses air. Sapporo is the largest city in the Hokkaido, and Tokyo - Sapporo line is indeed the busiest route in the world with more than forty flights a day. Most of them are operated by 747 jet with more than 500 seats. AirDo, which is the new airline born recently due to the deregulation, provides cheaper fare than the three largest airlines. The three companies also provides various kinds of discount tickets up to fifty per cent off. 2 Shinkansen and Limited Express Time: about eleven hours Fare (one way): 22,530 yen Japan Rail Pass is valid to Shinkansen and Limited Express trains. Now almost no people choose this route to Hokkaido. Surely much slower than air, moreover there are no advantage in terms of price. Considering the various discount services by air companies, rail is more expensive than air, now. However, if using Japan Rail Pass, this choice can be competitive. 3 Overnight trains Time: about seventeen hours Fare (one way): 23,520 yen (B-class sleeper) Japan Rail Pass is valid to overnight Limited Express trains, but you are required to pay sleeping car supplement (6,300 yen for B-class sleeper). As Hokkaido is perhaps the most popular domestic travel destination for Tokyo people, there are some luxurious overnight trains, 'Cassiopeia" and "Hokutosei", between Tokyo and Sapporo. (See also the page of overnight trains) They convey delux A-class sleeping cars, a restaurant car which offers French or Japanese dinner, shower rooms and a observation lounge. They leave Tokyo in the evening and arrive Sapporo in the next morning. 4 Local trains Time: 31 hours (When seasonal overnight train 'Midnight' (Hakodate - Sapporo) is running) Fare (one way): 14,070 yen Seishun 18 Kippu (seasonal discount ticket) is valid to local trains. During Seishun 18 kippu seasons, you can travel this route in 6,000 yen using two overnight local trains, 'Moonlight' (Tokyo - Niigata - Murakami) and 'Midnight' (Hakodate - Sapporo). It takes time but the cheapest way to go to Hokkaido. See also local train page for detail. Aside from that season, there is little advantage in traveling to Hokkaido by slow local trains. 5 Ferry Time: 31 hours (Tokyo - Tomakomai, not including time between port and city) Fare (one way): 12,060 yen Ferry is slow but comfortable, and you can carry your car or motorbike with you. In the season outside the busiest summer, there are seasonal discount but some services to Hokkaido does not operate during those seasons. |