Planning a trip to Hokkaido from Tokyo? One of the best ways to travel is by taking Shinkansen, aka “bullet train” to Hakodate, the gateway to Hokkaido. It’s comfortable, efficient, and offers beautiful views of the countryside of Japan along the way.

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about taking the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakodate. Don’t miss my 5 must-know tips at the end.

Let’s dive in!

What We'll Cover

Why travel to Hokkaido by Shinkansen?
Pros & Cons of taking Shinkansen
Costs & ticket types
How to book a Shinkansen ticket
5 must-know tips for stress-free Shinkansen trip

This post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission to enjoy a cup of coffee on my trip☕

✨Need to know

It takes 4 hours from Tokyo to Shin Hakodate Hokuto station
After Shinkansen, you need to take another train to Hakodate city center (15-20 min)
One-way ticket costs about 23,000 JPY with a reserved seat
Easy booking via Klook

Why travel to Hokkaido by Shinkansen?

If you’re visiting Tokyo and then Hokkaido, or vice versa, you should definitely consider taking Shinkansen. Especially, if….

You want to visit Hakodate
You are going to get a JR pass
You enjoy traveling with countryside views

The Shinkansen to Hokkaido departs from JR Tokyo station and arrives at JR Shin Hakodate Hokuto station in Hakodate, the most southern city of Hokkaido. The line is planned to extend to Sapporo, but the schedule hasn’t been set.

Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakodate runs 10 times every day, which allows you to travel flexibly. The ride takes about 4 hours. Although it might sound long compared to the flight time of 1 hour 20 min between Tokyo and Hakodate, it’s not much different considering the time it takes to go to the airport, go through security checks, and wait for the boarding time at the gate.

Here are the pros and cons of taking Shinkansen to/from Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Pros

Money saving: If you have a JR pass, you can take Shinkansen without additional fees.
Comfort: Shinkansen’s seating is more spacious and has bigger legroom than airplanes. Also with the changing views, you will spend a 4 hour trip quite comfortably.
Less hustle: Getting on board is so much easier than a flight. No travel to the airport, no long waiting at the security control or the gate.
On time: Shinkansen rarely gets delayed, while flights could get delayed or canceled especially in winter, due to the weather conditions.

Cons

Distance beyond Hakodate: It takes quite a bit of time to travel further than Hakodate after taking Shinkansen. For example, from Hakodate, you need an additional 4 hours to Sapporo and 7 hours to Furano by train.
Traveling with kids: As the travel takes 4 hours on a train, the journey might get boring for kids. Bring toys to keep them entertained as long as possible!

If you don’t mind the cons, Shinkansen is a great mode of travel. I personally like a long ride like this so I can read books or listen to podcasts in a peaceful environment.

🛏️ Where to stay in Hakodate

Century Marina
⭐4 stars, ♨️Hot Spring,🍴Great Breakfast
A high-end hotel with an infinity outdoor onsen and a high-quality breakfast buffet. Great access to the major tourist attractions in the town.
Hakodate Kokusai Hotel
⭐4 stars, 🍴Great Breakfast, ✨Modern Design
A mid-range hotel with onsen and seafood breakfast buffet
Tokyu Stay
⭐3 stars, 🏢Excellent Location, ♨️Hot Spring
All rooms have a laundry machine & microwave, offer a breakfast ticket for the morning market

Cost & ticket types

There are three main types of Shinkansen tickets. Green car is a premium class offering more comfort, compared to standard cars. There are fewer seats per car, allowing for wider seats and bigger legroom. Each seat is equipped with a power outlet and a footrest.

Standard car without seat reservation: 22,580 JPY
Standard car with seat reservation: 23,430 JPY
Green car with seat reservation: 32,300 JPY

*the price might change by a few hundred yen depending on the season.

How to Book Shinkansen

So, are you now more interested in traveling by Shinkansen? To purchase your ticket, I recommend using Klook. You can book a ticket with a few clicks, while the JR official website is difficult to navigate in English. It’s also possible to buy a ticket at the station. Make sure to arrive early as the ticketing counter gets crowded during peak hours and high seasons.

✅You can also order a JR pass online via Klook for unlimited train rides including Shinkansen.

Once you buy a ticket on Klook, you will receive a QR code to collect your tickets from a ticketing machine at a station in Japan. You’ll get 2 physical tickets per passenger, and you need to insert both tickets into the ticket gate when boarding.

And make sure to pick up the tickets that come out of the gate! You’ll need them to get out of the station at your destination.

🚆JR Hokkaido Rail Pass

If you are traveling around Hokkaido by train, it could be worth getting a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass. Check out my complete guide to JR Hokkaido Rail Pass to learn about pass types, price comparisons and itineraries.

5 Must-Know Tips for Stress-Free Shinkansen TrIP

Should you reserve a seat? Yes, especially if you have suitcases, or if you are traveling during the high seasons or weekends. It’s always better to book your seats although it costs extra, so you can travel hassle-free.
Don’t forget to get your Ekiben! (Station bento lunch box) Shinkansen stations have Ekiben stalls that sell bento that’s perfect for lunch or snack on the ride. These are not regular bento but often use local ingredients and a unique menu. Especially Tokyo station has the largest selection of Ekiben in Japan!
Shinkansen has bathrooms in every other car, with a diaper changing table for babies. If you need to breastfeed, you can talk to a train staff and request using a multi-purpose room on a train.
Got some suitcases with you? No worries. You can put them in a luggage space on every other car on Shinkansen. If you have carry-on size suitcases, they can be loaded on an overhead luggage rack above your seat.
Want to enjoy the best views? Choose a seat on the left side, facing the direction of travel, if you’re going from Tokyo to Hakodate, and on the right side if you’re traveling from Hakodate to Tokyo. You will see some tall mountains between Tokyo and Hachinohe.

Useful Resources

✨Traveling to Eastern Hokkaido? Grab my Eastern Hokkaido Travel Planner

✨Planning a winter trip? Check out my Winter Hokkaido Travel Planner

✨Stuck in your trip planning? Ask for my Local Expert Advice

NEED ADVICE ON YOUR TRIP PLAN?

THAT’S ALL!

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