How to Take Bullet Train from Tokyo to Hokkaido
Planning a trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido? One of the best ways to travel is by taking Shinkansen, as known as “bullet train” from Tokyo 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 6 must-know tips at the end.
Let’s dive in!
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Why travel From Tokyo to Hokkaido by train?
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.
Hakodate port
Here are the pros and cons of taking Shinkansen the bullet train 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.
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.
Tokyo station
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.
6 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.
Staying for a few nights in Tokyo? For easy access to Shinkansen, choose a hotel in places like Akihabara, Ueno and Shinjuku, where you can reach Tokyo station with one short train ride.
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.
THAT’S ALL!
Now you know everything about taking Shinkansen, the bullet train from Tokyo to Hokkaido! If you like this article, join my Hokkaido Travel Newsletter to receive more tips & local news exclusive to my subscribers.
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