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What's the best way to travel from Sapporo to Obihiro? A detailed guide to travel times, fares, and ticket purchasing tips

2024.07.04

Obihiro, a city representing Tokachi, Hokkaido, is a popular tourist destination, known for its gourmet food, sweets, and Ban'ei horse racing. There are several ways to get to Obihiro, including by JR, bus, or rental car. We'll introduce details on travel times and fares for each option.

JR is the standard way to travel between Sapporo and Obihiro

JR is the standard way to travel from Sapporo to Obihiro. The travel time between Sapporo and Obihiro using JR is around 2 hours and 30 minutes on the Limited Express Ozora or Limited Express Tokachi. All cars on the Limited Express Ozora and Limited Express Tokachi have reserved seats, and the fare is 8,120 yen for a reserved seat and 11,780 yen for a green seat.

Get 55% off when you book in advance online with "Limited Express Tokudawari"

If you reserve your JR ticket through the website "Ekinet," you can purchase a reserved seat ticket at up to 55% off the regular price. If you know in advance when you will be boarding, we recommend reserving your ticket through Ekinet.

The set prices for "Limited Express Tokudawari" on Ekinet (set price of one-way "board ticket + reserved seat express ticket" / unit: yen) are as follows.

■ Limited Express Tokuda Value 14 Up to 55% off on the Tokachi Express Up to 40% off on the Ozora Limited Express Application deadline: 14 days before the date of travel by 23:50 ■ Limited Express Tokuda Value 1 Up to 40% off on the Tokachi Express Up to 25% off on the Ozora Limited Express Application deadline: 23:50 on the day before boarding *Sale prices will vary within the set price range depending on predicted occupancy rates and application timing.

If you're looking for cheap fares, choose the intercity express bus.

The intercity express buses that run from Sapporo to Obihiro are the "Potato Liner" and the "Obihiro Limited Express New Star." Choose the best deal based on your travel dates and destination.

"Potato Liner" operated by 1.5 companies

To board the Potato Liner, which is jointly operated by five companies - Hokuto Kotsu, Hokkaido Chuo Bus, JR Hokkaido Bus, Tokachi Bus, and Hokkaido Takushoku Bus - take bus stop number 4 on the west side of the Nippon Life Insurance Building Sapporo, about a five-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station. The journey takes about four hours, including a break at the Shimukappu Parking Area.

■Normal one-way fare: 3,580 yen to 4,110 yen (※Fares A, B, and C vary depending on the date of travel.) Early bird one-way fare: 3,180 yen to 3,710 yen (*Fares A, B, and C are available depending on the date of travel, with different amounts. For early bird discounts, reservations and payments must be made 30 days in advance for fares A and B, and 21 days in advance for fare C.)

2. Hokkaido Bus Co., Ltd. "Obihiro Limited Express New Star"

The Obihiro Limited Express New Star, operated by Hokkaido Bus Co., Ltd., departs from Sapporo Station bus stop No. 33 (Kita 3 Nishi 3). The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes, with a 15-minute break along the way.

■One-way fare ・Online discount: 3,230 yen *You cannot change your flight with the online discount. ・Prepayment: 3,780 yen ・Train payment: 4,000 yen

Enjoy a relaxing drive with "Car/Rental Car"

If you are traveling from central Sapporo to Obihiro on the expressway, enter the Do-o Expressway from Sapporo Minami IC, then take the Doto Expressway from Chitose-Eniwa JCT and exit at Otofuke Obihiro IC. The distance is approximately 200 km and the journey time is approximately 3 hours. The expressway toll is 4,440 yen.

Enjoy your trip with the transportation that suits you best!

Obihiro City is a place where you can enjoy gourmet food, unique activities, and beautiful nature. When it comes to gourmet food, the famous pork bowl is a must-try. Also, the Ban'ei horse racing held at Obihiro Racecourse is a thrilling event where large horses pull heavy sleds. The area where you can see the beautiful rows of white birch trees is also a very popular spot.

If you are coming to Obihiro from outside Hokkaido, you can also fly directly from Haneda Airport to Tokachi Obihiro Airport. Enjoy your trip in a way that suits you, based on your time and financial situation.

*All prices include tax

*All information listed is current as of September 2025. *All published information may be subject to change, so please check the official website for details.