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

2024.07.07

Kushiro, located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, is popular for its abundant nature, such as the Kushiro Marsh, and its gourmet food, which is unique to a port town. There are several ways to get to Kushiro, including by JR train, bus, or rental car. We will introduce the details of each method, such as travel time and cost.

JR: the standard way to travel between Sapporo and Kushiro

The standard way to travel from Sapporo to Kushiro is by JR. The travel time between Sapporo and Kushiro using JR is about 4 hours and 25 minutes on the "Ozora Limited Express." All cars on the "Ozora Limited Express" are reserved seats, and the fare is 9,990 yen for a reserved seat and 13,650 yen for a green seat.

Get 40% off when you book in advance online with "Tokkyu Tokudawari"

If you reserve your JR ticket through the website "Ekinet," you can purchase a reserved seat ticket at up to 40% off the regular price. If you know in advance when you will be boarding the train, we recommend reserving your ticket through Ekinet.

The set prices for "Limited Express Tokudane" 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 40% off on the "Ozora Express" Application deadline: 23:50 14 days before the boarding date ■ Limited Express Tokuda Value 1 Up to 25% off on the "Ozora Express" Application deadline: 23:50 on the day before the trip *The release price will vary within the set price range depending on the predicted occupancy rate and the timing of application.

Cheap Intercity Express Buses

The intercity express buses from Sapporo to Kushiro are the "Starlight Kushiro" and the "Kushiro Limited Express New Star." Choose the best deal based on your travel dates and destination.

1. "Starlight Kushiro" operated by three companies (reservation required)

About a 5-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, you can board the "Starlight Kushiro" bus, which is jointly operated by Hokkaido Chuo Bus, Kushiro Bus, and Akan Bus, from "Temporary Bus Stop No. 3" on the west side of the Nippon Life Insurance Sapporo Building. The journey takes about 5 hours and 35 minutes, including a break at the Tokachi Heigen Service Area.

■Normal one-way fare: 5,230 yen to 6,000 yen (※ Fares A, B and C vary depending on the boarding date.) ■Early bird one-way ticket: 4,630 yen to 5,400 yen (*Fares A, B, and C vary depending on the date of travel. For early bird fares, reservations and payments must be made 30 days in advance for fares A and B, and 21 days in advance for fares C.)

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

Hokkaido Bus Co., Ltd. operates the "Kushiro Limited Express New Star" from Sapporo Station bus stop (platform) "Platform 33" (North 4 West 3). The journey takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes, with a 15-minute break on the way. *From Thursday, August 1, 2024, platform 33 will be relocated to Kita 3 Nishi 3.

■One-way fare ・Online discount: 4,770 yen *You cannot change your flight with the online discount. ・Prepayment: 5,300 yen ・Train payment: 5,800 yen

Enjoy a relaxing drive with "Car/Rental Car"

If you are traveling from central Sapporo to Kushiro on the expressway, enter the Do-o Expressway at Kitago IC, then take the Doto Expressway at Chitose-Eniwa JCT and get off at Akan IC. The distance is about 300 km, the travel time is about 4 hours and 20 minutes, and the expressway toll is 6,010 yen.

Enjoy your trip using the transportation method that suits you best!

Kushiro City is famous for Kushiro Marsh National Park, the largest marshland in Japan, where a diverse range of flora and fauna live. There is also Nusamai Bridge, famous for its beautiful seasonal scenery and sunsets, Lake Akan, known as a hot spring resort, and Washo Market, famous for its "Kattedon" (a bowl of rice topped with seafood you choose yourself). The hearty spakatsu is also a must-try Kushiro delicacy.

If you want to get to Kushiro quickly and enjoy sightseeing, flying is also recommended. You can land at Tancho Kushiro Airport in about 45 minutes from Sapporo Okadama Airport or New Chitose Airport. Also, if you are coming to Kushiro from outside Hokkaido, you can fly directly to Tancho Kushiro Airport in about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Haneda Airport. Enjoy your trip in a way that suits you, based on your time and financial situation.

*All prices include tax