Kushiro, located in eastern Hokkaido, is popular for its abundant nature, represented by the Kushiro Wetlands, 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 details such as travel times and fares for each option.

JR: the standard way to travel between Sapporo and Kushiro

JR is the standard way to travel from Sapporo to Kushiro. The travel time between Sapporo and Kushiro using JR is around 4 hours on the Limited Express Ozora. All cars on the Limited Express Ozora are reserved seats, and the fare is 10,320 yen for a reserved seat and 13,980 yen for a green seat.

40% off when you book in advance online with "Limited Express Tokudawari"

If you reserve your JR ticket through the website "Ekinet," you can purchase reserved seat tickets at up to 40% 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:

Cheap Intercity Express Buses

The intercity express buses that run 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" (reservation required) operated by three companies

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 Bus Stop No. 3 on the west side of the Nippon Life Insurance Sapporo Building. The journey takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes, including a break at the Tokachi Heigen Service Area.

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 33) (Kita 3 Nishi 3). The journey takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes, with a 15-minute break along the way.

Enjoy a relaxing drive with "Car/Rental Car"

If you are traveling from central Sapporo to Kushiro on the expressway, enter the Hokkaido Expressway from Sapporo Minami IC, then take the Hokkaido Expressway from Chitose-Eniwa JCT and exit at Kushiro Nishi IC. The distance is approximately 300 km, the travel time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, and the expressway toll is 5,590 yen.

Enjoy your trip with the transportation that suits you best!

Kushiro City is famous for Kushiro Marsh National Park, Japan's largest wetland, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. It's also home to 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 (spaghetti cutlet) is another Kushiro delicacy worth trying at least once.

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're 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

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

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