ARTICLES
What's the best way to travel from Sapporo to Abashiri? A detailed guide to JR and bus travel times and fares
1. JR: The standard way to travel between Sapporo and Abashiri - How to buy tickets at great prices
The standard way to travel from Sapporo to Abashiri is by JR. The travel time between Sapporo and Abashiri using JR is approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes on the Limited Express Okhotsk. The fare is 10,340 yen for an unreserved seat and 10,870 yen for a reserved seat.
Get 30% to 50% off when you book your ticket 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 50% 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 1 ・Sapporo Station - Abashiri Station: "Okhotsk Limited Express" 7,060 yen (35% off) ・Sapporo Station - Asahikawa Station "Limited Express Lilac, Kamui, Soya" 2,720 yen (50% off) *Application deadline: 23:50 on the day before boarding
2. If you're looking for cheap fares, choose the Intercity Express Bus
The Dreamint Okhotsk train runs from Sapporo to Abashiri. Choose the best deal based on your travel dates and destination.
Reservation-only "Dreamint Okhotsk"
To get from Sapporo to Abashiri, there is the "Dreamint Okhotsk" bus, which is jointly operated by Hokkaido Chuo Bus, Hokkaido Kitami Bus, and Abashiri Bus and requires a reservation. It is about a 5-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, and if you board from bus stop 3 on the west side of the Nippon Life Insurance Building Sapporo (Kita 3 Nishi 4), the travel time is approximately 6 to 6.5 hours. You can also board from Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal (Odori Higashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo).
■Dreamint Okhotsk ・Normal one-way fare: 6,510 yen to 7,970 yen *Fares A, B, and C vary depending on the date of travel. ・Early bird one-way ticket: 5,910 yen to 7,310 yen *Fares A, B, and C are available and vary in price depending on the date of travel. 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. *If you are making an early bird reservation, you cannot make a reservation in advance by phone. You must make a reservation online or in person at the counter and pay on the day.
<Inquiries and reservations> Chuo Bus Reservation Center 0570-200-600 Kitami Bus Terminal 0570-00-7788 Abashiri Bus Terminal 0152-43-2606
3. By plane: Approximately 45 minutes to Memanbetsu Airport
If you want to get there quickly, you can fly to the nearest airport, Memanbetsu Airport, from Sapporo Okadama Airport or New Chitose Airport. The flight takes about 45 minutes. From Memanbetsu Airport, you can take the Kitami Bus Memanbetsu Airport Line to Abashiri City in about 50 minutes. Incidentally, you can also go directly to Memanbetsu Airport from Haneda Airport.
4. Experience the vastness of Hokkaido by car or rental car
If you are traveling from central Sapporo to Abashiri using the expressway, take the Hokkaido Expressway from the Sapporo IC and head towards Asahikawa. Then take the Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway and get off at Engaru IC. Then, take Route 333 towards Abashiri. The distance is approximately 340 km, the travel time is about 5 hours, and the expressway toll is 3,770 yen.
Enjoy your trip with the transportation that suits you best!
Abashiri, a city rich in nature, is known for its winter drift ice sightseeing and fresh seafood. You can also learn about history at the Abashiri Prison Museum, and enjoy the coral grass of Lake Notoro and the beautiful scenery of Lake Abashiri. Why not plan a trip that's perfect for you based on your travel style and budget?
*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.
