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What's the best way to travel from Sapporo to Kitami? Detailed information on JR and bus travel times and fares
1. JR: A popular way to travel between Sapporo and Kitami - Find out how to get a good deal
The standard way to travel from Sapporo to Kitami is by JR. The travel time between Sapporo and Kitami using JR is about 4 hours and 40 minutes on the "Okhotsk Limited Express." The fare is 9,130 yen for unreserved seats and 9,660 yen for reserved seats.
Alternatively, if you take the "Limited Express Lilac", "Limited Express Kamui" or "Limited Express Soya" from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, then transfer to the "Limited Express Daisetsu" at Asahikawa Station to go to Kitami Station, the travel time will vary depending on the transfer wait time, but it will take about 4 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours. The fare is 9,130 yen for unreserved seats and 9,660 yen for reserved seats.
Get 35% to 55% off when you pre-book your tickets online with "Tokkyu 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 the time you will be boarding in advance, 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 limited express ticket" / unit: yen) are as follows.
■ Limited Express Tokuda Value 1 ・Sapporo Station - Kitami Station "Okhotsk Express" 6,270 yen (35% off) ・From Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, the "Limited Express Lilac, Kamui, Soya" costs 2,860 yen (45% off) ・From Asahikawa Station to Kitami Station, take the "Limited Express Daisetsu" for 3,240 yen (55% off) *Application deadline: 23:50 on the day before the trip
2. If you're looking for cheap fares, choose the Intercity Express Bus
You can also choose to travel from Sapporo city to Kitami by express bus. The "Dreamint Okhotsk" and "Kitami Limited Express New Star" are in operation. Choose the best deal based on your travel dates and destinations.
"Dreamint Okhotsk" - reservation only
From Sapporo city to Kitami, there is the "Dreamint Okhotsk-go" bus, which is jointly operated by Hokkaido Chuo Bus, Hokkaido Kitami Bus, and Abashiri Bus and requires a reservation. If you use the bus from "Temporary Bus Stop No. 3" on the west side of the Nippon Life Insurance Building Sapporo (Kita 3 Nishi 4), about a 5-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, the travel time is about 4 hours 40 minutes in summer and about 5 hours in winter. You can also board this bus from Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal (Odori Higashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo).
■Dreamint Okhotsk ・Normal one-way fare: 5,490 yen to 6,190 yen *Fares A, B and C vary depending on the boarding date.) ・Early bird one-way ticket: 4,890 yen to 5,590 yen *Fares A, B, and C vary in amount 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. *If you are reserving an early bird, you cannot make a reservation by phone in advance. 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
Hokkaido Bus Co., Ltd. "Kitami Express New Star"
To board the "Kitami Limited Express New Star" operated by Hokkaido Bus Co., Ltd., go to Sapporo Station Bus Stop "Platform 33" (Kita 3 Nishi 3), which is about a 5-minute walk from the south exit of Sapporo Station. The travel time is about 5 hours and 50 minutes, with a 15-minute break on the way.
■Kitami Express New Star ・One-way fare -Internet discount: 4,970 yen (Internet discount does not allow changes to flights.) -Prepayment 5,520 yen -Train payment: 5,800 yen
■Inquiries and reservations New Star Reservation Center 011-889-0800
3. By plane: Approx. 45 minutes to Memanbetsu Airport
If you want to get there as quickly as possible, you can fly from Sapporo Okadama Airport or New Chitose Airport to Memanbetsu Airport in Okhotsk. The flight takes about 45 minutes, and from there you can take the Memanbetsu Airport Line operated by Kitami Bus to Kitami City in about 40 minutes. By the way, you can also go directly to Memanbetsu Airport from Haneda Airport.
4. Long drive to experience the vastness of Hokkaido "Car/Rental Car"
If you are traveling from central Sapporo to Kitami on the expressway, enter the Do-o Expressway from the Sapporo IC, head towards Asahikawa, take the Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway and get off at the Engaru IC. Then, take Route 333 to Kitami City. The distance is about 305 km, the travel time is about 4 hours and 15 minutes, and the expressway toll is 3,770 yen.
Enjoy your trip using the transportation method that suits you best!
Kitami City, the number one producer of onions in Japan, is also known as the base for the curling team "Loco Solare," which became famous at the Olympics. There are also many events here, and unique events such as the "Kitami Harsh Cold Yakiniku Festival" attract tourists. Kitami City, where nature, sports, hot springs, and food culture all blend together, is an attractive region that many people should visit. Why not plan the perfect trip to suit your travel style and budget?
*All prices include tax
