The Gakuentoshi Line (Sassho Line) for Sapporo and Tobetsu

The Gakuentoshi Line is a commuter railway in Hokkaido. The Sassho Line itself runs between Soen Station in Sapporo and Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station in Tobetsu, while most trains continue to or from Sapporo Station on the Hakodate Main Line. Although Sassho Line is the official name, the route has been known as the Gakuentoshi Line (meaning “College Town Line”) since 1991 because it serves several educational facilities.

A local train bound for Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station

The Gakuentoshi Line links the Chuo, Nishi, and Kita wards of Sapporo with the town of Tobetsu. The line once continued beyond Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station to the town of Shintotsukawa, but that section was formally abolished on May 7, 2020. At Sapporo Station, Gakuentoshi Line services generally depart from platform 11, but passengers should check the departure boards because platform assignments can change during station construction. This line is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Departure information at Sapporo Station

Key Destinations

Although the Gakuentoshi Line officially begins at Soen Station most services on this line begin or end at Sapporo Station on the Hakodate Main Line. For that reason, Sapporo Station is listed with the Gakuentoshi Line stations below.

Sapporo – Soen – Hachiken – Shinkawa – Shin-Kotoni – Taihei – Yurigahara – Shinoro – Takuhoku – Ainosato-Kyoikudai – Ainosato-koen – Royce’ Town – Futomi – Tobetsu – Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku

The key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Sapporo Station.

A carriage banner on a train bound for Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station

Sapporo Station

A large number of shopping centers and department stores are clustered inside and around Sapporo Station building, many of which have excellent dining facilities. The station building is also directly connected to Sapporo JR Tower which is a skyscraper with an observation deck on the 38th floor. Here you can enjoy fantastic views over the city. Sapporo Station is also convenient for Hokkaido University and bus services on the north side of the station run directly to the Sapporo Beer Museum and Sapporo Beer Garden.

Soen Station

This station is convenient for Sapporo Racecourse, the Soen Campus of Sapporo City University, and the Sapporo Campus of Hokkaido University.

Kitano Tamayura Soen is a public bathing facility which is a 4 minute walk from Soen Station. Here you will find a range of natural hot spring baths, jet baths, outdoor baths and a sauna as well as dining facilities where you can enjoy typical Japanese meals, snacks, and drinks.

Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Jogai Market is about a 9 minute walk from Soen Station. This public market beside the professional wholesale complex has seafood shops and restaurants serving sushi and seafood rice bowls. Shops generally open at 6.00 and restaurants at 7.00, although hours vary by business. The wholesale market itself is not open to general consumers for shopping.

Shin-Kotoni Station

Shinkotoni Tondenhei Headquarters is about 500 meters from Shin-Kotoni Station. The tondenhei were former samurai who were recruited as “farmer-soldiers” to colonize Hokkaido in the 19th century. The tondenhei and their families settled the Shinkotoni area in 1887. The former company headquarters contains displays on the settlement, including a diorama, uniforms and agricultural tools. The interior is open from April through November on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10.00-16.00; admission is free. It stands in the grounds of Shinkotoni Shrine.

Shin-Kotoni Station is a 9 minute walk from Asabu Station on Sapporo Municipal Subway’s Namboku Line.

Yurigahara Station

This station is convenient for Yurigahara Park. Its outdoor flower displays change from spring through autumn. The World Lily Garden has around 100 varieties, generally flowering from early June through August, with the main display around mid-July. The park also has playgrounds, “park golf” facilities, an observation deck in a repurposed silo and the Lily Train. The restaurant and Lily Train operate seasonally, so check their schedules before visiting. The park’s greenhouse is about a 7-10 minute walk from Yurigahara Station.

Shinoro Station

Shinoro Shrine is about a 3 minute walk from Shinoro Station and was first founded in the 1850s. The shrine holds its annual festival on September 8. The Shinoro Lion Dance is performed there in autumn, but the performance date can vary and should be checked before visiting. The tradition began in 1901 among settlers from Toyama. Its roughly 6 meter costume is operated by eight adults.

Ainosato-Kyoikudai Station

This is the closest station to Hokkaido University of Education Sapporo Campus. The campus is a 20 minute walk from the station. This station is also a 10 minute walk from the Sapporo Ainosato Campus of Health Sciences University of Hokkaido.

A 4 minute walk to the south of the station is the day spa Sapporo Ainosato Onsen Nagomi. It has source-fed sodium bicarbonate and chloride hot spring baths, together with jet, outdoor and electric baths. Drinks and soft-serve ice cream are available in the rest area.

Ainosato-koen Station

This station is convenient for Ishikari Horse Trek, a riding club offering year-round outdoor experiences for beginners through advanced riders. Experiences should be booked in advance. Rail visitors should confirm access arrangements with the operator when booking; its access page directs visitors via Ainosato-koen Station.

Tobetsu Station

This station serves the town of Tobetsu. Tobetsu Date Memorial Museum is about a 7 minute walk from the station. Tobetsu was settled in the 19th century by Kuninao Date, a lord of the Iwadeyama Date Clan from the Sendai Domain. The museum displays Date family objects and material on the town’s settlement history. It is open from May 1 through October 31, 10.00-16.30, and is closed on Mondays or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. Admission is free. Tobetsu Shrine is another 3 minutes away and is dedicated to Kuninao Date. His spirit is revered as the patron of the town.

In winter, Ishikari Heigen Ski Area has courses for beginner and intermediate skiers. Transport arrangements change by season and should be checked directly with the ski area before travel. For the 2025-2026 season, its free transfer was restricted to ski-school participants and required advance reservations, so visitors should not rely on a walk-on station shuttle.

Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station

This station is named after the Tobetsu campus of Health Sciences University of Hokkaido (Hokkaido Iryo Daigaku) and is located directly outside it. It is the northern terminus of the Gakuentoshi Line. The university plans to consolidate its Tobetsu and Sapporo Ainosato campuses at a new F Village campus in Kitahiroshima in 2028.

A local train bound for Ainosato-koen Station

Useful Information

A route map of the entire JR Hokkaido railway network can be found on their English language website together with a timetable and route finder.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 02-Sep-2026.