Hokkaido is large, and JR Hokkaido’s lines from Sapporo are useful for much more than airport access and Otaru day trips.
Most first-time visitors traveling outside Sapporo will use the Rapid Airport service between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, or the Hakodate Main Line for Otaru, Niseko, Hakodate, and Asahikawa. Sapporo is also the starting point for rail trips to Furano and Biei, the Gakuentoshi Line suburbs, Obihiro, Kushiro, and eastern Hokkaido.
Fares, seasonal trains, and timetables change, so treat the times and prices below as planning examples and check JR Hokkaido’s official timetable and fare search before travel.
Sapporo – Furano and Biei
Flower fields in Furano, Hokkaido
Furano and Biei can be reached in several ways, depending on the season. During selected 2026 flower-season dates, JR Hokkaido operates the Furano Lavender Express directly between Sapporo and Furano in about 2 hours via Iwamizawa, Takikawa, and Ashibetsu. Outside those operating dates, a common rail route is to take a Limited Express Lilac or Kamui from Sapporo to Asahikawa, and then continue south on the Furano Line (Furano Sen) through Biei to Furano. JR Hokkaido also lists Takikawa – Furano as the remaining western section of the Nemuro Line, so some searches may route you through Takikawa instead.
This area is worth planning around, especially in late spring and summer. Lavender usually begins in late June, peaks around mid-July, and can often be seen into early August, though each field and year is different. Furano and Biei are also known for rolling flower fields, farm landscapes, and open views toward the surrounding mountains.
Furano Biei Norokko Train at Lavender-Farm Station
The Furano Biei Norokko Train is a good way to enjoy the Furano Line scenery when its seasonal operating dates match your trip. In 2026, however, JR Hokkaido says the train’s operation will end after the season, with the final day listed as 23-Sep-2026. Lavender-Farm Station is useful for nearby flower fields when the station and train are operating, but check the current timetable before building a day around it.
The mountains on both sides, including the Taisetsu mountain range, give the Furano and Biei area wide views in almost every direction. If you want to see the more photogenic countryside around Biei, allow time for local ground transport such as a taxi rather than assuming every viewpoint is beside a station. With an early start and well-matched connections, Furano and Biei can still work as a long day trip from Sapporo.
Furano Station Sign
Example fares: Sapporo – Furano by the seasonal Furano Lavender Express is listed at 5,440 yen one way. Sapporo – Asahikawa by Limited Express Lilac or Kamui is listed at 5,440 yen, and Asahikawa – Furano by local train is listed at 1,380 yen. Travel time and total fare vary by route, transfer, and season, so check the official JR Hokkaido route finder before setting out.
Gakuentoshi Line / Sassho Line
The Sassho Line is better known in everyday station signage as the Gakuentoshi Line. From Sapporo it runs through Soen, northern Sapporo suburbs, and Tobetsu to Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station, serving residential areas and several schools and universities. It is useful for local trips rather than long-distance sightseeing.
Older maps and guidebooks may show the line continuing beyond Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku toward Shin-Totsukawa, but that section has closed. JR Hokkaido now lists the active Gakuentoshi Line as Sapporo – Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku, so do not plan a rail trip to Shin-Totsukawa on this line.
Sapporo – Obihiro – Kushiro Line
For Obihiro and Kushiro, use a limited express train from Sapporo rather than piecing the trip together with ordinary trains. Limited Express Tokachi services run between Sapporo and Obihiro, while Limited Express Ozora services continue from Sapporo to Kushiro. All JR Hokkaido limited express trains are reserved-seat services, so buy the basic fare ticket and reserved-seat limited express ticket before boarding.
This route runs south and east from the Sapporo area through the Chitose and Sekisho Line direction, passing the Tomamu resort area before opening out onto the Tokachi Plain around Obihiro. Obihiro is one of Hokkaido’s larger inland cities, and out in eastern Hokkaido it feels like a major urban stop.
Obihiro Station Building
From Kushiro, further rail travel continues east to Nemuro on the Hanasaki Line or north toward Abashiri on the Senmo Line. Abashiri can also be reached from Sapporo by the separate Limited Express Okhotsk route via Asahikawa.
This is an interesting trek, but it is not a casual day trip. The train journey takes a good chunk of the day, and the main reasons to travel this far are usually the nature sights, onward routes, and regional experiences beyond the cities themselves. Plan local transport and accommodation in advance. Unless you have several days and a real reason to go beyond the usual Hokkaido tourist route, eastern Hokkaido is better treated as a separate trip rather than a quick side excursion from Sapporo.
Example fares: Sapporo – Obihiro by Limited Express Tokachi or Ozora is listed at 8,120 yen, and Sapporo – Kushiro by Limited Express Ozora is listed at 10,320 yen. The Sapporo – Kushiro journey still takes roughly 4 to 4.5 hours depending on the train.
A complete map of JR Hokkaido trains
Article by Dr. Debito Arudou. All rights reserved. Last updated 20-Aug-2026.
