![\"A](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line1.jpg\")
A local Hakodate Line train for Otaru at Sapporo Station<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
The Hakodate Main Line is just over 423 kilometers long and no single train travels its entire length. Passengers taking the Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo Station will either travel north towards Iwamizawa and Asahikawa, or west towards Teine and Otaru. <\/p>\n
![\"Hakodate](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/Map-Hakodate-Main-Line.jpg\")
Hakodate Main Line Map<\/p><\/div>\n
Because the Hakodate Main Line is so long, the direct passenger service between Sapporo and Hakodate (the Limited Express Hokuto<\/a>) actually bypasses the Hakodate Main Line for most of its length and travels via the Chitose Line and Muroran Line until finally rejoining the Hakodate Main Line at Oshamambe Station. However, passengers traveling west from Sapporo who plan to make stops in Otaru and then Kutchan may well continue their journey south to Hakodate via the Hakodate Main Line. <\/p>\n A local train for Iwamizawa at Sapporo Station<\/p><\/div>\n At Sapporo Station westbound Hakodate Main Line services for Teine and Otaru depart from Platforms 1-3, while northbound services for Iwamizawa and Asahikawa depart from platforms 7-10. This line is operated by JR Hokkaido and so is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. <\/p>\n Departure information at Sapporo Station<\/p><\/div>\n There are 28 stations between Sapporo and Asahikawa.<\/p>\n Sapporo \u2013 Naebo \u2013 Shiroishi \u2013 Atsubetsu \u2013 Shinrin-Koen \u2013 Oasa \u2013 Nopporo \u2013 Takasago \u2013 Ebetsu \u2013 Toyohoro \u2013 Horomui \u2013 Kami-Horomui \u2013 Iwamizawa \u2013 Minenobu \u2013 Koshunai \u2013 Bibai \u2013 Chashinai \u2013 Naie \u2013 Toyonuma \u2013 Sunagawa \u2013 Takikawa \u2013 Ebeotsu \u2013 Moseushi \u2013 Fukagawa \u2013 Osamunai \u2013 Ino \u2013 Chikabumi \u2013 Asahikawa<\/strong><\/p>\n This section\u2019s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Sapporo Station.<\/p>\n JR Tower Sapporo Grand Hotel Gracery Hotel Sunroute This station in Sapporo is convenient for Sapporo Beer Museum<\/strong> and Sapporo Beer Garden<\/strong>. Hokkaido Railway Technology Museum<\/strong> is a free museum which is also nearby. It exhibits photographs, models, a diorama and some railway vehicles, but is only open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month between 13.30 and 16.00.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 200 yen This station in Sapporo is convenient for the regional culture and nature exhibits at Hokkaido Museum<\/strong> and an outdoor architectural museum called the Historical Village of Hokkaido<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 340 yen The top attraction in Iwamizawa is Hokkaido Greenland<\/strong> amusement park which has 46 rides including Hokkaido\u2019s longest roller-coaster and its tallest Ferris wheel.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 970 yen Bibai\u2019s main attractions are the Arte Piazza<\/strong> sculpture park which features works by the contemporary artist Kan Yasuda, and Bibai Snow Land<\/strong> activity park which offers a range of wintertime activities including snow shoeing, snowmobile touring, snow rafting, and snow soccer.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 1,290 yen <\/i>154 Tours & Activities in Hokkaido<\/p>\n Wondering what to do in Hokkaido? Discover and book Traditional Cultural activities, Walking Tours, Winter Sports and other experiences to create unforgettable memories during your stay in Hokkaido! Tours & Activities in Hokkaido <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Asahikawa is Hokkaido\u2019s second largest city and is a great base for visits to Daisetsuzan National Park<\/strong> or the lavender fields of Furano. The most popular attraction inside the city is Asahikawa Zoo<\/strong> which has animals from all over the world including snow leopards, timber wolves, Steller’s sea eagles, ring-tailed lemurs, and red pandas. Other attractions in Asahikawa include Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum<\/strong> and Kita-no-Arashiyama<\/strong> craft village which has pottery, glass, and woodwork workshops, ateliers, and galleries.<\/p>\n Outside the city Mount Asahi is a popular location all year round with the Asahidake Onsen<\/strong> hot spring resort at the foot of the mountain, the Asahidake Ropeway carrying passengers to the mountain summit, and Asahidake Ski Resort<\/strong> providing snow sports excitement throughout the winter months.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 2,860 yen A Rapid Airport service for Otaru at Sapporo Station<\/p><\/div>\n There are 15 stations between Sapporo and Otaru.<\/p>\n Sapporo \u2013 Soen \u2013 Kotoni \u2013 Hassamu-Chuo \u2013 Hassamu \u2013 Inazumi-Koen \u2013 Teine \u2013 Inaho \u2013 Hoshioki \u2013 Hoshimi \u2013 Zenibako \u2013 Asari \u2013 Otaru-Chikko \u2013 Minami-Otaru – Otaru<\/strong> <\/p>\n This section\u2019s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Sapporo Station.<\/p>\n Departure information at Sapporo Station<\/p><\/div>\n This station in Sapporo is convenient for Sapporo Racecourse<\/strong> and for the fresh seafood stalls and restaurants at Sapporo Central Wholesale Market.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 200 yen This station in Sapporo is convenient for the digital planetarium Sapporo Starlight Dome<\/strong>. In the winter season Sapporo Teine Ski Resort can be accessed by bus from the south exit of Teine Station.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 340 yen This station serves the scenic port city of Otaru. Otaru has many beautiful historic buildings which are variously used to house art galleries, museums, craft and antique shops, and sea food restaurants.<\/p>\n Otaru Station<\/p><\/div>\n Attractions in Otaru include the Otaru Museum Main Building with its impressive collection of railway vehicles, the Otaru Museum Canal Building with its local history and natural history exhibits, the stained glass and art nouveau galleries of Otaru Art Base<\/strong>, the glass craft works of Kitaichi Glass and Taisho Glass Palace, and the historic brick warehouses<\/strong> lining Otaru Canal. Fun activities include rickshaw rides, canal cruises, a sea cruise to the Blue Grotto, and taking a ropeway trip to the top of Mount Tenguyama.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 750 yen A carriage banner on a train bound for Otaru<\/p><\/div>\n There are 9 stations between Otaru and Kutchan.<\/p>\n Otaru \u2013 Shioya \u2013 Ranshima \u2013 Yoichi \u2013Niki \u2013Shikaribetsu \u2013 Ginzan \u2013Kozawa \u2013 Kutchan<\/strong> <\/p>\n Most southbound trains from Otaru terminate at either Shikaribetsu Station or Kutchan Station. If you wish to travel directly from Otaru to Hakodate it is quicker to return to Sapporo and then change to the Limited Express Hokuto. This section\u2019s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Otaru Station.<\/p>\n Ranshima Beach<\/strong> is a popular summertime camping and barbecue spot which is a 5 minute walk from this station.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 340 yen Yoichi is a seaside town with several attractions including free tours and tastings at Yoichi Nikka Whisky Distillery<\/strong>, the space exploration museum and planetarium at Yoichi Space Dome, and local history museums such as Yoichi Fisheries Museum<\/strong>, the preserved fishing buildings of Old Fukuhara Gyojo, the historic herring mansion of Old Shimoyoichi Unjoya. Hamanaka Moire Kaisui-yokujo is a popular beach in the summer.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 440 yen Kutchan is the exit point for the ski resorts of Niseko<\/a>, all of which can be accessed from the station by either bus or taxi. This area is famous for its world-class winter sports facilities and deep powder snow and the ski season lasts from late November until early May. There are four main ski resort areas, all with excellent facilities. Niseko Grand Hirafu<\/a> is the biggest resort and most easily accessible from Kutchan Station being served by bus and taxi services, while Niseko Hanazono<\/a> is a smaller, family-friendly resort that can only be reached by taxi. Niseko Village<\/a> and Niseko Annupuri<\/a> are also excellent resorts but are a little further away.<\/p>\n Kutchan Station is the gateway to the ski resorts of Niseko<\/p><\/div>\n The natural scenery around Kutchan also attracts visitors in the summer months. Rafting and kayaking on the Shiribetsu River, hiking around Lake Hangetsu and the \u201cmirror marsh\u201d of Kagaminuma, or climbing the 1,898m high Mount Yotei are all popular summertime activities. Inside Kutchan, the Shu Ogawara Museum of Art has a permanent collection of colorful paintings by the local artist Shu Ogawara (1911 \u2013 2002), Kutchan Natural History Museum has exhibits on local history, culture and natural history, and moss phlox flowers can be viewed for at Mishima\u2019s Shibazakura Garden every year from May to June. Kutchan also hosts a lively Potato Festival every August which features a parade and delicious potato dishes.<\/p>\n Several hot spring bathing areas can be accessed from Kutchan. In the Hanazono Onsen area the Zaborin Ryokan<\/a> is a traditional inn providing luxury accommodation and cuisine with private indoor and outdoor pools. In the Hirafu Onsen area the Vale Niseko<\/a> is a boutique hotel with ski-to-the-door access, private apartments, an on-site restaurant, and heated outdoor baths. In the same area Hotel Niseko Alpen<\/a> is a larger facility with two restaurants, souvenir and sports rental shops, a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, a stone sauna and karaoke facilities.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 1,290 yen There are 33 stations between Kutchan and Hakodate.<\/p>\n Kutchan \u2013 Hirafu \u2013 Niseko \u2013 Konbu \u2013 Rankoshi \u2013 Mena \u2013 Neppu \u2013 Kuromatsunai \u2013 Futamata \u2013 Oshamambe \u2013 Nakanosawa \u2013 Kunnui \u2013 Kuroiwa \u2013Yamasaki \u2013 Yakumo \u2013 Yamakoshi \u2013 Nodaoi \u2013 Otoshibe \u2013 Ishikura \u2013 Hon-Ishikura \u2013 Ishiya \u2013 Mori \u2013 Komagatake \u2013 Akaigawa \u2013 Onumakoen \u2013 Onuma \u2013 Niyama \u2013 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto \u2013 Nanae \u2013 Onakayama \u2013 Kikyo \u2013 Goryokaku \u2013 Hakodate<\/strong><\/p>\n Passengers traveling between Kutchan and Hakodate must change trains at Oshamambe Station. This section\u2019s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Kutchan Station.<\/p>\n This station is convenient for Sonny\u2019s Stable<\/a> which offers horse riding lessons and horse trekking experiences in the dramatic landscape at the foot of Mount Komagatake.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 3,190 yen A short distance from Akaigawa Station is a nature preserve where you can see a large number of white mizubasho<\/em> flowers blooming in mid-to-late April. This is also the closest railway station to the start of the mounting climbing trail for Mount Komagatake<\/strong>. This distinctive saddleback mountain dominates the landscape of the Oshima region and there is a wonderful view from the top of the trail. However, the distance between Akaigawa Station and the start of the trail at the 6th station car park is around 7 kilometers and will take at least 2 hours and 30 minutes to walk. Although Mount Komagatake stands 1,131 meters high, the trail only goes as far as 900 meters, so you can expect the climb from the 6th station to take between 3 and 4 hours. There are no taxis at Akaigawa Station, so if you wish to go direct to the 6th station car park, exit the train at the next stop, Onumakoen Station. A taxi ride from Onumakoen Station will take around 30 minutes.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 3,630 yen This station is a convenient exit point for Onuma Quasi-National Park<\/strong> a scenic area which includes the Onuma and Konuma lakes and Mount Komagatake. Recreational activities in this area include boating, canoeing, fishing, cycling, horseback trekking, and winter snowshoeing. This area is particularly famous for its colorful autumn foliage. In winter a free shuttle bus runs from Onumakoen Station to Hakodate Nanae Snow Park<\/strong> which has courses suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers and snow boarders. This ski resort has a ski school, equipment rental facilities, restaurants, and Hokkaido\u2019s longest gondola ride to take you to the top of the mountain.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 3,630 yen This station is currently the northern terminus of the Hokkaido Shinkansen<\/a> which provides a direct link between Hokkaido and Tokyo. For more information visit Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 3,630 yen This station in Hakodate is named after the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort<\/strong> which dates from 1866. The fort\u2019s location is now a park, but its five-pointed star shape can be seen very clearly from the observation deck of nearby Goryokaku Tower<\/strong>. A bus runs from the station area to the fort in 15 minutes or you can take a taxi and be there in 7 minutes.<\/p>\n Transfer here to the South Hokkaido Railway Line for services bound for Kikonai.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 4,070 yen Hakodate is the third biggest city in Hokkaido and also one of the oldest as it was first established in the 15th century. A good way to view the city\u2019s numerous attractions is to take one of Hakodate\u2019s tramcars which can be boarded from a stop outside Hakodate Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hakodate Station<\/p><\/div>\n The most famous sight in Hakodate is the spectacular nighttime city view from the top of Mount Hakodate<\/strong>. To see it, take a 3 minute cable car trip on the Mount Hakodate Ropeway.<\/p>\n Hakodate\u2019s Motomachi district<\/strong> is a picturesque area with many 19th century Western-style buildings which are illuminated at night. Hakodate\u2019s bay area also has many historic red brick warehouses that have been repurposed as restaurants and shops.<\/p>\n Hakodate Morning Market<\/strong> is a very popular seafood market that opens at 5.00 (or 6.00 in the winter) and closes at noon. The restaurant arcade in the market is famous for its delicious seafood rice bowls.<\/p>\n Yunokawa Onsen is a hot spring resort in Hakodate with many seafront hotels. Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei<\/a> has large indoor and outdoor mineral baths with ocean views, a choice of Western or traditional Japanese style rooms, and facilities that include a sauna, a buffet restaurant, and a souvenir shop. Bourou Noguchi Hakodate<\/a> is a modern luxury hotel with indoor and outdoor baths overlooking the city, a dry sauna, a Sky Salon for twilight views, Western and Japanese style guest rooms, and private dining.<\/p>\n Hakodate Airport<\/strong> has domestic services to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, and Okushiri Island as well as one international service to Taipei. A shuttle bus runs between Hakodate Station and Hakodate Airport in 20 minutes.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 4,070 yen There are 11 stations on the Sawara Line.<\/p>\n Onuma \u2013 Ikedaen \u2013 Nagareyama Onsen \u2013 Choshiguchi \u2013 Shikabe \u2013 Oshima-Numajiri \u2013 Oshima-Sawara \u2013 Kakarima \u2013 Oshironai \u2013 Higashi-Mori \u2013 Mori<\/strong> <\/p>\n This section\u2019s key destinations are listed below with example fares and journey times from Hakodate Station.<\/p>\n Paard Musee<\/a> is a farm and ranch a short distance from this station which offers a variety of horseback riding, farming, and craft workshop activities. All activities require advance booking. Paard Musee is a 10 minute walk from Nagareyama Onsen Station.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 750 yen This station is an 8 minute walk from Higashionuma Camping Ground on the north-east shore of Lake Onuma<\/strong>. This area is also a major spot for viewing large numbers of white mizubasho flowers which bloom here in mid-to-late April.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 750 yen Shikabe is a seaside hot spring resort town<\/strong> with several hot spring hotels. A local tourist attraction here is Shikabe Geyser Park where columns of hot water jet from the ground every ten minutes. Royal Hotel Minami Hokkaido Shikabe<\/a> is a luxury hotel here with spacious guest rooms, indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, and a buffet restaurant serving seafood fresh from Uchiura Bay. This hotel is 5 minutes by free shuttle bus from Shikabe Station.<\/p>\n <\/i> Train fare: 970 yen All train times and fares for the key destinations listed above are for local trains, but in many cases paying extra for a limited express service will considerably reduce the travel time. To plan your journey, use the timetable and route finder<\/a> on the JR Hokkaido English language website. A downloadable route map<\/a> of the JR Hokkaido railway network can also be found on the same site. <\/p>\n Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Michael Lambe, Angkana Unthaya (5,8), ta98\/pixta (7). All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Hakodate Main Line is a major railway line in Hokkaido that runs from Hakodate in the south as far north as Asahikawa. Along the way the line passes through Kutchan in the Niseko ski resort district, and the popular sightseeing destinations of Otaru and Sapporo. On the southern part of the line there is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":611,"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions\/611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sapporostation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"A](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line2.jpg\")
![\"Departure](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line3.jpg\")
Key Destinations: Sapporo to Asahikawa<\/h2>\n
Popular Hotels near Sapporo Station<\/h4>\n
![\"JR](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-japan\/hotels\/hotel_sapporo_jr_tower.jpg\")
Hotel Nikko
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Check Rates<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n![\"Sapporo](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-japan\/hotels\/hotel_sapporo_grand_hotel.jpg\")
Hotel<\/br><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>
Check Rates<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n![\"Hotel](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-japan\/hotels\/hotel_sapporo_gracery.jpg\")
Sapporo
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Check Rates<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n![\"Hotel](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-japan\/hotels\/hotel_sapporo_sunroute.jpg\")
Sapporo
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/span>
Check Rates<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n
\nNaebo Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 3 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nShinrin-Koen Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 14 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nIwamizawa Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 41 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nBibai Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 1 hour and 11 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nAsahikawa Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 2 hours and 18 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line4.jpg\")
Key Destinations: Sapporo to Otaru<\/h2>\n
![\"Departure](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line5.jpg\")
Soen Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 2 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nTeine Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 15 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nOtaru Station<\/h3>\n
![\"Otaru](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line8.jpg\")
\n<\/i> Train time: 45 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line6.jpg\")
Key Destinations: Otaru to Kutchan<\/h2>\n
Ranshima Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 18 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nYoichi Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 25 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nKutchan Station<\/h3>\n
![\"Kutchan](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line9.jpg\")
\n<\/i> Train time: 1 hour and 16 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nKey Destinations: Kutchan to Hakodate<\/h2>\n
Komagatake Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 4 hours and 2 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nAkaigawa Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 4 hours and 21 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nOnumakoen Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 4 hours and 26 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nShin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 4 hours and 41 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGoryokaku Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 5 hours and 7 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nHakodate Station<\/h3>\n
![\"Hakodate](\"https:\/\/onb-cdn.b-cdn.net\/images-stn-sapporo\/13-Hakodate-Main-Line7.jpg\")
\n<\/i> Train time: 5 hours and 12 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nKey Destinations: The Sawara Line<\/h2>\n
Nagareyama Onsen Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 55 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nChoshiguchi Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 56 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nShikabe Station<\/h3>\n
\n<\/i> Train time: 1 hour and 7 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\nUseful Information<\/h2>\n