Japan Rail Pass NowAustralia's No.1 Choice
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Japan Rail Pass NowAustralia's No.1 Choice
Tokyo to Sapporo is the one major domestic route where flying clearly beats the train. Sapporo sits on the northern island of Hokkaido, more than 1,100 kilometres away, and the rail journey still involves a change and the best part of a day. The Tokyo to Sapporo air corridor is one of the busiest in the world for good reason. Here is how the options really compare.
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You can reach Sapporo by rail, and it is a memorable trip, but it is a long one. You ride the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin Hakodate Hokuto in about four hours, then change to the limited express Hokuto for roughly another three and a half hours to Sapporo. All up it is close to eight hours and a change of train, so most travellers fly and save the rail journey for when the line is extended to Sapporo in the future.
| Option | Time | From (one way) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane (HND to CTS) | 1h 35m in the air | from AUD 90 | By far the fastest and usually cheapest |
| Shinkansen plus limited express | about 8 hours | from AUD 240 | Rail fans and pass holders with time |
| Overnight options | a full day | varies | Breaking the trip in Hakodate |
| Car and ferry | over a day | high | Not practical for most trips |
If you do travel by rail, take a Hayabusa shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin Hakodate Hokuto, then the connecting limited express Hokuto to Sapporo. Many people break the journey with a night in Hakodate, which has a famous night view and fresh seafood, turning a long slog into a two part adventure. Reserve seats on both legs, as the Hayabusa is reserved seating only.
The Hayabusa shinkansen requires a seat reservation, so there are no non reserved cars to fall back on. Book both the shinkansen and the limited express in advance, especially in summer and around the Sapporo Snow Festival in February when trains and flights both fill up.
To reach Sapporo by rail in a single day you need an early Hayabusa from Tokyo, ideally before mid morning, to make the connection at Shin Hakodate Hokuto with time to spare. Miss the early trains and an overnight stop becomes necessary, which is part of why flying is the usual choice.
Reserve both legs of the rail trip in advance and pay in Australian dollars, or book a flight if you would rather fly. A reserved Hayabusa seat is essential since there are no non reserved cars, so it pays to lock in your seats early in busy periods.
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The nationwide Japan Rail Pass covers the entire rail route, including the Hayabusa and the limited express Hokuto, so pass holders can make the trip at no extra fare. That is the main reason to go by train rather than fly. Without a pass, the point to point rail fare is high and the flight is both faster and often cheaper. Our calculator can help you weigh a pass against individual tickets.
Flights use Haneda in Tokyo and New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. New Chitose connects to Sapporo Station by a fast train in about 37 minutes, and Haneda is close to central Tokyo, so even with transfers the total door to door time is a fraction of the rail journey.
There is no practical long distance bus between Tokyo and Sapporo, since the route crosses to another island. Local and overnight buses exist within Hokkaido once you arrive, but for the main journey it is a choice between the plane and the train.
Flying is the default. Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo New Chitose takes about 95 minutes in the air, with departures throughout the day and fares that are often lower than the rail ticket. Add the quick airport train into Sapporo and you are in the city in well under three hours from central Tokyo.
Driving is not realistic for a standard trip, as it means a long expressway run to northern Honshu and a ferry crossing to Hokkaido. Hire a car once you are on the island if you want to explore the countryside around Sapporo, Otaru and Furano.
On the shinkansen, two bags per person up to 30 kilograms each ride free, with oversized bags over 160 centimetres total needing a reserved oversized baggage space. If you fly, standard checked baggage rules apply, so a large suitcase is usually simpler to manage by plane than across a long rail journey with a change.
For Tokyo to Sapporo, fly. It is faster, usually cheaper and far less tiring than the eight hour rail journey with a change. Take the train only if you hold a nationwide Japan Rail Pass and want the experience, ideally breaking the trip with a night in Hakodate. Keep an eye out for the future shinkansen extension to Sapporo, which will change this comparison.
Planning more of Japan by rail? Keep exploring:
Tokyo to Kyoto · Tokyo to Hiroshima · Tokyo to Osaka · All train tickets
Fares are indicative from prices in Australian dollars and vary by date, train and season. The live fare is shown when you search. Booking is handled by our travel partner and we may earn a commission, which never changes your price.
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