Breakdown of How to Travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido! Need the Best Way to Get There? Here’s How!

There are over 10 airports across the whole of Hokkaido, but New Chitose Airport provides easiest access to Sapporo Station.

Haneda Airport and Narita Airport are the two major airports that will get you there from Tokyo. These two airports have different travel points to note, so we’ll introduce them as separate starting points.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen line first opened in 2016, making it possible to travel from Tokyo Station to Hokkaido by bullet train.

However, the final Hokkaido Shinkansen is Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station (as of October 2019), so you will still need additional trains and/or buses if your final destination is Sapporo.

Another option from Tokyo to Hokkaido is to travel by ferry, which offers a view of the Pacific Ocean along the way. While the ferry departs from Oarai Port and arrives in Tomakomai Port, there are convenient bus options that run from Tokyo St. to Oarai Port, and from Tomakomai Port to Sapporo St. For a discount, make sure to find ferry plans that include bus fare for an even more wallet friendly option to Sapporo.

Renting a car is another option that will get you to Hokkaido by driving through Tohoku region. Driving can make for a fun roadtrip set to your own design, but the total trek will set you back 17 hours, so you will want to plan for this length of time.

At the end you will also need to travel by Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry, the straight that separates Japan’s main Honshu Island and Hokkaido. Considering the total cost of highway tolls, ferry fee, rental car fee and fuel, the total cost of renting a car can add up.

You can get from Tokyo Station to Sapporo Station via a flight from Haneda Airport in 3 steps:

Below are approximate travel time and costs for routes starting from Haneda Airport:

LCC is an acronym for low cost carrier, which are airlines that offer bottom-line costs by simplifying the operation costs and flight-related services they provide. Conversely, traditional airline companies like Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways are referred to as “full-service carriers” to differentiate between the two.

LCCs offering flights from Narita Airport to New Chitose Airport include Jetstar Japan, Spring Airlines Japan, and Peach Aviation. Each company has different pricing, services and operating rules. LCCs often after low base fares for flight, but depending on carrier, you may see additional charges in addition to the plane fare. Please make sure to take note. Just like Haneda Airport, the route via Narita Airport can be broken into 3 steps:

Below are approximate travel time and costs:

The final station of the Hokkaido Shinkansen is Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station. Here’s how to get all the way to Sapporo Station in 2 easy steps:

The entire trip takes roughly 8 hours by Shinkansen.

For budget-friendly travel costs, the [JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass] is available to overseas travelers. We’ll introduce some travel pass prices here.

If visiting Japan (on a short term visa of 90 days or less) with a foreign passport, you can purchase an exclusive discounted ticket for 26,900 yen if purchased outside Japan. (13,450 for children ages 6-12). This pass offers unlimited rides on JR Hokkaido Lines (Southern Hokkaido) and JR East Lines (Kanto and Tohoku areas) for 6 days of your choice over a 14-day period that stars when you receive your pass. You can use the pass for an unlimited number of times on Shinkansen and limited express trains. This includes bullet train travel from Tokyo to Shin Hakodate Hokuto, making the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass a great option.

Here is a breakdown of how to get from Tokyo to Hokkaido by ferry.

If journeying by rental car, the total drive from Tokyo to Sapporo without breaks would still set you back 17 hours. However, adding in breaks or detours for sightseeing will likely make your drive a two-day trip. Express tolls can cost about 20,000 yen, the Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry from Aomori to Hakodate costs 20,000 yen. Adding in the rental car fee and 1,000 km worth of gas, you can expect this route to be long and the possibly most expensive way to travel.

Let’s sum up. If looking for shortest travel time, flying is your best option. If looking to travel in a relatively short amount of time, without worry of weather, Shinkansen is your best bet.

You can also travel smoothly, with less transfers on the bullet train. If time and expense are not a concern, you may consider the scenic route, driving through Tohoku by rental car. If you want a budget-friendly, smooth ride to Hokkaido, the low and slow option offered by ferry is for you.

For ferries, we recommend “Sunflower,” operated by MOL Ferry.
This newly built ship was put into service in 2017, stylized with luxurious private suties and relaxing Japanese-style rooms. Enjoy a carefree ocean voyage for only 10,800 yen each way, with choices of departure times late into he night.
The Novelties of a Trip Aboard the Sunflower:

A full day’s ferry ride means the rare chance for photos as the sun rises and falls against the Pacific Ocean. Set sail and the dusk will begin to fade into quiet night. As the moonlit ocean awaits you can enjoy the full blanket of starry skies on a clear night.

In the morning, the dark skies give way to the break of dawn and bring with it a stunning view of the sun as it breaches the horizon. This is one picture-perfect view that’ll impress all you friends on social media and back home. The sun then climbs the skies, making the ocean spread like a shimmering sea before your eyes.

Inhale the deep ocean-scented breeze and recharge the senses. On a lucky day, you may even spot a few dolphins.

On your ride, you’ll find plenty to enjoy inside the ferry as well. With event programming and a full range of onboard facilities there are countless ways to enjoy your trip.

From musical performances and magic shows, to juggling, portrait drawing and hula dancing and more, there’s plenty to participate in. You can even access 100+ movies for free via smartphone or tablet.

Whether with family or a group, there’s plenty to enjoy including large, scenic public bath, ocean-side seating, free sauna, gift shop an full game corner. For small children there’s Kids Land. Equipped with a baby room with changing tables and nursery so families with young infants can travel with ease.

One surprising fact is there’s even a pet space and dog run! Each aspect of the ship is meticulously customized to please any guest at any age.

For meals you can expect a classy, spacious restaurant and a full course set for only 1,530 yen with a side of oceanside view. There are two full course sets to choose from: a Japanese set with dishes like tempura and sashimi, or a Western set featuring various meat dishes. Feel free to pick whatever suits your fancy.

The least expensive Tourist plan consists of beds with dedicated shelves separated by curtains, but you can also upgrade your room depending on how you prefer to travel.

For around 2,000 yen, you can upgrade to the Comfort plan that comes with a bed equipped with a TV (all seats have an electrical outlet) and a secure, private space. For around 7,000 yen, you can upgrade to a private room.

Various types of rooms including Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, ocean-view rooms, and rooms where pets are permitted are also available options.

While traveling in Japan, language barriers can be an inconvenience. The Sunflower has anticipated this, installing translations systems throughout the ship for guests from abroad. You can use the system at each terminal by contacting an operator via video call who can then interpret for you. Additionally, the main ship (evening departure) is equipped with an automatic translation system called “ili PRO”. The system is available in Chinese, English, and Korean.

Despite the price and package perks of a ferry, many are not sure what the trip entails. We hope at this point you know a little more about riding via ferry.
The trip is lengthy, but instead of time from Point A to Point B, the ship offers a novel chance to enjoy the journey. With impeccable views of the ocean, a lavish ship interior and full event programming there’s plenty to enjoy. Your time on a ferry is unlike any on land. In the company of your fellow traveler, you’ll find vacationing elderly couples, young budget travelers, and families enjoying a leisurely ride. Thanks to the array of service plans there something for everyone.

A tranquil trip and a colorful crew awaits you on the ferry. On a hectic and busy trip, this is one way to take it low and slow.
If you have some time to spare, the ferry is a highly recommended way to visit Hokkaido.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this full breakdown of the many ways to get to the hot spot destination of Hokkaido, along with one method you may not have known –the ferry.

With pros and cons for each method of plane, bullet train, ferry and car, we hope you’ll bookmark this article for planning your next trip to Hokkaido!