The Hokkaido Christmas Otaru Train is departing soon — only 9 days left!! A Christmas-exclusive experience:: Railway journey

The annual Christmas Otaru Train is about to depart again. According to an announcement on the official JR Hokkaido website, this year’s train will run for a total of 9 days between December 11–13, 18–20, and 23–25, operating one round trip per day. Traveling through a silver-white world aboard a vintage steam locomotive from a fairy tale and exploring the romantic town of Otaru will no longer just be a dream.

JR Hokkaido's Christmas-themed steam train has been running for 10 years now. Each year at this time, JR Hokkaido decorates its SL steam locomotive with Christmas ornaments, lights, and a Christmas tree. Staff dress up as Santa Claus and reindeer to welcome passengers and even hand out commemorative Christmas cards. The SL train already has a strong retro vibe, and when transformed into a festive Christmas special, it makes the atmosphere of a northern Christmas even more magical.

The holiday-exclusive Christmas Otaru Train runs regularly between Sapporo and Otaru. Designed for both locals and visitors to experience Otaru’s festive Christmas ambiance, the train offers two types of routes: weekday and weekend. This year’s weekday departures are scheduled for December 11, 18, 24, and 25, making it ideal for couples and small groups of friends. The train departs Sapporo Station at 18:24 and arrives in Otaru at 19:12. It remains there for two hours, giving passengers time to stroll along the Otaru Canal and enjoy a Christmas dinner in town. As for the weekend routes, they operate on December 12, 13, 19, 20, and 23. The train departs Sapporo at 11:16 and arrives in Otaru at 11:54, staying for five hours. During this time, passengers can explore sights such as the Otaru Canal and museums — perfect for family outings. To allow travelers to fully enjoy Otaru, the Christmas train can be combined with regular services during the holidays.

The Christmas Otaru Train is extremely popular, with nearly every Sapporo-bound departure fully booked. Travelers planning to ride are advised to book early. Please note that all seats are reserved, and an additional reserved seat fee (¥800) applies. For detailed schedules and information about the Christmas Otaru Train, please visit the JR Hokkaido website.

Read more: Romantic Otaru Canal (provided by Tripass Attractions)