4 hours non-stop from Tokyo to Hokkaido via the “Hokkaido Shinkansen,” which opened in March 2016

▲ The Hokkaido Shinkansen is scheduled to open next March. (Image / from Wikimedia Commons)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Traveling from Tokyo to Hokkaido will soon be even more convenient. The long-awaited“Hokkaido Shinkansen” has been officially confirmed to open on March 26, 2016,and in the future, passengers will be able to reach Hokkaido directly from Tokyo in approximately 4 hours. Ticket prices have also been officially released recently.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen begins at the terminal station of the Tohoku Shinkansen, “Shin-Aomori,” crossing the Seikan Tunnel and traveling deep into Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Shinkansen is opening in two phases;the first phase, opening in March 2016, connects Shin-Aomori Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. Travelers can go directly from Tokyo without transfers, reaching Hakodate in about 4 hours and 9 minutes.

The second phase of the route, between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo, is expected to open by the end of 2030.

Hokkaido Shinkansen ticket prices are another focal point for travelers. For example, a one-way ticket from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station costs 22,690 yen (approximately NT$6,135); Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is 7,260 yen; and Sendai to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is 17,310 yen.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen uses E5 series trains, consisting of 10 cars and capable of carrying up to 731 passengers. The train cars are divided into one Grand Class luxury car that seats 18 people; one Green Car (first class) that seats 55 people; and eight standard cars that can accommodate a total of 658 passengers.