Hokkaido Shinkansen' stations and trains

Published on : 26/06/2016
by : Japan Experience

Hayabusa
©chinnian,https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/flicker/,CC BY-SA 2.0,https://www.flickr.com/photos/chinnian/27541267361/

Our travel guide along the Hokkaido shinkansen

Since March 2016, the new Hokkaido Shinkansen is in operation. Discover the new stations and how to reach Hakodate and Sapporo.

Before the 26th of March 2015, the last stop of the Tohoku shinkansen was Shin-Aomori. Now the Hayabusa or Hayate Shinkansen go through the Seikan Tunnel ( 53,45 km) to cross the sea and stop at one or all of the new stations : Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, Kikonai Station and Okutsugaru Imabetsu Station.

Okutsugaru Imabetsu Station was designed as a "Gate in the style of Imabetsu 's symbolic Seikan Tunnel Arch".

Kikonai Station was designed "with the inspiration from the rhythm of the waves rushing to shore and the sun rays peeking out between the trees".

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station is the northern shinkansen station. According to JR Hokkaido Railway Company, who is responsible of the operation for the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the large pillar inside the building represent the poplar trees leading to Trappist Monastery and are made fram Japanese cedar from Southern Hokkaido. The Shinkansen name between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station is Hayabusa. Note that reservation is required for all seats.

Hokkaido shinkansen
©Andy Leung, pixabay

How to reach Hakodate and Sapporo ?

From Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station, the connection is easy to Hakodate with the Hakodate Liner and to Sapporo with Ltd Express Super Hokuto and Ltd Express Hokuto (3h30) as the platforms are nearby.

Once in Hakodate, it is easy to discover the city with the shuttle bus or the street car.