[From Sapporo to Hakodate] A comparison of JR, express bus, airplane, and car! - Part 3 Hokkaido Lab ~A comprehensive Hokkaido travel guide to enjoy gourmet food, nature, and culture~

[From Sapporo to Hakodate] We compared JR trains, express buses, airplanes, and cars!

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: Last updated: September 21, 2018

Table of contents

3. Travel between Sapporo and Hakodate by express bus.

　Benefits

　Drawbacks

　Time and number of services

3. Travel between Sapporo and Hakodate by express bus.

Benefits

Intercity express buses are popular due to their affordable fares, frequent service, and convenient departure points throughout the city. They are an essential mode of transport for travel between Sapporo and Hakodate, and vice versa.

Since you'll be driving mostly on expressways and taking frequent breaks at rest areas around Lake Toya and Yakumo, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Hokkaido as you travel.

Furthermore, since it doesn't connect stations directly, it offers a more diverse range of options than JR, including services that depart from Mitsui Outlet Park Kitahiroshima and services that stop at Hakodate Onuma Prince Hotel in Onuma Park.

One of its biggest advantages is that it provides direct access to Yunokawa Onsen, where many accommodations in Hakodate are concentrated. The fact that there are no transfers makes it very appealing.

You can plan to check directly into a hotel in Yunokawa from Sapporo, and then take a bus from in front of your hotel that goes towards the station or a sightseeing bus that offers night views of Mount Hakodate.

In terms of cost, a round trip costs 8,580 yen, which is cheaper than a one-way JR limited express train ticket. Using a multi-ride ticket brings the price down to under 4000 yen per trip. For those who want to save on transportation costs and focus on souvenirs and gourmet food, this is incredibly attractive.

Using late-night flights can further reduce accommodation costs, resulting in multiple economic benefits.

Hakodate Express New Star Image of the Hakodate Limited Express New Star train.

Drawbacks

On the other hand, a disadvantage is that it takes longer than taking the JR train. In particular, highway closures due to accidents are quite common in Hokkaido during winter. Also, when snow removal begins, the speed limit is drastically reduced, so if you're unlucky enough to encounter such a situation, your travel plans will have to be drastically altered.

If you're traveling by car, you can decide on detours based on your own judgment, but this is not possible with buses, which is a major drawback. You should also be prepared for the fact that your travel memories may be significantly affected by weather and traffic conditions.

Time and number of services

From Sapporo, the earliest bus is the Hokkaido Bus Hakodate Express New Star, which departs Susukino at 7:13 and arrives at Hakodate Station at 12:50. The next bus departs Hakodate at 6:30 and arrives in Sapporo at 12:37. This should give you enough time for a slightly late lunch.

On the other hand, the last bus is an overnight bus departing Susukino at 23:38 and arriving at Hakodate Station at 5:31. The overnight bus departing Hakodate at 23:40 arrives at Sapporo Terminal at 5:29.

The Hakodate Express bus, jointly operated by three companies, departs Sapporo at 23:35 and Hakodate at 23:25, arriving in Hakodate at 5:15 and Sapporo at 5:35 respectively. This is the only bus service that makes a stop at the Hakodate Ferry Terminal.

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