Known as the "City of Fog," Kushiro is a central city in eastern Hokkaido and also a tourist destination blessed with natural beauty such as the Kushiro Marsh and Lake Akan.
Many people might be wondering, "I want to go from Sapporo to Kushiro, but it seems like a long distance, so how long will it take and how much will it cost?"

This time, we'll introduce the transportation options for getting from Sapporo to Kushiro, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Why not take a trip to Kushiro, a city full of charm?
*This article is based on information as of September 2017.

Table of contents
What are the transportation options from Sapporo to Kushiro?
1. Take the JR train
2. Take a highway bus.
3. Go by car (rental car)
4. Travel by plane
Final thoughts

The distance from Sapporo to Kushiro is approximately 300 km.
The available modes of transportation are JR trains, express buses, cars, and airplanes.

I've compiled a list of fares and travel times for each mode of transportation.

*The travel time by car was based on information from "Kita no Michi Navi" (Northern Road Navigation).

The limited express train to Kushiro is the "Super Ozora," and it operates six times a day.

Advantages of JR

• Short travel time
The journey time for the Super Ozora limited express train is a minimum of 4 hours (the time varies depending on the intermediate stops).
Compared to other modes of transportation, the travel time is relatively short.
When traveling by car, you have to factor in rest stops, so even considering that, being able to get there quickly without getting tired is a big advantage.

Disadvantages of JR

・High price
The one-way fare for the express train is 9,370 yen, which is more expensive than taking a bus or driving.
If you become a member of Ekinet (operated by JR East) (free of charge), you can purchase discounted tickets called "Ekinet Tokudane" after logging into your member page.
The discount rate is 15-40%. There are restrictions on dates and flights, but it's much cheaper than the regular fare, so it's worth considering.

○Peach Higashi Hokkaido Free Pass & Vanilla Air Higashi Hokkaido Free Pass
This is a free pass plan for users of low-cost carriers (LCCs) Peach and Vanilla Air.
The price is 15,500 yen for adults and 7,750 yen for children.
This pass allows unlimited rides on unreserved seats of limited express and express trains within the designated area for 5 days and can be purchased on the day of use at Shin-Chitose Airport Station. The area also includes Kushiro Station.

Please see this page for more details.
Peach https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/higashi_hokkaido/peach.html
Vanilla 　https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/higashi_hokkaido/Vanilla_Air.html

There are two express buses heading to Kushiro: the "Starlight Kushiro" and the "Kushiro Express New Star."
The fares and travel times are not significantly different, but the destination stops and onboard amenities vary slightly, so you might want to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Starlight Kushiro

This bus service is operated by three companies: Hokkaido Chuo Bus, Kushiro Bus, and Akan Bus, with five departures per day.

Amenities include a TV, radio, movies, slippers, and a footrest.
Please note that the late-night bus from Sapporo departs from in front of the Tokyu Department Store, not from the terminal in front of the station.

・Kushiro Limited Express New Star

This is a bus operated by Hokkaido Bus, with four departures per day.

You can board the bus from the Susukino area, and after Kushiro Station, it also stops at Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO.
This bus is equipped with a Plasma Cluster ion generator, ensuring a clean interior.
Additionally, each seat has a curtain, ensuring privacy.

It's also great that there's an outlet so you can charge your devices.

Advantages of express buses

・ The price is cheap
The advantage of express buses is that they are inexpensive.

The one-way fare is approximately 3,700 yen cheaper than the regular JR fare.
You can save even more on your trip by using round-trip tickets or buying multi-ride passes.

Disadvantages of express buses

·time consuming
The bus journey takes approximately 5.5 to 6 hours, which is more than an hour longer than taking the JR train or flying.

Additionally, delays or cancellations may occur depending on road conditions and weather.
It might be a good idea to plan your itinerary with some leeway.

Although it is about 300km from Sapporo, the Doto Expressway was extended to Kushiro city (Akan IC) in 2016, making it possible to get there in about 4 hours and 40 minutes using the expressway.
However, you should estimate that it will take 5 to 30 hours, taking breaks into account. It will also take even longer in winter.

If you don't use the highway, it will take nearly 7 hours (except in winter).

Advantages of using a car (rental car)

- It's cheaper if you go with a group
If you travel by car, you can split the highway tolls and gas costs among the number of people, making it a more economical way to travel.

The highway toll is 5940 yen on weekdays, and 3840 yen with the holiday discount. Gasoline costs approximately 3763 yen ( calculated at 125 yen per liter on this website ), so if two people travel by car, it will be cheaper than taking the JR train or bus.

Even renting a car, a Toyota Rent-a-Car P1 class costs between 7,020 and 8,424 yen per day (with a one-way drop-off fee of 9,720 yen), so if you're going with two or three people, it's the cheapest way to get there.

- You can travel without being bound by time.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of going by car is that you can act without being bound by departure times.
It's also fun to stop by roadside rest areas or hidden gem shops along the way, or take breaks at places with nice scenery.

Disadvantages of using a car (rental car)

- It will be a long-distance drive.
Even though the expansion of highways has made travel faster, driving 300km is still quite a challenge.
Additionally, caution is needed in case of bad weather or if wild animals suddenly appear.

During winter when there is snow, even more time, concentration, and physical strength are required.
Take breaks every two hours, have someone else drive, and take turns driving to avoid getting too tired and to ensure safe driving.
While it offers the freedom to travel without worrying about time, driving a car might be a challenge.

Also, since there aren't many gas stations in Hokkaido, it's best to pay attention to your fuel level and refuel as soon as possible.
Regarding the Doto Expressway in particular, the only gas station is at the Yuni PA, which is relatively close to Chitose.
Furthermore, the business hours are from 8:00 to 20:00. They are not open late at night.

You can fly from Sapporo to Kushiro Airport from two airports: New Chitose Airport and Okadama Airport, which is located within Sapporo city limits.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) operates the New Chitose-Kushiro route, while Japan Airlines (JAL) operates the Okadama-Kushiro route.

There are three flights a day from New Chitose Airport to Kushiro Airport.

There are four flights from Okadama Airport, located on the north side of Sapporo city.

Advantages of flying

・The travel time is fast!
The biggest advantage of flying is the short travel time.

The flight time is 45 minutes. This speed is overwhelming compared to other modes of transportation.
You can use your free time for sightseeing or shopping.

Disadvantages of flying

• The fare is high
Compared to other modes of transportation, the regular fares are very high.

However, there are tickets that can be purchased at a lower price if you book early, such as ANA's "Tabiwari" and "Tokuwari" fares, and Japan Airlines' "Sakutoku" fares. So, if your travel plans are decided in advance, it's a good idea to take advantage of these discount fares.

From Sapporo city center to New Chitose Airport, JR trains and airport shuttle buses are convenient options.
From Kushiro Airport, the bus to the station connects to all flights.
When you add up these travel times, even if you arrive at each airport 40 minutes before departure, the journey to Okadama Airport takes about 3 hours, and to New Chitose Airport it takes 3 hours and 15 to 55 minutes.

○ Travel from Sapporo city to Okadama Airport
Airport shuttle bus: 20 minutes from Sapporo Station, 400 yen.
Taxi: 20 minutes from Sapporo Station, approximately 2,700 yen.

○ Travel from Sapporo city to New Chitose Airport
JR "Rapid Airport" train from Sapporo Station: 37 minutes, 1,070 yen.
Hokkaido Chuo Bus / Hokuto Kotsu "Airport Shuttle Bus" Approximately 60-80 minutes from central Sapporo, 1,030 yen

○Travel from Kushiro Airport to Kushiro Station
Akan Bus "Airport Shuttle Bus" 45 minutes 940 yen
Taxi: Approximately 30 minutes, approximately 5,480 yen

Kushiro is famous as a city of fog.
On foggy days, you might worry that flights might be cancelled, right?

In fact, Kushiro Airport is equipped with the same high level of instrument landing system (a radio-controlled aircraft landing guidance system) as New Chitose Airport and Narita Airport, so it can land safely even in fog.
Measures are in place to minimize flight cancellations even in foggy conditions.

What did you think.
Kushiro boasts attractive tourist spots within the city, such as the Washo Market and its beautiful sunsets, and it's also a convenient city to use as a transit point for further trips to eastern Hokkaido, including Shiretoko and Nemuro.
Please do consider visiting Kushiro, depending on your time and budget.

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