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Hakucho/Super Hakucho is operated between Shin-Aomori (新青森) and Hakodate (函館). These trains go through the longest tunnel in Japan, “Seikan Tunnel” and connect the main island in Japan, “Honshu” (本州) and Hokkaido (北海道). All these trains are scheduled in the right connection time with Tohoku Shinkansen at Shin-
Aomori station and Limited Express “Hokuto” and “Super Hokuto” to Sapporo at Hakodate. These trains used to connect Hachinohe with Hakodate via Aomori. But Tohoku Shinkansen was exteneded to Shin-Aomori on December 4, 2010. Departure location was changed to Shin-Aomori instead of Hachinohe.

Both Hakucho and Super Hakucho are fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. But the accommodation between Hakucho and Super Hakucho is very differenet. So I would like to show you the difference and other details.

Route, schedule and time required

Hakucho services operates 2 round trips and Super Hakucho services operates 8 round trips between Shin-Aomori and Hakodate. It takes around 2 hours and 10-20 minutes to get Hakodate from Shin-Aomori. “Super Hakucho” is operated by newer train 789 series. It has nicer accommodation and a bit faster.

View Hakucho / Super Hakucho in a larger map

Stations

Shin-Aomori(新青森)	x
Aomori(青森)	x
Kanita (蟹田)	*
Tsugaru-Imabetsu (津軽今別)	*
Tappi-Kaitei (竜飛海底)	*
Shiriuchi (知内)	*
Kikonai (木古内)	x
Goryokaku (五稜郭)	*
Hakodate (函館)	x

x:All train stop *:some train stop

Accommodation

Hakucho is operated by JR East refurbished 485 series. Super Hakucho is operated by JR Hokkaido 789 series. Super Hakucho is newer and faster than Hakucho. Especially if you take Green seat, Hakucho gives you 2+2 seat configuration. But Super Hakucho gives you 2+1 seat configuration and the power outlet for the laptop or charging small batteries. It is quite different. Don’t take Hakucho. Try to take Super Hakucho.

If you take Ordinary seat, it is not much different between Hakucho and Super Hakucho. But Reserved ordinary seat on car#1 of Super Hakucho has the power outlet. If you like to use it, try to book it.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Train formation

Super Hakucho 6 cars formation

1		2	3	4	5	6
G	R	NR	NR	R	R	R

*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat

Hakucho 6 cars formation

1		2	3	4	5	6
G	R	NR	NR	R	R	R

Images – 789 series (Super Hakucho)

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Images – Refurbished 485 series (Hakucho)

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

You may also like these posts:

• Access to/from Sapporo and Hakodate. Limited Express Hokuto / Super Hokuto
• Intercity transfer between Aomori and Akita, Limited Express Tsugaru
• Alternatives of Overnight train Cassiopeia and Hokutosei, in case that you cannot make a reservation.
• Shin-Aomori station guide. How to change the train, Shinkansen, Super Hakucho and other local trains.
• How to access to Sapporo in Hokkaido by railway and covered fully by Japan Rail Pass

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3 Comments to “Connect Mainland (Aomori) with Hokkaido (Hakodate). Limited Express Hakucho / Super Hakucho”

1. Jim Nakazawa says:

   January 25, 2012 at 7:51 am

   We plan to take the LEX Super Hakucho, LEX Super Hokuto, and the LEX Super Kamui trains. Do these Limited Express trains have adequate luggage areas for our large wheeled luggage in their Ordinary Class cars?

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     January 25, 2012 at 12:50 pm

     Hi Jim,
     There is no luggage space. You need to keep your luggage at your seat or leave at passenger’s deck. If you find an empty seat around your seat, you can use that space.
     Unfortunately most of JR trains are not designed for overseas tourists.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. JAyre says:

   May 8, 2011 at 6:57 am

   If you happen to be travelling overnight by Nihonkai Sleeper Train, the appropriate Super Hakucho service will wait at Aomori Station (This happened to me, and Nihonkai was running 70 minutes late due to snow between Niigata and Akita). The attendant on Nihonkai was very helpful even though he spoke little English, we were at least able to communicate about what connecting service I had at Aomori and he took the time to keep me regularly updated as to our ETA to make the change. I found that level of personal service to be normal among JR Staff throughout Japan.

   Please note though that in this eventuality you make the change at Aomori, NOT the shinkansen terminal at Shin-Aomori station, which is immediately before Aomori on the JR Ou Line.

   Not speaking from experience, but this is probably true of the Akebono sleeper train if such an occurence happens also, as it follows the same route when reaching the Sea of Japan coast.

   Reply