Overnight train to/from Sapporo and Aomori. Express Hamanasu

Aomori, Shin-Aomori, Hirosaki
Overnight train Hamanasu at Aomori station
Overnight train Hamanasu at Aomori station

Overnight train Hamanasu at Aomori station

Hamanasu was discontinued in mid March, 2016. There is no overnight train service options available to Hokkaido.

This overnight express train is operated between Aomori and Sapporo. If you want to save your time and you don’t want to spend your money for Hotel in Sapporo, this overnight train is the best choice. Especially when you want to transfer to Tokyo from Sapporo as early as possible, this train is connected with the earliest Tohoku Shinkansen at Shin-Aomori.

Most of the night train have only sleeper class. This express train has Type B sleeper class. But this train has two types of reserved seats too. If you take these reserved class, you can take this train without any extra pay by Japan Rail Pass. Okay, let’s see the accommodations and interior of Hamanasu.

I got on Hamanasu in mid March, 2012. I hope my passengers’ report, “My trip from Aomori to Sapporo on March 19, 2012 by Hamanasu Carpet car.” help you.


View Hamanasu in a larger map

Accommodations

Type B sleeper class

Additional fare 7,560yen (Express surcharge 1,260yen + Accommodation charge 6,300yen)
This is very basic sleeper in Japan. 4 beds are in one compartment. Lower berth is 195 cm X 70 cm X 111 cm. (Length/Width/Height) Upper berth is 195 cm X 70 cm X 95 cm. Lower berth has a little more head room.
Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu

Dream Car

No extra charge
One of those reserved seats is called “Dream Car”. This seat provide you same grade of comfortably as Green classr.
Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu

Carpet Car

No extra charge
The other reserved seat is called “Carpet car”. This seat is the same kind of seat as Nobi Nobi seat on Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo. It is like a berth. You can lie on the seat. This berth is better than Nobi Nobi seat because this accommodation provides you a pillow, linen and the Heated Carpet in winter time. Please click the following images. You will see the purple carpet on the berth. That is the Heated Carpet.
Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu
As you see the images, Upper section has more privacy. Try to get it!

Non Reserved seat

Of course, no extra charge
If you cannot get the reserved seat, you can take a non reserved seat, if you like. This seat is very very common seat. If you need to take overnight train from Sapporo to Aomori, you have to take this. Otherwise I don’t recommend you.
Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu Overnight train Hamanasu

Other facilities

This train has several the vending machine. You can buy some refreshment.
Overnight train Hamanasu
Several change rooms are equipped in the train. And you will have a small space to take a break, drink and eat. But there is no shower facility.
Overnight train Hamanasu
Be careful! This train has Japanese style washroom only!
Overnight train Hamanasu

Timetable

StationAomori to SapporoSapporo to Aomori
Aomori (青森)22:185:39
Hakodate (函館)0:44-1:232:52-3:27
Oshamanbe (長万部)3:081:03
Date-Monbetsu (伊達紋別駅)0:17
Higashi-Muroran (東室蘭)4:1723:50
Noboribetsu (登別)23:35
Tomakomai (苫小牧)5:0123:04
Minami-Chitose (南千歳)5:2522:41
Chitose (千歳)5:3022:36
Shin-Sapporo (新札幌)5:5522:11
Sapporo (札幌)6:0722:00

Comments

  1. William says:

    Takeshi san,

    How many days in advance can I make the reservation for “Carpet car” seat?

    Regards.

  2. tomer says:

    Takeshi san,

    Will the Hokkaido Rail Pass include the Express Hamanasu in it as well?

    where can I find info as to what trains each kind of Pass include in it, or for each train what kind of pass can be use on it?

    Thanks,
    Tomer.

  3. Antoine says:

    Hi Takeshi 🙂 First of all thanks a lot for the time you take to make such a good website!
    I have a question about a future trip from Osaka to Hokkaido (TOYA station) on the 5th and 6th of August. I won’t be able to take the Twilight Express (too expensive). So I plan to take the Seishun 18 Kippu Pass to reach my destination (even if there’s a lot of transit).

    Once I arrive in Aomori, I would like to take the Express Hamanasu. How much would be the extra charge with this pass? Otherwise, what are the other solutions? In fact when I try to look for a route, there is no results…

    Thanks a lot in advance 🙂
    Antoine from Himeji.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Antoine,

      Thanks for your comment about my website. 🙂
      Seishun 18 kippu does not cover any express trains. So if you take Hamansu, you have to pay full charge. Seishun 18 kippu doesn’t mean anything in this case.

      So how about overnight ferry service between Aomori and Hakodate.?
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/another-idea-of-overnight-transfer-to-hokkaido-using-ferry-service-between-aomori-and-hakodate.html

      If you take Hamanasu, you have to pay full charge anyway. If you take this ferry service, of course you have to pay beside Seishun 19. But you can lie asleep. That will be much more comfortable.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Antoine says:

        Thanks for this quick answer 🙂
        So if I understood correctly, there’s no train I can train to cross from Aomori to Hakodate included in my Seishun 18 kippu?
        Antoine.

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Antoine,

          If you go through Seikan Tunnel in daytime, you can take Limited Express Hakucho/Super Hakucho between Kanita and Kikonai only. But some of Hakucho/Super Hakucho do not stop at Kanita and Kikonai.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

          • Antoine says:

            Hi 🙂
            Thanks for the answer!

            But I read that I couldn’t take any Limited Express train with the Seishun 18 kippu? (only ‘ordinary train’ on Hyperdia)

            Antoine.

            • JPRail says:

              Hi Antoine,

              That’s right. But there are four exception.

              Aomori/Hokkaido: Seikan tunnel between Kanita and Kikonai (because there are only limited express trains running.)
              Hokkaido: Sekisho line between Shin-Yubari and Shintoku (because there are only limited express trains running.)
              Aomori: Ou line between Shin-Aomori and Aomori (because of convenience for who take Shinkansen before start to use Seishun 18.)
              Miyazaki: Miyazaki Kuko line between Miyazaki and Miyazaki airport (because of convenience for who take the flight before start to use Seishun 18.)

              In these above four sections, you can take non reserved seat of limited express trains.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. Lee Wei ting says:

    Hello! I actually got my reserved seat ticket at the jr Hakodate station. I did showed him my jr rail pass. Strange. I’ll ask them again and update you if I managed to get an answer 🙂

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Lee,

      Show your ticket at the station and ask him which one is Car# and Seat#. And also make sure it’s Dream car (regular reserved seat car) or Carpet car.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Lee Wei ting says:

        Sorry about not replying. Was enjoying the beautiful scenery at furano. After all the trials and tribulation, I actually got tickets for Cassiopeia instead. When I arrive in tokyo narita, the first thing I did was rushed to the jr counter to book my Cassiopeia tickets. Cause the last time I checked the site, it indicated that there were still tickets available I was so disappointed when she told me it was already sold out. Thus, I went for the back-up plan. However, I decided to try my luck at Hakodate jr station and guess what! Their system shows that Cassiopeia is available! Going to go for it today for my journey back to Tokyo! 🙂 thank you so much Takeshi for your kind advice and help!

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Lee,

          I’ happy to hear that!
          I had same experience as you. I got Hokutosei ticket on the day of travel!

          I envy you to take Cassiopeia because I have never done it yet.

          Anyway you enjoyed your trip. That’s fantastic.

          Thank you for letting me know!

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. Lee wei ting says:

    Hello again! Thank you for your speedy reply and great info! I took a look at my ticket but it doesn’t have any of the wordings you described but I do have sear number on my ticket. How do I know whether it is the dream car seating?

    Do I need to cancel my reserved seat ticket if I don’t plan to use it? Will I be charged for not showing up for a reserved seat?

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Lee,

      Do you use Japan Rail Pass to get a ticket? If not, you may have non reserved seat.
      Please tell me a little more how to get your ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Lee wei ting says:

    Hello! Your website is super helpful and detailed. I just got my reserved seat ticket for my journey from Sapporo to Tokyo. I have no idea what type of sleeper class I got. How can I check? I didn’t pay any extra fees for my reserved seat ticket. I am very worried for my transfer from Aomori to Shin Aomori. Can you give me some tips on it? Would you know of any place I can take a shower near the Sapporo station? Thank you so much!

  7. Tricia says:

    Hi…

    Will be arriving on april 18 in narita around 2:40 pm. Me and my husband will then take the train to sapporo from tokyo station. My question is:

    We will purchase a jr pass..is it going to busy around that time? Would the chances of reserving the carpet car slim when we do it after our arrivel in japan?

    Thank you very much.

  8. Jessica says:

    Hi Takeshi-san, thank you so much for your fantastic website. I used it last year to help plan a trip with my parents, including my father who was visiting Japan for the first time. He loved being able to ride so many different trains, including the Hamanasu carpet car. 本当に助けました!

    This year, I’m using the pass again with my mother and last week I managed to get us seats on the Hamanasu carpet car again; however, this time I had a lot of difficulty. The guy at Shinjuku Station South Exit told me that there was no availability on the train at all, but I decided to go to another ticket window the next day.

    At Shibuya station, they told me there was space in the carpet car – including adjacent seats in the upper section!! However, I was required to pay a surcharge, even after showing my JR Pass. There were two staff members helping me and they also consulted with a manager. Even though I told them that I used the pass last year for the same seats with no charge, I was required to pay an extra 1,570 per ticket (急1,260 指310) with the JR Pass.

    Of course, it’s a small fee and I don’t mind paying it – but I thought you might want to know!

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Jessica,

      Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

      Actually Hamanasu Carpet is very special. I know some of the staff cannot find the seat. Because Hamanasu Carpet is a different train from Hamanasu in JR reservation system. When they book a seat, they use departure station, arrival station and train name. They can find Hamanasu easily. But Hamanasu carpet is different. They have to find the train name that is “Hamanasu Carpet”. I think this is a reason why staff at Shinjuku could not find it.

      Regarding extra charge, you don’t need to pay in my understanding. It is same reason as the above. Hamanasu Carpet is different from Hamanasu. So if you take Dream seat, they did not ask you to pay extra. But Hamanasu Carpet is under the different category in their booking system. That’s why even JR staff was confused.

      I suggest you to ask them to refund 1570 yen. If sleeper charge is required to use Hamanasu Carpet, extra charge should be paid by pass user. But Hamanasu Carpet is not sleeper car. I cannot find any reason to pay extra charge. Please see the link at JR Pass official site:
      http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en004.html

      It doesn’t say anything about Hamanasu. 1570 yen is a big money. But I don’t want you to pay unnecessary fare. If you don’t want to go to Shibuya station and explain same thing again, go to Tokyo station overseas travellers counter.
      http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center_tokyo.html

      They are more familiar with overseas travellers.

      Good luck and enjoy your trip!

      PS I really envy you to get upper section of Hamanasu. 🙂

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Gonzalo says:

    Takeshi san.

    I’m visiting Japan in march/april of this year. I would like to visit Hakodate and Sapporo on two consecutive days, starting from Hakodate. Is there any possibility of get a carpet car seat to travel overnight from Hakodate to Sapporo?

    Thank you in advance.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Gonzalo,

      Carpet car on Hamanasu is one of the most popular seat in entire JR trains. Usually right after it is started to sell one month prior to departure date, it is sold out. So if you think about trying to book after you arrive in Japan, it will be no chance. You may be able to get Dream seat. But as you understand, nobody can guarantee it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. Michael says:

    Takeshi-san,

    My family and I will be arriving in Tokyo on 26th of Jan 2013, with JR pass activating from 27th Jan onwards. We plan to have a trip to Sapporo on 28th and coming back that same night, taking the Train Express Hamanasu at 10pm.

    Please correct me if I’m wrong.
    1. There is no way for us to make a reservation (dream/carpet) on Hamanasu from outside of Japan, unless we ask our friends in Japan to do it for us, which will cost 1770 yen/person.
    2. It will be 0% to get our reservation if we do it on 27th Jan after we receive the JR Pass.

    Looking forward to hear from you.

    Thanks.
    Michael

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Michael san,

      1. That’s right. Even if you speak Japanese, the only way is Odekake.net by JR West. But we have to pick up the ticket in west part of Japan, like Osaka and Kyoto. If you can ask your friend, that is the best way.

      2. You may be able to book Dream seat. But there is almost no chance to get Carpet. If you ask your friend to book Hamanasu Carpet, ask your friend ASAP. Usually Hamanasu Carpet is sold out right after ticket is started to sell. That means ticket may be already sold out.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Michael says:

        Takeshi-san,

        I have a friend in Osaka. May I know what should he do if I ask him to go to http://www.jr-odekake.net/ to help me make the reservation? Does he need my JR exchange order?

        Thanks.
        Michael

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Michael san,

          If your friend has a time to go to Midori no Madoguchi at major station, it is better. If he use Odekake net, he needs to go to pick up a ticket at Midori no Madoguchi. He doesn’t need to show any JR pass document. All he has to do is going to Midori no Madoguchi and book Hamanasu. Ask him to book “Hamanasu Carpet” when he book. Sometimes JR reservation confuse Dream and Carpet. If he cannot book Carpet, then he can ask to book Hamanasu reserved seat. Dream is a kind of reserved seat. If he can get reserved seat, it means “Dream”. And also ask him to purchase express surcharge ticket only. JR reservation will ask him to purchase base fare ticket. But you will have JR pass. You don’t need to buy it.

          Good Luck!

          Takeshi / JP Rail

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