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. Ling says:

    Dear Takeshi San

    I’m planing to use the Hamanasu from Sapporo to Aomori this coming 20 or 21 August, well, if it still running.

    As the train is very popular and rather difficult to get a seat, I’ll try my luck to book it the moment I touch down Sapporo on 17 August.

    I’ll follow up the latest status in jr cyber station before my trip. Just incase reserve nobi-nobi or seats are booked out, I will try the unreserve seat. Here’s something I need your opinion :

    – is the unreserve car often full or difficult to get too?
    – will I stand a chance by queuing up at the platform say 1 hour earlier, am I allow to do that?

    Thank you

    • Hi Ling,

      As I heard in these days, unreserved seat is almost empty. But I think Hamanasu will be discontinued in this October. If the official announcement will be made, it may be hard to book. But anyway I cannot say anything at this point.

      You can go platform early and wait for the train. Sapporo station is always open. You can go anytime you want.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  2. Voravit says:

    Hi Takesi san

    I have a plan to use overnight train ( Hamanasu ) from Sapporo to Aomori and Tokyo on January 1,2016 .

    Could you please confirm that they are still there ?

    If not , I will find another way from beginning.

    Thank you very much.

    Voravit J.

    • Hi Voravit san,

      Official announcement has not been released yet. But I think it will not run. All overnight train to Hokkaido will be discontinued. Because Seikan Tunnel must be cleared for Hokkaido Shinkansen test run and inspection during night time.
      Even though this is my expectation, it’s not a good idea to use this train in your plan at this point.

      When I get new info, I will update the post.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  3. Jason says:

    Hi there

    I have heard that the overnight train from Aomori to Sapporo is to be finishing in the next 12 months, have you heard anything?

    Regards Jason

    • Hi Jason.

      I haven’t heard an official announcement yet. But I think it will be done in this coming October. Because once Hokkaido Shinkansen will open, there is no passengers train other than Shinkansen. Only freight train will share the track with Shinkansen.

      After October, test run and inspection of Shinkansen will be increased. I don’t think overnight train will run after October.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. esther says:

    Hi, is it difficult to get non-reserved seats on Hanamasu from Sapporo to Aomori?

  5. […] doprava na letisko – záleží, kde budete mať ubytovanie. Rýchly je Skyliner, Narita Express je dosť drahý, alebo klasicky pomalšie JR vlakom (v cene rail passu). doprava po krajine: metro, mestský vlak – vo väčších mestách. Funguje tak, ako všade inde na svete. Lístok na jednu jazdu stojí okolo 120 – 150 yenov. Alebo možno využiť denný lístok. bus – busmi sme sa prepravoali iba tam, kde sa nedal použiť vlak (ten sme mali predplatený). Na stanici býva napísané pri tom, ktorom bude, kam ide, prípadne sú tam informácie. Nastupuje sa zadnými dverami, kde si z takého stroja vezmete lístok (číslo zastávky). Pri vystupovaní idete cez vodiča, lístok hodíte do jeho mašiny, ukáže sumu a vy platíte. Niekedy sa lístky dajú kúpiť aj vopred na stanici, pri spiatočných býva zľava. Cestovné poriadky a ceny frekventovanejších trás nájdete aj cez google. vlak – populárny JR-pass, ktorý platí na JR vlaky okrem nejakých výnimiek. Možno kúpiť iba mimo Japonska, čiže ho treba kúpiť vopred. My sme ho kupovali TU, prišiel za pár dní. Japonské vlaky by si zaslúžili samostatnú kapitolu, možno next time. Niečo si možno preštudovať aj na seat61, cestovný poriadok aj ceny jednotlivých lístkov  na stránke hyperdia. Jediný nočný vlak na Hokkaido bez príplatkov je Hamanasu. […]

  6. […] Ubytovanie: 210.57 € (priemer na deň 9.57) cenu znižuje ubytko v Nagoyi, kde sme spolu 3 noci spali zadarmo u Peťovej rodiny a 2 x sme išli nočným vlakom z a na Hokkaido, vrámci šetrenia času. Jediný nočný bez príplatkov, ktorý máte v cene JR-passu je Hamanasu. […]

  7. Jonathan says:

    Is there any certainty of this train running after Spring 2016, as the other sleeper trains will from then be seasonal only?

    Outside of Hokkaido how does one reserve tickets? I.e.from Aomori to Sapporo.

    • Hi Jonathan,

      Hokkaido Shinkasen will open in spring 2016. Once this line open, I think all overnight trains will be discontinued. All of us have to transfer from Shinkansen to conventional line at Shinhakodate-Hokuto station near Hakodate. We need to have two reserved ticket for Shinaomori to Shinhakodate-hokuto and Shinhakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Mel says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Can I make a reservation over the phone?
    I will be going to Hokkaido early May, will this train route be available?
    Thanks.

    Regards,
    Mel

  9. Mel says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    May I know if I can purchase the tickets, Aomori to Sapporo, via online?

    Thanks,
    Mel

  10. Him says:

    Hi,
    I and four other friends are looking to catch a train to Aomori from Sapporo on Sunday Feb 8. We had considered doing the overnight train but are worried it will be booked out due to the festival in Sapporo. Will the day trains be booked out too? What is the best way to secure tickets? We arrive in Hokkaido on Jan 22. Should we buy tickets then?
    Jim

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