The Limited Express Kamui and Lilac: Inter-city express between Sapporo and Asahikawa

Asahikawa
Limited express train Kamui
The limited express train Kamui

These limited express trains, Kamui and Lilac connect Sapporo and Asahikawa. Kamui and Lilac run on exactly same route. The only difference is accommodation. Lilac has Green seat and Kamui does not. But the reserved ordinary seat of Kamui is called “U seat”. It offers a better seat with some extra equipments. But it is a sort of a reserved ordinary seat, so JR Pass Ordinary covers this seat.

In this post, I will explain about these Lilac and Kamui.

Route and timetable

Kamui and Lilac connect Asahikawa and Sapporo in 1 hour and 25 minutes. These trains run almost every 30 minutes in daytime and operated 24 round trips a day.

You can find the timetable of the major trains in Hokkaido in the link below.

Due to COVID-19, it may be operated on a schedule different from the normal timetable. Check the train schedule on Hyperdia.
Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine


View Super Kamui in a larger map

Seat and facilities

789 series for Lilac (C) Rsa (Own work) GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Both Kamui and Lilic are operated by 789 series. But there are two kinds of 789 series fleets.

As I mentioned, a reserved ordinary seat on Kamui is called “U seat”. Kamui does not have any Green seat, but this “u seat” is more spacious than non reserved ordinary class. Of course you can take this seat without any extra charges on the JR Pass ordinary. U seat also offers a power outlet. You can charge your small device.

Lilac has Green class seat, reserved ordinary seat and non reserved ordinary seat. Reserved seat of Lilac is not called U seat because both reserved and non reserved have same type of accommodation. But reserved seats on car #1 have a power outlet.

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

Train formation

Lilic 6 cars formation

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G/RRRNRNRNR

Kamui 5 cars formation

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*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.

Images – 789 series (for Kamui)

U seat (reserved ordinary seat)

Ordinary seat (non reserved seat)

Sanitary space

Images – 789 series (for Lilic)

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Comments

  1. Lelibeth Rusiana says:
    March 21, 2016 at 9:30 pm

    hi,

    can you help me how to travel via train from sapporo grand hotel to furano (nearest to farm tomita). i will be traveling on 12th of July. thank you

  2. sammi says:
    February 21, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    Hi,can advise me how to take an train on new-chitose-airport to asahikawa.i am arriving that airport on 6 april 2016.How much its cost?

  3. Dan says:
    February 3, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    Hi,
    I’m looking at travelling from New Chitose Airport to Asahikawa and I’ll be carrying a large snowboard bag. Is there any restrictions or extra cost associated with luggage?

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 3, 2016 at 9:49 pm

      Hi Dan,

      There is no restrictions and no extra charge either. But the space is very limited in the train. You may have to leave your snowboard case at the passengers deck.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Cath says:
    January 19, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    Hello, I wish to get from Sapporo to Furano in February, and cannot leave Sapporo until after 7pm/1900 hours. It looks as though there are several trains that run at night to Takikawa and also from Takikawa to Furano.
    Is that right please?
    If so, do all the trains run in February?
    Thank you

  5. Adrian says:
    September 14, 2015 at 6:48 am

    hi, i wished to travel to furano from sapporo. but however, i traveling between 16th oct to 25 oct 2015, which i realised there is no train to furano. can you please advice how can i travel there?

  6. Yunita says:
    April 5, 2015 at 7:08 am

    Does JR Pass can be use in Hokkaido, i have plan to buy 7 days JR Pass and use it in Tokyo and Hokkaido, since it will saving cost for me

    thanks,
    Yunita

  7. Vera says:
    April 15, 2014 at 7:20 am

    Is it possible to purchase a ticket without the Hokkaido JR rail pass as I will only be traveling to Furano and Otaru. Will it be more cost efficient buying individual tickets instead and is it possible to buy it on the spot upon arrival ?

    Many thanks.

  8. ys says:
    June 2, 2013 at 3:59 am

    how much is the train fee from New chitose airport to Asahikawa? I also wish to know if there is any train departing after 7pm in July and August. The schedule available only show until june 30, 2013.

  9. cm says:
    February 24, 2011 at 12:08 am

    Hi there,

    Can i check if i can use a Seishun 18 pass via Super Kamui to get from Sapporo to Asahikawa? Thanks for the info.

  10. Ange Davidson says:
    January 29, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    Is there a rial link from Sapporo station to Kamui Ski Links? Thank you.

    • JPRail says:
      January 29, 2011 at 9:25 pm

      Hello Ange,
      Unfortunately you cannot access to Kamui Ski Links by rail. You have to take the bus from Asahikawa. This is the only public access to Kamui Ski.
      The bus company has a website. But it’s in Japanese only.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

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