The Limited Express Super Ozora / Super Tokachi train guide and the timetable. The trains to Tomamu, Obihiro and Kushiro

Hokkaido Area
The limited express Super Ozora by 283 series

When you go to southeastern Hokkaido, The limited express Super Ozora and the limited express Super Tokachi take you there. Super Ozora connects Sapporo and Kushiro. Super Tokachi connects Sapporo and Obihiro. These trains are very popular and the reserved seats are sold out often.

Both trains are fully covered by JR Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. If you have a plan to take these trains, I strongly recommend you to reserve your seat.

I would like to share the information about these trains information and the timetable.

Route and timetable

It takes 3 hours 40 – 50 minutes to get Kushiro from Sapporo and 2 hours 30 minutes from Sapporo to Obihiro. You may find the train route in the map below:

You can find the timetable 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

Accommodation

The limited express Super Tokachi by 261 series

KIHA-283 series is used for both Super Ozora. KIHA-261 series is used for Super Tokachi. Both fleets equip nice features and good seats.

KIHA-283 series Green seat is one of the best in all JR trains. It has a powered seat and 2+1 seat configuration. It has a power outlet. Ordinary class is 2+2 seat configuration and the leg space is 960mm. It is not a bad choice.

KIHA-261 series Green seat is same seat configuration 2+1 and interior as 283 series. But it has a leather seat. The seat does not have strong leather smell. But if you do not like a leather seat, It is not recommended. Ordinary seat is almost same as 283 series.

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

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Kushiro
Hotels in Obihiro
Hotels in Sapporo

Train formation

Super Tokachi

1234
GRRNR

Super Ozora

123456
RRGRNRNR

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

Images – KIHA-283 series (Super Ozora)

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Images – KIHA-261 series (Super Tokachi)

Green seat

Ordinary seat (Reserved)

Ordinary seat (Non-Reserved)

Sanitary space

Comments

  1. Sheryl Lim says:

    Hi Takeshi-san!

    My parents and I would like to visit Hokkaido end-May to early-June. We will be travelling using the JR Hokkaido pass Our itinerary is as such:

    27/5 – Narita airport to Hakodate airport ( plane)
    28/5 – Hakodate
    29/5 – Hakodate – Sapporo (JR)
    30/5 – Sapporo
    31/5 – Sapporo – Furano (JR)
    1/6 – Furano
    2/6 – Furano – Kushiro (JR)
    3/6 – Kushiro
    4/6 – Kushiro – Sapporo – Otaru (JR)
    5/6 – Otaru – Chitose airport (JR) and then to Tokyo via plane

    Hence I would like to ask, if the Super Ozora train would be available in June? You mentioned that it would be best to reserve seats while exchanging the JR pass. Is that possible for the JR Hokkaido pass if we buy it overseas?

    Thank you!

  2. Fabian DK says:

    Hi there. I’ve got a question that has been bugging me for quite a while. Is it possible to take a Super Tokachi using a Seishun 18 Kippu or a Hokkaido&EastJapan Pass? Do I need to pay extra to sit on the non-reserved seats?

    Thank you in advance

    • Hi Fabian,

      Seishun 18 kippu deos not cover any express trains at all. It covers only local and commute rapid trains. Even if you add express fee, you cannot take it.

      I’m not sure that Hokkaido&East Japan Pass. Do you mean JR-East South Hokkaido Rail Pass?
      https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/jr-east-south-hokkaido-rail-pass-user-guide-perfect-deal-for-the-travelers-who-visit-tokyo-and-sapporo-by-train.html

      If so, Super Tokachi is not covered mostly. Because Super Tokachi goes Obihiro and Obihiro is outside coverage area.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Fabian DK says:

        Thank you for your quick response regarding the Seishun 18 Kippu.

        About the other pass, when I was reading the article on Seishun 18 Kippu on wikitravel, The articla mentioned a similar pass called 北海道&東日本パス. Though it was said that it functions similarly to Seishun 18 Kippu, that pass seems to have exceptions for several trains but due to my lack of Japanese proficiency I was unable to read the informations provided, and using Google Translate didn’t help at all.

        • Hi Fabian,

          That is same condition as Seishun 18 kippu. You cannot take any express trains either by this pass.
          As you think, there are a few exceptions. It’s same if you use Seishun 18:

          1. Non reserved seat on Super Tokachi and Super Ozora
          You can take these trains between Shin-Yubari and Shintoku without any extra charge. Because there is no local trains running in this segment.

          2. Hokkaido Shinkansen
          You need to take Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto because there is no other trains than Shinkansen. But you cannot take this without any extra. You have to purchase special limited express fee ticket on top of Hokkaido Higashinihon Pass. It costs around 4000 yen.
          If you use Seishun 18, you can purchase Hokkaido Shinkansen option ticket. But it covers Hokkaido Shinkansen between Kikonai and Okutsugaru-Imabetsu. You have to take local train before/after Shinkansen. It costs 2300 yen.

          At this point, there is no official announcements of these passes in 2017. So price and other conditions may be changed.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Simon Wan says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would like to find out how to get from New Chitose to Obihiro. Is there other trains beside Super Ozora? What is the ticket price and the journey time?

    Thank you

  4. tan kai seong says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    My plan as below:-
    6/2/17 – New Chitose – Sapporo
    7/2/17 – Sapporo – Otaru
    8/2/17 – Otaru – Furano
    9/2/17 Furano -Biei – Furano
    10/2/17 -Furano – Asahikawa
    11/2/17 – Asahikawa – abashiri
    12/2/17 & 13/2/17 – Abashiri – shiretoko-Shari-Lake akan-kushiro
    14/2/17 – Kushiro – Obihiro
    15/2/17 -Obihiro -Sapporo
    16/2/17 -Sapporo – Night to new chitose.
    I need 3 days + 7 days or 7days jr pass only
    rgds,
    Seong

    • Hi Seong san,

      The most affordable choice is Flex 4 days pass + single fare. You may use 4 days pass for Otaru-Furano, Asahikawa-Abashiri, Kushiro-Obihiro and Obihiro-Sapporo. For other trips, use single fare ticket. In my rough calculation, total cost is just above 30,000 yen.

      If you use 7 days pass, you have to pay single fare for Obihiro-Sapporo or Otaru-Furano. You need to take limited express for these trips. It costs much.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • tan kai seong says:

        Hi Takeshi-san,

        Actually i plan to use 7days pass(JPY24000) on 8/2/17 – 14/2/17. & use single fare ticket for Sapporo – Otaru & Obihiro – Sapporo.
        That’s why I wish to know the fare form Obihiro – Sapporo.
        Thank you.
        Rgds,
        Seong

  5. tan kai seong says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    As JR announcement train for Kushiro -Obihiro- Sapporo was resume. But i can’t find this route via hyperdia.
    Actually i want to know the fare from Kushiro – Sapporo & Obihiro to sapporo.

    thank you.
    regards,
    Seong

  6. Matthew McGrath says:

    Hello
    Is there any news on when the line to Tomamu will reopen properly? Our plane lands at New Chitose at 1430 on the 18th December. I see that the last train goes at 1448 so we will miss it unless the old timetable is reinstated. If JR can update now that would be good otherwise we have to organise other transport. Thank you.

  7. Fahsai says:

    When will this train operate again ??

  8. Aime says:

    Hi,
    I’ve tried to find the train cost from sapporo to kushiro by LTD exp super ozora but there are no result for this route. Are they operating on November-December?

  9. Melanie Putra says:

    Konnichiwa!

    6 of us planning to catch Ltd Exp Super Tokachi from Minami Chitose to Shintoku.

    I hope you can answer some questions please?
    1. Online Reservation for the reserved seat on the ordinary class: When is it opened for reservation? One month before travel date?

    2. Would there be place to store 6 large pieces (up to 29inches) of luggage? Like a luggage rack near the door?

    3. At Minami-Chitose Station, how easy is it to transfer from the JR Rapid Airport train to Ltd Exp Super Tokachi? Is it true that you just walk across the platform?

    Tq, Melanie

  10. darlene says:

    Please tell me the cost of a return ticket from Sapporo to Obihiro on the limited express super ozora. Thank you

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