When you go to Wakkanai at North end of Hokkaido, the limited express trains, Soya and Sarobetsu take you to Wakkanai. Soya is operated between Sapporo and Wakkanai and Sarobetsu runs between Asahikawa and Wakkanai.
Both trains are fully covered by JR Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. I will show you this train guide and the timetable in this post.
Route and timetable
Soya runs one round trip a day and Sarobetsu runs 2 round trips a day. It takes about 5 hours to get Wakkanai from Sapporo by Super Soya and 3 hours 30 minutes by Sarobetsu from Asahikawa. Please see the timetable in the link 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
Hotels in Wakkanai (from US$104)
Hotels in Sapporo (from US$35)
Accommodation
KIHA-261 series is used for Soya and Sarobetsu. The seat configuration of this Green seat is 2+1 and the seat pitch is 1145 mm. But the seat facing the wall has only 850mm for leg space. This Green class equips a leather seat. If you really don’t like a leather seat, I do not recommend it. Only window side seat have the power outlet. You can charge your small device or laptop.
Ordinary class seat has 2+2 seat configuration and the seat pitch is 960 mm. There is no power outlet in both reserved and non reserved seat. Some of the trains in Hokkaido have different accommodation in reserved and non reserved. But KIHA- 261 series have completely same facility in both reserved and non reserved.
*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.
Train formation
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
G | R | R | R | NR |
*R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat G=Green seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.
Comments
Hello Takeshi,
I just watched the TV show Cycling around Japan in NHK where they travel to Wakkanai.
The cyclist takes a train in Asahikawa and he pays 2050en, then takes a train at 6:05AM that only has one carriage, saying that he could take the express but he rather take the “local” train.
I tried finding this train in Hyperdia but I only find express trains which cost around 5000en.
Do you know which train is he taking?
Thank you
Hi Pepeloz,
Hyperdia shows you the fastest and most convenient trains. But if you search it with some conditions, you can find the local train.
Access to Hyperdia. You will find “More Options” and click it. You will see “Vehicle Type”. Just check at only “Local Trains” and “Japan Railway (JR)”. You will find the local train.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
If he paid 2050 then he paid the fare that took him to Bifuka, not Wakkanai. The basic fare (w/o Limited Express surcharge) between Asahikawa and Wakkanai is already 5400. the 6:03am local train can take you to Wakkanai w/o transferring for 5400 and in just a bit over 6 hours.