The limited express Super Hakuto train guide. The fastest train access to Tottori from Osaka and Kyoto

super hakutoKobe, Himeji
2012.10.27
 Limited Express Super Hakuto is operated by high speed diesel fleet HOT 7000 series. (C) Mitsuki-2368 – Chizu Express Company HOT7000 Super hakuto

Limited Express Super Hakuto (スーパーはくと) connects Kyoto (京都), Shin-Osaka (新大阪), Osaka (大阪), Sannomiya (三ノ宮) and Himeji (姫路) with Tottori (鳥取) and Kurayoshi (倉吉). This it the fastest and most frequent direct train service to Tottori from Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. But this train goes through non JR line, Chizu Kyuko Railway. That means you need to pay extra if you use this train by Japan Rail Pass. If you don’t want to pay extra, Limited Express Hamakaze is available between Osaka and Tottori. However there is only one round trip and travel time is 1.5 hours longer than Super Hakuto.

I think Super Hakuto may be your choice even if you have to pay extra on top of Japan Rail Pass. Let’s see about route, schedule and accommodations.

Route, schedule and travel time

Outdoor hot springs alongside the river at Misasa Onsen ©Tottori Prefecture/©JNTO

There are seven round trips. Some of these seven round trips go to Tottori only, not Kurayoshi.
Kyoto/Osaka – Tottori : 5 trips
Kyoto/Osaka – Tottori/Kurayoshi : 2 trips
Tottori – Osaka/Kyoto : 6 trips
Kurayoshi/Tottori – Osaka/Kyoto : 1 trip

Trains are operated every 2 hours. Travel time is 2 hours 30 minutes from Osaka to Tottori and 3 hours from Kyoto to Tottori. You can take Limited Express Hamakaze without any extra charge on top of Japan Rail Pass. But it takes more than 4 hours to get Tottori from Osaka. I think it is worth getting on this train with extra charge. I will tell you about extra charge later.

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels and Ryokans in Tottori
Hotels and Ryokans in Kurayoshi

If you see the map below, you might think this train’s route seems to be a big detour. However this is the fastest route because Chizu Kyuko line is a high standard track for high speed train operation. And if you travel from Nagoya or Tokyo, you can transfer at Himeji.

Limited Express Super Hakuto makes a stop at these stations:
Kyoto (京都) – Shin-Osaka (新大阪) – Osaka (大阪) – Sannomiya (三ノ宮) – Akashi (明石) – Himeji (姫路) – Kamigori (上郡) – Sayo (佐用) – Ohara (大原) – Chizu (智頭) – Koge (郡家) – Tottori (鳥取) – Kurayoshi (倉吉)


View Limited Express Super Hakuto in a larger map

Extra charge on Japan Rail Pass

As I mentioned, you have to pay extra if you use this train by JR Pass. You have to pay 1,320 yen for the base fare. And also you have to pay one of these following fares:

Non Reserved Oridnary seat430 yen
Reserved Oridnary seat530 yen
Green seat1,060 yen

You can try to get on limited express Hamakaze without any extra charge. Please see the details at the post below:

The limited express Hamakaze for access to Tottori, Hamasaka, Kasumi from Osaka, Kobe and Himeji with no extra charge by JR Pass
The limited express Hamakaze is only trains which connects Osaka and Tottori by JR pass without any extra. But the number of trains are very limited. I would like to show about this train in this post.
jprail.com
2012.10.27

Accommodation and train formations

 If you get the first row seat, you may get panoramic view. (C) Bakkai – Chizu Express Koiyamagata Station platform

Super Hakuto is operated by the Chizu Kyuko Railway’s HOT 7000 series. In ordinary class, the seat configuration is 2+2 and the leg space is 970 mm. Green class seat is one of the best seat in Kansai area. The seat configuration is 2+1 and the leg space is 1,160 mm. There are only 18 seats available on one train set. It is very popular and sold out very often.

Train formation

12345
NRNRRR/GR

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

Green class seat (C) W0746203-1
Green class seat (C) 663highland
Ordinary seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Ordinary seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden

Comments

  1. jeans says:
    March 31, 2017 at 8:38 am

    I have jr kansai wide area pass and i planing to use Super Hakuto to Tottori.

    How can I pay the extra charge?

    Is it about 1,670 yen right?

    Can I pay it on the train or Do I need to contact ticket office first?

    Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      March 31, 2017 at 11:45 am

      Hi Jeans,

      Your extra payment is not 1,670 yen but around 3000 yen for base fare and non reserved seat fee. This pass covers the trip to Kamigori. The extra fare which is shown in this post is for JR pass. JR pass covers some part of the trip near Tottori but Kansai wide area pass does not.

      You can purchase a ticket in advance in the ticket office when you exchange Kansai wide area pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. jeans says:
    March 30, 2017 at 9:14 am

    I have jr kansai wide area pass , Can I use this pass to go to tottori without pay extra?

  3. Leo says:
    January 30, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Good day.

    I will be heading from Osaka to Tottori for a visit. How can I go there from Holiday Inn Osaka and how much will it cost me the whole trip (back and forth) and the timeline?

    Thank you.

    Leo

  4. arlita says:
    January 30, 2017 at 3:43 am

    Hi, Takeshi

    I am now in Kobe. I am going to Tottori on this saturday. I will take super hakuto from sanomiya station right? Shold i buy the ticket from ticket machine or from counter?

    thank u

  5. Marty says:
    August 11, 2016 at 11:36 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Could you let me know whether I have to pay any extra charge when using Japan Rail Pass for the Super Hakuto from Osaka to Himeji?

    Thanks

  6. Sumatra lee says:
    May 17, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    Hi
    My group make plan to visit Tottori,we will start from Kansas airport and spend 2 night at Hanaya Bekkan and 2 night at
    Kasuitei and back to Osaka ,which Jr pass is the best one for us,we plan to take limited express super haiku to Tottori
    Thanks

  7. Peter says:
    December 26, 2015 at 6:25 am

    Hi again, Would you know if I could take the Limited Express Super Hakuto from Himeji to Kyoto in the green car on a green JR pass without any surcharge? Also would you know which side the single ‘C’ seats are on?

  8. Pun says:
    December 21, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    We are planing to use Super Hakuto to Tottori.

    How can I pay the extra charge from JRPASS?

    Can I pay it on the train or Do I need to contact ticket office first?

    Thanks

  9. Sandy says:
    November 10, 2015 at 7:59 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I know that this train is not fully covered by JR Pass. But I am planning to take a 27 mins ride between Osaka and Kyoto and since this section is owned by JR West, is it correct that I no need to pay extra for this short ride?

    Cheers, Sandy

  10. kim says:
    January 2, 2015 at 4:59 am

    we are planning to travel to Kinosakionsen from himeji on 25/3/15. morning, using new JR Kansai hiroshima pass. What are my chances of getting on the Direct HAMAKAZE non reserved train at HIMEJI? Are my chances better if i were to board at Kobe?

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      January 2, 2015 at 1:03 pm

      Hi Kim,

      I’ve heard non reserved seat is very popular. And also March 25 is in school spring break. But as you guess, nobody knows it in the future.

      If you really want to get a seat, it’s better go back to Shin-Osaka and take limited express Konotori. You can take Shinkansen from Himeji to get Shin-Osaka. Of course you will spend another one hour to take this trains combination. But this is only way to secure the seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

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