Hakodate station guide. How to change the train, Super Hakucho, Super Hokuto and other local trains.

Hokkaido Area
Hakodate station building (C) JP Rail

Hakodate station building (C) JP Rail

On March 26, 2016, Hokkaido Shinkansen was opened and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station was opened. Hakodate is not transfer point to get Aomori any more. You may get Aomori, Morioka, Sendai and Tokyo by Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. It takes about 20 minutes between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Hakodate.

I wrote about Shin-Aomori station on the previous post. Most of travellers who go to Hokkaido get on Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, and then Limited Express Super Hakucho from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate. Now it is time to transfer to Limited Express Super Hokuto/Hokuto to Sapporo at Hakodate. This will be your first step on Hokkaido!

I show you map and images. You may know how to transfer the trains, Super Hakucho and Super Hokuto. And also I show you about Hakodate station.

Overview

All trucks, platforms, exits and ticket gates are located on the ground floor. It is quite easy to find the direction.

There is no English map of Hakdate station. So I would like to share this Japanese map on JR Hokkaido website with you.

If you do not totally understand Japanese on the map, it is okay. I will explain you step by step.

Tracks and platforms

Please refer Japanese station map. You can find eight numbers, 1,2,3…8 from bottom to top. These are truck numbers. Hakodate station has 4 platforms and 8 tracks. Most of you are going to use truck #5 to #8. Those trucks are used for express trains, like Super Hakucho and Super Hokuto. Mostly you can transfer at same platform. When I got on Hokuto from Sappro, Hokuto arrived at #7. The connection Super Hakucho were waiting at truck #8. So you can transfer the trains in even one minute.

I took this above picture at truck #7 when I got off Hokuto from Sapporo. Super Hakucho was other side of this platform.

I took this above picture at truck #2. You can find two blue colored trains at the back. Those are Limited Express Hokuto at truck #5 and #7.

Truck #1 to #4 are used for local trains. If you take a local train on Hakodate line or Esashi line, you will catch a train on those trucks.

Exit and ticket gate

If you just transfer the trains, you don’t need to exit. Just change the train at the platform. If you get off the train and exit here, there is only one ticket gate. Please see Japanese station map again. There is a concourse at the center of the map from top to bottom. The station building is located at the bottom. The ticket gate and exit are located there.

There are some stores and waiting area around the ticket gate. There are some restaurants at the second level in the building.

There are three exits, Central, North and West. However all exits are located in same building. Central exit is located at the front. West exit is located at the side. And North exit is located at the back. The station building is small. It is not a big deal.

That’s all. It is much easier than what you think. 🙂

Comments

  1. YU Tang says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I would like to know how long it takes to travel from Shin Aomori station to Hakodate Hokuto station.

    I’ll be travelling from Akita to Shin Aomori to Hakodate. What is the total travelling time using JR pass?

    Thank you in advance.

    YU

  2. lei says:

    Hi takeshi,

    Thanks for your information on the website. I was wondering if the JR rail pass covers the journey from Shin aomori to Hakodate and from hakodate to sapporo? Or would I have to pay for an extra ticket not included by the JR rail pass?

    Cheers,

    Lei

  3. WaiFun says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I have a 7 days JR Pass & will be travelling to Japan in December 2014. What is the best way by train from Kanazawa to Hakodate, and from Hakodate to Tokyo station preferably using my JR Pass without having to pay extra charges?

    Rgds
    WaiFun

  4. arceli duana says:

    Hello Takeshi san..my husband and i are going to Japan this Sept 3 to 12, 2013….we are arriving to Osaka from Philippines..i have been looking at many blogs about how to tour from Osaka to Tokyo to Sapporo..upon reading your train travel…it was like i am seeing what you going through…it is so exciting but some part is scary…like what if we don’t have a ticket to the next trip or what if we get lost while walking away form the station..and could not communicate japanese to people dont speak english..I am 53 yrs old and my husband is 57..i really wish to copy the exact itenerary you had from Osaka to all the destinations you went then back to Tokyo..can you please tell me what pass should we get from japan rail and how do we get those U seats ahead of time so we wont have a problem on booking since we are two people.. hope it is not too burden for you to share your Itenerary to us..thank you for sharing your experience! take care!

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Arceli san,

      I have done Osaka-Tokyo-Sapporo travel on March, 2012. I wrote about this trip at the following link:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/tohoku-area/my-trip-from-osaka-to-aomori-via-tokyo-matsushima-and-kakunodate-on-march-19-2012-by-rapid-airport-hokuto-and-hokutosei.html

      But this trip was very crazy and too busy. I don’t recommend you to do same trip. You may be exhausted. And also I took overnight train from Aomori to Sapporo. This train is very hard to book. I can speak Japanese so I booked it over the phone. But this way is not for everybody. Please see the following link about booking:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html

      Anyway, there are several way to get Sapporo from Osaka. But it is very far to get Sapporo from Osaka in one day. I recommend you to stay somewhere between Osaka and Sapporo. I wrote sample itinerary to get Sapporo from Tokyo at the following link:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html

      As long as you take daytime train, don’t worry about booking. You will be able to make it. Especially from Osaka to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, you will take Shinkansen. There are lots of trains available. It is very easy to book it. And also you can complete all bookings in Osaka. Yes, you can book all JR trains in Osaka or Tokyo or most of major stations throughout Japan as you saw above link about booking.

      If you stay in Osaka for first several days, you can use Japan Rail Pass 7 days. If you use this pass for long transfer, such as Osaka-Tokyo, Tokyo-Sapporo, it gives you a great deal. You don’t need to use this pass for short transfer in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo. Even single ticket may work.

      Please read the links above. If you still have any questions, let me know.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. JAyre says:

    Hi Takeshi and readers,

    Hakodate station is one of those that is quite easy to navigate, because the walkway is at the end of the dead-end platforms, and you can see every platform quite easily. For those with transfers between Hakucho and Hokuto services, you will often find that all that is necessary is a walk across to the other side of the same platform for your train. The streetcar stop is also conveniently located outside the station.

    Also in Hakodate station there is a variety of food available. When you exit the ticket gates, turn right to find them. Downstairs there is a small convenience store, a souvenir store with a lot of Hokkaido foods, a bakery and a coffee shop. Upstairs there are a couple of Japanese restaurants and an ATM that accepts foreign-issued VISA or Mastercards if you need cash. There is also a variety of restaurants less than five minutes walk from the station, a small department store, and several hotels, including two of the popular “Toyoko Inn” chain of hotels.

    Hakodate is a personal favourite destination of mine, and features the famous Fort Goryokaku and one of Japan’s top three night views from Mt Hakodate. If you’re passing through Hakodate, I recommend stopping for in for a while and having a look around.

    Best regards,

    Jonathan Ayre

    • JPRail says:

      HI Takuji-san and Jonathan,

      Thank you very much for adding some more information.
      I don’t usually write about sightseeing itself. Because there are many other websites, like japan-guide.com. And also it is too much for me. 🙂 I want to focus on rail travel. But I always welcome a comment. Both of you have much more experience than me. I really appreciate your support to add more information for readers. I love to read it. 🙂

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Tak says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I find the new station guide series is very well explained. In addition to the above, I’d like to add the seafood market (Hakodate Asaichi) right next to the station which is only 2 minutes away. There are seafood restaurants as well and some of them can pack the lunch such as fresh sushi which you can bring on board.

    Another thing I’d like to add is JR twinkle bus. I saw this advertisement when I visit there last time. The tour bus takes to famous tourist places in Hakodate such as ropeway, goryokaku etc and the price is very reasonable. The bus is limited for those who hold a JR ticket and it requires 3 days advance reservation at a JR Hokkaido station. I wasn’t able to use it because it was too late when I saw the advertisement, but I would like to try next time. I asked JR Hokkaido and they told me they accept reservation until 4pm the day before if there is available seat, but it is not written so on the webpage. I hope this information is useful.

    www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/travel/twinkle.html

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