Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station guide. How to change between the Hokkaido Shinkansen and the conventional train to Sapporo and Hakodate

Station information
Overview of conventional train platforms
2017.04.04
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station exterior (C) Rsa GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is the hub to Hakodate and Sapporo when you get Hokkaido. This station is connected with Sapporo and Hakodate by conventional train, and Tokyo, Sendai and Aomori by Hokkaido Shinkansen.

I would like to show you how to change the trains in Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station with many photos.

Overview

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station is located to the north from Hakodate for 20 minutes by rapid train.

This is Hokkaido Shinkansen’s terminal station. You can catch Shinkansen train to Tokyo, Sendai, Shin-Aomori.

If you arrive in this station by Hokkaido Shinkansen, you can catch rapid train, “Hakodate Liner” to Hakodate. You also can catch Limited Express train “Super Hokuto/Hokuto” to Sapporo, Toya, Noboribetsu, Onuma-Koen and Oshamanbe.

This station has two parts which are Hokkaido Shinkansen platforms and ordinary train’s platforms. Before reading the following chapters, please refer the link below.

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station map (Japanese)

The station map in the link above is shown in Japanese but it helps you to understand the station structure.

And also the following movie shows you all part of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station. The movie starts from track #1 to Shinkansen track #11.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen tracks and platforms

Shinkansen platform #12

There are two tracks, #11 and #12 and two platforms. Usually track #12 is used for arrival train and #11 is used for departure train. If you arrive by Shinkansen from other station, such as Tokyo, Ueno, Sendai, Shin-Aomori, you will arrive at track #11. If you depart from this station by Shinkansen, you will depart from track #11.

Hokkaido Shinkansen train at platform #11

Track #12 is connected with other platforms by the bridge. You need to go up by elevators, escalators or stairs to transfer to other train. Track #11 is connected to the conventional train platform which is for track #1 and #2. You can just go through Shinkansen transfer gate. You do not need to go up and down.

Escalators to track #11

However if you do not change trains at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station. If you enter Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station and catch Shinkansen train, you will enter the gate at 2nd level and go down to platform #11. Because all ticket gates except one of two Shinkansen transfer gates are located at the second level. I will explain about exits and ticket gates later.

Conventional lines tracks and platforms

Overview of conventional train platforms

There are two platforms for four tracks, #1 to #4.

Track #Lines / TrainsDestination
1Hakodate LinerHakodate, Goryokaku
2Limited Express Hokuto / Super HokutoHakodate, Goryokaku
Sapporo, Toya, Noboribetsu, Oshamanbe, Onuma-Koen
3Limited Express Hokuto / Super Hokuto
Local		Sapporo, Toya, Noboribetsu, Oshamanbe
Hakodate, Goryokaku, Onuma-Koen, Oshamanbe
4LocalHakodate, Goryokaku, Onuma-Koen, Oshamanbe

Most of you use track #1 or #2. Hakodate Liner is the rapid train which connects Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Hakodate. This train always arrives and departs at track #1.

Hakodate Liner at track #1
Track #1 and #2

Limited Express Hokuto / Super Hokuto go both ways Hakodate and Sapporo. Most of Limited Express Hokuto / Super Hokuto arrive and depart at track #2 and a few of those are at track #3.

Super Hokuto to Sapporo arrive at platform #2.

Track #3 and #4 are used for local trains mostly.

Exit, ticket gate and transfer gate

Shinkansen ticket gate. You use this gate if you start your trip from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto by Shinkansen.

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station is two level structure. All platforms are located on the ground level and all exits are located on 2nd floor.

There are two exits at both parts, Shinkansen gate and conventional line gate. If you need to exit the station, you can use these exits.

There are two transfer gates at the ground level and the second level. This gate is located between Shinkansen platform and conventional line platforms.

Shinkansen tranfer gate at the ground level. This gate connects platform #1 , #2 and Shinkansen platfrom #11 directly.

When you change Shinkansen trains and conventional trains, you need to go through this gate because the fare system between Shinkansen and conventional line is different. If you use JR Pass or JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can show your pass when you go through the gate.

Shinkansen transfer gate at second level. The entrance for pass holders can be found in the middle of photo.

How to change the trains

You will have usually 15 to 20 minutes to transfer the trains at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station. This transfer time is set by JR Hokkaido and you can change trains easily by this transfer time.

From Shinkansen to conventional line trains

You can find how to change from Shinkansen to the convenitional trains in the movie below:

You arrive at the track #12. After arrival, go up to the bridge by escalators, elevators or stairs.

And go through Shinkansen transfer gate.

And proceed the platform where you need to catch the train to your destination.

 

Hotels in Aomori, Japan
Hotels in Hakodate, Japan
Hotels in Sapporo, Japan

From conventional line trains to Shinkansen

If you take Hakodate Liner, you will arrive at track #1. You can go through Shinkansen transfer gate at the ground level and proceed Shinkansen platform track #11. You can move without up and down.

Hakodate Liner arrives at Track #1.

If you take Limited Express Hokuto / Super Hokuto, you will arrive at track #2 in most of cases. It is same platform as track #1. You can proceed to Shinkansen platform without up and down.

If you arrive at track #3 or #4. you have to go up to the bridge and go through Shinkansen transfer gate at the second level. And then you can proceed to Shinkansen platform.

Entrance to Shinkansen transfer gate to track #11

Facility in the station

There are two small stores beside the Shinkansen transfer gate on the ground level and inside the Shinkansen ticket gate on the second level. The store beside the Shinkansen transfer gate can be accessed from both the Shinkansen platform and the conventional trains platform. If you go to Hakodate, it is very short trip. Food and drink are not issues. If you take the Shinkansen, you can get drink and food on board but the number of items are very limited. If you travel to other direction, such as Sapporo, Noboribetsu, Toya, Oshamanbe, Onuma-Koen, on-board wagon service is not available in most trains. You may not get anything to eat and drink for a few hours.

If you can exit the ticket gate, there are some more stores. You may find some local foods and premium Eki-Ben (box meal) in these stores.

Bento Cafe 41 Garden

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station was called Oshima-Ono station before Hokkaido Shinkansen opened. It was renamed when the Hokkaido Shinkansen opened. Oshima-Ono station was one of local stations and there was not any stores and facilities around the station. Now there are a few restaurants and hotel in the station building. But this area is still under development. Please do not expect many facilities around the station.

I hope this post helps you to understand Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station.

Comments

  1. Raz Hamham
    Wilson says:
    January 8, 2020 at 5:51 am

    HI , can i use Jr ordinary pass with Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen? From Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station to Tokyo station . Can i reserved seat before 2days ? Actually i leave early morning at hakodate to tokyo station . pls reply , thanks many

  2. My Tuyet Luong says:
    November 20, 2019 at 11:58 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will travel from Sapporo to Yokohama on Dec 7. Because I want to spend as much time as possible in Sapporo. Thus, which is the latest Shinkansen should I take from Sapporo to get to Yokohama before the train system closed on that day at midnight?

    Thanks,
    Snow

  3. kikukat
    kikukat says:
    June 27, 2019 at 11:57 pm

    Is there a place/JR office in the Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station where I can exchange my JR voucher for the JR pass which I can use on Honshu? Thank you.

  4. caryn says:
    May 3, 2019 at 10:44 am

    Hi Takeshi San

    I will travel in the middle of May. If I take the Shinkansen from Tokyo at 19:20 and reach Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto at 23:29, is 11 minutes transfer time enough for me to catch the Hakodate Liner departing at 23:40? I am worry to miss it because this is the last train to the city.

    regards
    Caryn

  5. axy says:
    March 18, 2019 at 7:20 am

    Hi,

    I would like to ask how do I get from Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station to Chitose Airport and how much does it cost? How long will the train ride take?

    Thanks in advance!

  6. Anne says:
    February 28, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    Hi Takeshi
    Is there any luggage rack on the Ltd Exp Super Hokuto (between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto to Sapporo)?
    Or is there space at the last row? I couldn’t find the train configuration.
    I travelled from Date to Shin Hakodate-Hokuto in March 2018 and it was full of skiers with lots of luggage etc. and no where to store. So I wandered if it is the same situation tho it’s the reverse trip this March 2019. I’ll only have one piece of luggage.
    Thanks

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 28, 2019 at 5:25 pm

      Hi Anne,

      Most of train set of super Hokuto have some luggage spaces. Please see the link below It’s Japanese blog but you can find the photo of luggage space.
      https://ameblo.jp/seventhheaven1992/entry-12138225640.html

      Even though there are lots of spaces in the train, these spaces are full quickly in these days because the number of overseas tourist is increasing. If you can, I recommend you to minimize your luggage.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Anne says:
        February 28, 2019 at 10:38 pm

        Though I travel very lightly- I only have one piece of luggage (15kg) – unfortunately I can’t lift it up on to the racks. I just called Yamato and they need 4 days between Aomori- Sapporo. The timing is not good even if I send it 2 days before leaving Aomori.
        I need to rethink my strategy.
        Thanks for your assistance.

  7. Kevin Geake says:
    February 2, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    I’m hoping to travel from Shin-Hakodate Hokuto train station to Shinjuku Tokyo on the 13th April 2019
    Could you please tell me if this is possible and what trains to take

  8. Andrianus Hadi Widjaja says:
    December 8, 2018 at 8:58 am

    Hi Takeshi.
    I will travel by jrtrain from Tokyo to Sapporo on 22 December 2018. According to your information arriving track on #12. And departure track on number #11? So both track should be side by side?

    Regards,
    Andre

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 8, 2018 at 9:47 am

      Hi Andre,

      #12 is arrival of Shinkansen train from Tokyo. #11 is departure of Shinkansen for Tokyo. #11 and #12 are not side by side.
      So when you go to Sapporo, you have to move from #12 to #2 or #3. All you have to do is just following the station staff.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. fong says:
    December 6, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    Hi, We will be travelling from sapporo to Hakodate (stop a night) on january 5th, and hakodate to tokyo next morning on january 6th. I cant find a train from shin-hakodate to tokyo on hyperdia, just wondering if there’s a shinkansen for that route available.

  10. Koonyang says:
    November 28, 2018 at 9:15 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be travelling on the 28th December 2018 from Omiya to Sapporo. For the Omiya to Shin-Hakodate train, I will be taking Hayabusa 1, departing at 06:28, arriving at 10:57AM. The next train from Shin-Hakodate to Sapporo (Ltd Exp. Super Hokuto 9) departs at 11:09AM.

    My questions are:
    1. Assuming that all trains are on time, is 12 min enough for this transfer?
    2. What is the likelihood that Hayabusa 1 arriving late, considering that 28th Dec could be quite snowy.
    3. If I have reserved seats on both Hayabusa 1 and Super Hokuto 9, and I missed the connection, does it mean that I will not have seats in the next Shin-Hakodate to Sapporo train (Super Hokuto 11), or will it JR East know and transfer the reservation?

    Best wishes,
    Koonyang

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