Trip to Hokkaido in 2017 winter – Part 8, Hakodate to Tokyo

2017 Hokkaido
Only H5 series has this logo on the train.
Hakodate Liner is a rapid train which connect Hakodate and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

This post is continued from Trip to Hokkaido in 2017 winter – Part 7, Noboribetsu Onsen to Hakodate via Lake Toya.

I will write about the last day of this trip on day 4 from Hakodate to Tokyo.

Hakodate to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto

Hakodate 06:01 (Hakodate Liner) 06:23 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto

Before I departed from Hakodate station, I dropped by Hakodate morning market and try to find the restaurant. But it was too early.

Hakodate morning market was very quiet around 5:30 am.

All restaurants were open at 6:00 am. I tried to eat fresh seafood one more time before leaving Hakodate but I could not make it.

I got on rapid train, “Hakodate Liner” to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

This train connects Hakodate and Shinkansen terminal directly. This is a sort of commute train and the interior of this train is not fancy. There are long bench seats and it is same type of commute trains in mega cities, like Tokyo, Osaka.

Hokkaido is very cold in winter time as you probably know. The door of this train is not open automatically. You have to push the button to open the door. After you open the door, you have to push the button again to close the door for other passengers.

Hakodate Liner arrived at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station and I changed to Hokkaido Shinkansen there.

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Ueno

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 06:35 (Hayabusa 10) 10:59 Ueno

I changed the trains at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in two days ago. At that time, I had to go up and down by escalators and stairs. But at this time, all I had to do is just going through the transfer gate. It was much easier to transfer for other direction.

Hokkaido Shinkansen “Hayabusa” is operated by two kinds of fleet, E5 series and H5 series. Those fleets look same. But H5 series has Hokkaido shape logo on the train. And H5 series has purple line. On the other hand, E5 series has pink line. Those are very tiny difference. But train geeks care those small things and it is very important. 🙂

Only H5 series has this “Hokkaido shape” logo on the train.

By the way, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station is a quite long name. Do you know why? This station was supposed to be “Shin-Hakodate”. But this station is located in Hokuto city. It is located next to Hakodate city. Hokuto city was not happy that station name would be Shin-Hakodate. They want to be named “Hokuto” but Hakodate city was not happy with it. Both cities left this issue to JR Hokkaido and JR Hokkaido suggested Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. JR Hokkaido left it to Governor of Hokkaido. So the name of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is a political compromise.

I was on the Hokkaido Shinkansen train for 4.5 hours. There were lots of tunnels because Shinkansen line takes the shortest route. It is very very fast and convenient. It does not offer very nice view honestly but I could see Mt. Fuji between Omiya and Ueno.

Shinkansen train yard

I got off it at Ueno station. Shinkansen platform in Ueno station is located in very very deep underground. It is not very convenient to change to other trains actually.

I dropped by several stores around Ueno and Akihabara to shop in last minutes.

After that, I took Narita Express from Tokyo station.

My last meal in Japan was ramen in Narita airport.

Thank you very much for reading my 2017 Hokkaido trip report. I hope this report gives you an idea to build your trip plan or motivate to visit Hokkaido in winter time.

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