Hokutosei
The Hokutosei (北斗星) is an overnight train service in Japan operated by Japan Railways. It runs twice a day between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo Station in the northern island of Hokkaidō. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.
Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at Omiya, Utsunomiya, Koriyama, Fukushima and Sendai. One train makes additional stops at Ichinoseki and Morioka. The first stop on Hokkaidō is at Hakodate, with arrival in Sapporo around five hours later.
The Hokutosei consists of type "A" and type "B" accommodations. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥6,300 for a type "B" compartment or solo room to ¥27,000 for a type "A" Twin Deluxe room.
The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For foreign tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥3,000 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways.
Overnight service between Ueno and Sapporo is also available on the more luxurious, and more expensive, Cassiopeia which runs three times a week.
Route
The Hokutosei runs on the following rail lines:
JR EAST
- JR Tohoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
- Iwate Ginga Railway Line, Morioka - Metoki
- Aoimori Railway, Metoki - Hachinohe
- JR Tohoku Main Line, Hachinohe - Aomori^
JR HOKKAIDO
- JR Tsugaru Kaikyo Line, Aomori - Hakodate^
- JR Hakodate Main Line, Hakodate - Oshamambe
- JR Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
- JR Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
- JR Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo
^ train reversal point
The Tsugaru Kaikyo Line runs over the tracks of the JR Tsugaru Line, JR Kaikyo Line, JR Esashi Line and JR Hakodate Main Line.
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