How long is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hokkaido?

How long is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hokkaido? It takes approximately 4–4.5 hours from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, which is currently the end of the line for the Hokkaido Shinkansen. Then it's at least another 3.5 hours on express trains to get to Sapporo. So you're looking at a whole day of travel.

How many days in Hokkaido is enough?

You can easily spend the whole of 3 weeks solely on Hokkaido for a more in-depth exploration. Your time of visit is good for autumn foliage in central and southern Hokkaido. Start in Sounkyo during early Oct and work down south via Biei and Furano to Sapporo and Otaru.

What is the difference between Sapporo and Hokkaido?

Sapporo (??) is the prefectural capital of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. As a popular winter resort destination, Japan's fifth-largest city also offers a wealth of culture, art, and natural beauty, alongside its ski slopes, neon nightlife, and compelling food scene.

Is Hokkaido cheaper than Tokyo?

According to Expatisan, the cost of living in Sapporo is significantly cheaper than in Tokyo at 18%. The main contributor to this is housing costs, which are 47% cheaper in Sapporo than in Tokyo.

Are Hokkaido people friendly?

Hokkaido represents a chance to experience wide-open spaces, sensational scenery, fresh food, clean air and crystal waters in a very friendly, safe, courteous and respectful culture.

Why is Hokkaido so different from Japan?

Hokkaido has had a different history from that of the rest of Japan. In sharp contrast to Japan's mainland, where a farming-based culture thrived from early on, Hokkaido maintained Jomon culture characterized by hunting and fishing until about 2,000 years ago, which was then followed by Ainu culture.

How far is Hokkaido from Tokyo by bullet train?

If you use the Hokkaido Shinkansen, which opened in 2016, you will arrive at Sapporo Station in about four and a half hours, when traveling from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station. From Hakodate, Sapporo is a further three and a half hours by express train.

What food is Sapporo famous for?

Is Hokkaido better than Tokyo?

The relaxed, cool and spacious vibe of Hokkaido contrasts so differently to the hustle and bustle of Japan's megacity capital. Hokkaido frequently tops the charts for the most attractive prefecture in Japan — scoring 73.4 in 2021 on the Regional Brand Survey — in comparison, Tokyo scored fourth, with 47.5.

Is it cheaper to fly or train in Japan?

Price. Believe it or not, flying can often be cheaper than the shinkansen! If you're heading to a far-off city like Sapporo or Fukuoka, you may be able to snag cheap tickets from one of the Tokyo airports. Even Nagoya and Osaka airports sometimes offer discount tickets to various regional airports.

Is it worth going to Hokkaido?

Hokkaido is perfect for people who prefer the cold and/or winter activities as the winter season lasts longer than the others. Nonetheless, for people who want to enjoy summer activities such as the Furano lavender flowers or outdoor summer adventures.