How fast is the bullet train from Tokyo to Hokkaido?
Sophia Hammond
Updated on May 18, 2026
How fast is the bullet train from Tokyo to Hokkaido?
This shaves almost an hour off the previous train travel time; trains ride at speeds up to about 260km per hour (160 miles per hour).
Is there a bullet train from Tokyo to Hokkaido?
Ride the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Hakodate via Hokkaido Shinkansen. The Hokkaido Shinkansen route is connected Honshu (the main island of Japan) to Hokkaido, allowing direct access from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station. The bullet train journey takes approximately four hours and costs 23,210 yen.
Does the Hokkaido Shinkansen go underwater?
The track level is about 100 m (330 ft) below the seabed and 240 m (790 ft) below sea level. The tunnel is part of the standard gauge Hokkaido Shinkansen and the narrow gauge Kaikyō Line of the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)’s Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line.
Does JR pass cover Hokkaido Shinkansen?
The JR-East south Hokkaido pass is the only regional pass that covers the Hokkaido Shinkansen. This is unlike the Hokkaido Rail Pass which is valid for all trains around Hokkaido, with the exception of the Shinkansen trains.
Is the shinkansen the fastest train in the world?
The ALFA-X version of the Shinkansen train began three years’ worth of test runs on Friday. Once it enters operation sometime around 2030, it will run at speeds of up to 360 kph (224 mph), comfortably making it the world’s fastest bullet train.
Does the Shinkansen go to Sapporo?
Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours). The entire one way trip costs around 29,000 yen and takes around eight hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Can I use Japan Rail Pass on Shinkansen?
The PASS is valid on all Japan Railways (JR) Group Shinkansen “bullet trains” (except for the “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains), limited express trains, express trains, and local trains (Green Car passes are valid for Green Car travel) in addition to the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit system).
What is the longest under sea tunnel?
Seikan Tunnel
Connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido via the Tsugaru Strait, Seikan Tunnel lies 790 ft below sea level and is the longest tunnel in the world with an undersea passage.
What is the oldest bullet train in the world?
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The first high-speed rail system, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, began operations in Japan in 1964 and was widely known as the bullet train.
How long is the bullet train from Tokyo to Sapporo?
4 hours
Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours). The entire one way trip costs around 29,000 yen and takes around eight hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
What is the world’s fastest bullet train?
The Shanghai Maglev Train
The Shanghai Maglev Train, opened in 2004, is the fastest commercial passenger maglev in operation, at 431 km/h (268 mph). In 2007, a Euroduplex TGV train broke a record of 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph), making it the fastest conventional wheeled train in the world.
What is the name of the high-speed rail line between Honshu and Hokkaido?
Hokkaido Shinkansen is a high-speed rail line connecting Honshu and Hokkaido. It starts from Shin-Aomori, the terminus of Tohoku Shinkansen, and ends at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in Hokkaido. The extension of this line to Sapporo is under construction and will be competed in 2031.
What does Hokkaido Shinkansen mean?
The Hokkaido Shinkansen (北海道新幹線, Hokkaidō Shinkansen) is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line that links up with the Tōhoku Shinkansen in northern Aomori Prefecture in Honshu and continues on into the interior of Hokkaido through the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
How many Shinkansen trains are there in Japan?
Currently, two trains are operating on the Hokkaido line: Hayabusa and Hayate. The majority Hokkaido Shinkansen trains are Hayabusa, which run between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, and seat reservation is required.
What is the oldest high-speed rail line in Japan?
Opened in 1964, Tokaido Shinkansen is the first high-speed rail line in Japan, as well as the oldest high-speed rail system in the world. After the Japanese National Railways privatized in 1987, Tokaido Shinkansen has been operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).