Hokuto (train)

Muroran Main Line (Oshamambe-Tomakomai) The Hokuto (北斗) is a limited express train service that runs between Sapporo and Hakodate in Hokkaido, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido).

The journey time of the Hokuto is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.

Super Hokuto services started on 1 March 1994,[1] and cut journey time by about 30 minutes due to the higher speeds through the many curves of the line between Sapporo and Hakodate.

The Hokuto is operated by 7-car KiHa 261 series DMUs,[2] with car 1 at the Hakodate (southern) end.

Until 30 September 2022, the Hokuto was also operated by KiHa 281 series DMUs.