After a promotional film of the KiHa 81 series was shot between September 15–23, 1960, and a demonstration was given to the participants of the 1960 Asian Railways Conference on October 14, the sets began operating Hatsukari services as planned on December 10.

The Furano Express would be reliveried from June to October 1987 as part of a promotion with All Nippon Airways, and win the 30th Blue Ribbon Award in the same year; the Tomamu Sahoro Express set would participate in a Shikoku event showcasing the trains of all JR Group companies in 1989.

[2] Whilst necessary due to its significant role in transporting freight, there were disadvantages: when changing directions at terminal stations, steam locomotives would need to be shunted.

[5] On October 14, a special train carrying the participants of that year's Asian Railways Conference made a round trip between Tokyo and Nikkō.

[5] The remaining 17 KiHa 81 series cars were inaugurated between October 31 and November 18, 1960, and started on the Hatsukari service on December 10.

[8] Shuichiro Yamanouchi, the JNR district manager for Mukōmachi, would describe in his book If There Was No Shinkansen... (新幹線がなかったら, Shinkansen ga nakattara) how he used spare cars (which were intended for Midori services) for spare parts in event of any problems, and to make up for a shortage of such parts.

Three Hokuto return workings (along with one Ōzora service) were transferred to the Sapporo Depot [ja].

The Tomamu Sahoro Express was converted to the Mount Lake livery in 1999, but the operation was terminated in the summer season of 2002.

In 1961, these sets received the fourth Blue Ribbon Award from the Japan Railfan Club [ja].

[7] At the end of 1960, JNR started work on a redesign of the KiHa 81 series, with a focus on fixing the set's flaws and finding possible improvements.

The KiHa 82 series, which included newly designed lead and intermediate cars, was manufactured after 1961.

[17][18][22] Due to the popularity of the Alpha Continental Express, which was a modified KiHa 56 series car that entered service in 1985, the Furano area, which was attracting attention as a tourist destination, demanded a set that offered high-quality service and improved ride comfort and speed.

Modifications included a new control circuit, new hood height, and new exterior paint color.

[18] As part of a 1989 event in Shikoku called the Joyful Train Gathering of Six JR Companies, the train ran between Takamatsu and Matsuyama (where it was put on temporary display) on November 4, and on November 5, it ran between Matsuyama and Tadotsu.

It returned to Hokkaido via the Tokaido and Tohoku Main Lines from November 6 to 10 under locomotive power from Tadotsu.