Hokutosei
Encyclopedia
The is a limited express
sleeping car train service in Japan
which connects Ueno Station
in Tokyo
and Sapporo Station
in the northern island of Hokkaido
, taking approximately 16½ hours. It is operated jointly by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company
(JR Hokkaido).
constellation, was introduced on 13 March 1988 to coincide with the opening of the Seikan Tunnel
, an undersea tunnel which connects the island of Hokkaido to Honshu
.
Until 1990 the service ran with two trains daily in each direction, and an additional third round-trip route being run irregularly. In 1990 all trains began to run regularly, however, with the introduction of the Cassiopeia
in 1999, services were cut back to two daily round-trip services. From 15 March 2008, the service was cut back from two trains daily in each direction to one train in each direction.
, Utsunomiya Station
, Kōriyama
, 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 runs on the following rail lines:
^ train reversal point
The JR Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line
consists of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line
, Esashi Line
, and Hakodate Main Line
.
Users of the Japan Rail Pass are waived the basic track fare, however the limited express fare (¥2,940 if riding the full route) and accommodations fare still apply.
Royal rooms are single-person private rooms, although they can be used with two people with the use of a supplementary bed. There are two Royal rooms in each of cars 9 and 10, and they carry an accommodations fare of ¥17,180.
Twin Deluxe rooms are private two-person rooms, all eight of which are located in car 8. They have an accommodations fare of ¥13,350 per person.
Duet rooms are private two-person rooms. There are both upper-floor and lower-floor types.
Solo rooms are private one-person rooms. As with Duet rooms, there are both upper-floor and lower-floor types.
Two-Floor Type B rooms have four beds which can be individually enclosed with a curtain. While normally used for individual travelers, there are also "B Compartment" rooms which have a door that may be closed and used as a private room for a group of four people (or less if the travelers wish to pay for the extra bed(s)).
meals, snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. Prior reservations are not needed.
Last order is at 10:30 pm, and the car closes at 11:00 pm.
As of 14 March 2008, the content of breakfasts served differs depending on whether JR Hokkaido or JR East is operating the train.
The train is formed of 24 series sleeping cars based at JR East's Oku Depot in Tokyo and JR Hokkaido's Sapporo Depot, typically consisting of 12 cars including a KaNi24 generator car. From Ueno to Aomori the train is hauled by a Class EF510-500 dual-voltage electric locomotive, by a JR Hokkaido ED79 AC locomotive between Aomori and Hakodate, and by a pair of JR Hokkaido DD51 diesel locomotives
between Hakodate and Sapporo.
dual-voltage electric locomotive, however from July 2010 this work was taken over by the Class EF510-500.
Until its removal from service in 2001, ED76-551 hauled the Hokutosei from Aomori to Hakodate. It was replaced by the ED79.
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
sleeping car train service in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
which connects Ueno Station
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Sapporo Station
Sapporo Station
is a train station located in Kita-ku and Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is served by Hakodate Main Line and other lines of Hokkaido Railway Company , and is also connected to the Sapporo Subway. The JR Hokkaido part is in Kita-ku while the Sapporo Subway part is in Chūō-ku.Sapporo Station...
in the northern island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, taking approximately 16½ hours. It is operated jointly by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
(JR Hokkaido).
History
The Hokutosei, named after the Big DipperBig Dipper
The Plough, also known as the Big Dipper or the Saptarishi , is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial...
constellation, was introduced on 13 March 1988 to coincide with the opening of the Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
, an undersea tunnel which connects the island of Hokkaido to Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
.
Until 1990 the service ran with two trains daily in each direction, and an additional third round-trip route being run irregularly. In 1990 all trains began to run regularly, however, with the introduction of the Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (train)
The is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call...
in 1999, services were cut back to two daily round-trip services. From 15 March 2008, the service was cut back from two trains daily in each direction to one train in each direction.
Route
Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at ŌmiyaOmiya Station (Saitama)
is a railway station in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Japan. It is a major interchange station for the East Japan Railway Company .-JR East:* Tōhoku Shinkansen* Akita Shinkansen* Yamagata Shinkansen* Jōetsu Shinkansen* Nagano Shinkansen...
, Utsunomiya Station
Utsunomiya Station
is a JR East railway station located in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.Tōbu Utsunomiya Station is located 1.6 km west of this station.-Lines serving Utsunomiya:* Tōhoku Shinkansen* Utsunomiya Line...
, Kōriyama
Koriyama Station (Fukushima)
is a JR East railway station located in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:* Tōhoku Shinkansen* Tōhoku Main Line* Ban'etsu East Line* Ban'etsu West Line* Suigun Line-History:* July 16, 1887: Service is started between Kōriyama and Kuroiso...
, Fukushima
Fukushima Station (Fukushima)
is a railway station located in the city of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan.-Lines:*JR East**Tōhoku Shinkansen**Yamagata Shinkansen**Tōhoku Main Line**Ōu Main Line*AbukumaExpress** Abukuma Express Line*Fukushima Transportation** Iizaka Line-Layout:...
, and Sendai
Sendai Station (Miyagi)
is the major railway hub of the Tōhoku region in Japan, serving more passengers than any station outside the Greater Tokyo Area. It is a stop for all Akita and Tōhoku Shinkansen trains, the eastern terminus for the Senzan Line, and major stop on both the Tōhoku Main Line and Senseki Line...
. One train makes additional stops at Ichinoseki
Ichinoseki Station
Ichinoseki Station is a JR East railway station located in Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.-Station structure:The station has two Shinkansen platforms serving two tracks and two conventional line platforms serving three tracks.-History:...
and Morioka
Morioka Station
Morioka Station is a railway station located in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.-History:The station was opened on November 1, 1890, by Japan's first private railway company, Nippon Tetsudō.-Station layout:...
. The first stop on Hokkaidō is at Hakodate
Hakodate Station
is a railway station in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company . It is the terminus of the Hakodate Main Line and the Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line; Hakodate Municipal Transit streetcars stop at the adjacent Hakodate Eki-mae Station....
, with arrival in Sapporo around five hours later.
The Hokutosei runs on the following rail lines:
JR East
- JR Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
- Iwate Ginga Railway LineIwate Ginga Railway LineThe is a rail line in Japan operated by the Iwate Galaxy Railway Company. It runs from Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate to Metoki Station in Sannohe, Aomori....
, Morioka - Metoki - Aoimori Railway, Metoki - Aomori^
JR Hokkaido
- JR Tsugaru-Kaikyō LineTsugaru-Kaikyo LineThe is a railway line in northern Japan linking Aomori Station in Aomori and Hakodate Station in Hokkaido.The Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line is actually made up of portions of four separate lines: the Tsugaru Line, operated by East Japan Railway Company, and the Kaikyō, Esashi, and Hakodate Main lines,...
, Aomori - Hakodate^ - JR Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, Hakodate - Oshamambe - JR Muroran Main LineMuroran Main LineThe is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, running through the coast of Iburi Subprefecture...
, Oshamambe - Numanohata - JR Chitose LineChitose Lineis a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Numanohata, Tomakomai and Shiroishi Station, Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, linking Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line. There also is a branch line to New Chitose Airport.-Basic Data:...
, Numanohata - Shiroishi - JR Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, Shiroishi - Sapporo
^ train reversal point
The JR Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line
Tsugaru-Kaikyo Line
The is a railway line in northern Japan linking Aomori Station in Aomori and Hakodate Station in Hokkaido.The Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line is actually made up of portions of four separate lines: the Tsugaru Line, operated by East Japan Railway Company, and the Kaikyō, Esashi, and Hakodate Main lines,...
consists of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line
Kaikyo Line
is an 87.8-kilometre railway line operated mainly by the Hokkaido Railway Company. The line runs from Naka-Oguni Station in Sotogahama, Aomori, through the Seikan Tunnel between Honshū and Hokkaidō, and on to Kikonai Station in Kikonai, Hokkaidō...
, Esashi Line
Esashi Line
The is a Japanese rail line operated by Hokkaido Railway Company that runs between Hakodate City and Esashi Town in Hokkaidō.-Stations:All stations are in Hokkaidō.Track: ∥: Double track, ∨: Double track ends, ◇: Passing loop |: No passing loop...
, and Hakodate Main Line
Hakodate Main Line
is a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
.
Sleeping accommodations
The Hokutosei consists of type "A" and type "B" accommodations. Prices shown here are current as of summer 2011.Users of the Japan Rail Pass are waived the basic track fare, however the limited express fare (¥2,940 if riding the full route) and accommodations fare still apply.
Type A
Type A accommodations are larger and have more amenities than their type B counterparts. There are two types of type A rooms: "Royal" and "Twin Deluxe".Royal rooms are single-person private rooms, although they can be used with two people with the use of a supplementary bed. There are two Royal rooms in each of cars 9 and 10, and they carry an accommodations fare of ¥17,180.
Twin Deluxe rooms are private two-person rooms, all eight of which are located in car 8. They have an accommodations fare of ¥13,350 per person.
Type B
Type B accommodations are smaller and less expensive than type A accommodations. There are three types of type B rooms—"Duet", "Solo", and "Two-Floor Type B". All type B rooms carry an accommodations fare of ¥6,300 per person.Duet rooms are private two-person rooms. There are both upper-floor and lower-floor types.
Solo rooms are private one-person rooms. As with Duet rooms, there are both upper-floor and lower-floor types.
Two-Floor Type B rooms have four beds which can be individually enclosed with a curtain. While normally used for individual travelers, there are also "B Compartment" rooms which have a door that may be closed and used as a private room for a group of four people (or less if the travelers wish to pay for the extra bed(s)).
Dining car
The Hokutoseis dining car, titled the "Grand Chariot", serves various foods and beverages. The availability of foods in the Grand Chariot depends on whether it is the predesignated "Dinner Time", "Pub Time", or "Morning Time".Dinner Time
French or Japanese cuisine is served during Dinner Time. Passengers who wish to have either course must make a dinner reservation at a green ticket window up to three days prior to departure.Pub Time
An announcement sounds at the conclusion of Dinner Time, after which Pub Time begins. During Pub Time the dining car opens to all passengers and various à la carteÀ la carte
À la carte is a French language loan phrase meaning "according to the menu", and used in* A reference to a menu of items priced and ordered separately, i.e. the usual operation of restaurants * To order an item from the menu on its own, e.g...
meals, snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. Prior reservations are not needed.
Last order is at 10:30 pm, and the car closes at 11:00 pm.
Morning Time
During Morning Time, breakfast is served starting at 6:30 am. Both western-style and Japanese-style food is served.As of 14 March 2008, the content of breakfasts served differs depending on whether JR Hokkaido or JR East is operating the train.
Rolling stock
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Legend
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The train is formed of 24 series sleeping cars based at JR East's Oku Depot in Tokyo and JR Hokkaido's Sapporo Depot, typically consisting of 12 cars including a KaNi24 generator car. From Ueno to Aomori the train is hauled by a Class EF510-500 dual-voltage electric locomotive, by a JR Hokkaido ED79 AC locomotive between Aomori and Hakodate, and by a pair of JR Hokkaido DD51 diesel locomotives
JNR Class DD51
The DD51 is a class of Japanese B-2-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotives. 649 locomotives were built between 1962 and 1978 by Kawasaki Sharyō, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi. The class was designed for mainline passenger and freight use with more power than the D51 and a higher maximum speed...
between Hakodate and Sapporo.
Past locomotives
The Ueno to Aomori section used to be led by a JR East Tabata-based EF81JNR Class EF81
The EF81 class of electric locomotives are Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement multi-voltage AC/DC electric locomotives operated on passenger and freight services in Japan.-EF81-300:...
dual-voltage electric locomotive, however from July 2010 this work was taken over by the Class EF510-500.
Until its removal from service in 2001, ED76-551 hauled the Hokutosei from Aomori to Hakodate. It was replaced by the ED79.