By Air
At Visit Eastern Hokkaido, our mission is to share the beauty, culture, and unique experiences of Eastern Hokkaido with travelers from around the world. We aim to inspire journeys, provide reliable travel information, and make your visit unforgettable.
If you’re arriving from overseas, you’ll most likely land at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo—the nearest international hub. From there, you can rent a car or take a combination of train and long-distance bus to reach Eastern Hokkaido. Since the region is far from major cities, it’s essential to plan your travel time carefully.
By Bus
To reach Eastern Hokkaido from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport, highway buses are a practical and affordable option. From Sapporo, there are direct bus routes to key destinations such as Obihiro, Kushiro, Nemuro, Kitami, Abashiri, and Shiretoko.
However, note that no direct buses run from New Chitose Airport to Kushiro, Nemuro, or Shiretoko—you’ll need to transfer in Sapporo.
Bus services from regional airports like Memanbetsu, Kushiro, and Nakashibetsu vary by destination and are operated by local companies. Some airport shuttles and sightseeing buses now offer English-language websites, online booking, and QR-code boarding, making them more accessible to international visitors.
Bus Services with English Support
- ・Kushiro Airport Shuttle Bus
- （Kushiro Airport ⇆ Kushiro City）
- ・East Hokkaido Express Bus
- （Winter only – connects Memanbetsu, Kushiro, Lake Akan, Shiretoko, etc.）
- ・Shiretoko Goko & Nature Bus Tour “Fureai-go”
- （ Local sightseeing bus around Utoro – operated by Shari Bus）
- ・White Pirika
- （Winter only – New Chitose Airport ⇆ Lake Akan）
- Note
- Some local sightseeing buses, such as the Pirika Sightseeing Bus and Nosappu-go, are currently available only in Japanese. During the winter season, special intercity buses may also operate on limited routes.
By Train
If you’re traveling by train, two limited express services from Sapporo offer scenic and reliable options:
- ・Limited Express Ozora connects Sapporo and Kushiro, taking around 4 hours and 10–20 minutes. Trains run six times daily, stopping at stations like Minami-Chitose, Tomamu, and Obihiro.
- ・Limited Express Okhotsk runs between Sapporo and Abashiri, with a journey time of about 5 hours and 30 minutes. There are four departures daily, with major stops including Asahikawa and Kitami.
Car Rental
English-GPS cars are available at every airport and major stations. From late November to April, snow tires are compulsory and temporary road closures are common—plan flexibly and monitor weather updates.
