Asahikawa to Sapporo by JR Train: S-Kippu Tickets & Tips 2026

Your Guide to Traveling from Asahikawa to Sapporo

JR Train, S-Kippu, and Ekiknet

When planning a trip to the areas surrounding Sapporo, popular destinations like Biei, Furano, and Otaru often come to mind. While buses can take over 2 hours, making the journey feel a bit cumbersome, you'll generally need to either rent a car or take the efficient JR train.

On my last adventure, I opted for the JR train to Asahikawa and then rented a car once I arrived to explore the local sights. However, if your itinerary heavily features multiple trips to nearby areas like Furano or Otaru, purchasing an Area Pass can be a much more economical choice.

The Hokkaido Area Pass offers unlimited JR train rides for 4 days across a wide region, including Shin-Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Biei, and Furano. While the price of around ~$69 per adult might seem steep at first glance, consider that a single one-way JR ticket without a discount, like the S-Kippu, can cost around ~$28. The Area Pass offers incredible value if you plan on extensive regional travel.

🔻Book Your Sapporo-Furano-Otaru Rail Pass Here🔻

S-Kippu Tickets

So, do you absolutely have to pay ~$28 for a one-way ticket? Not at all! You can save significantly by purchasing an S-Kippu. The S-Kippu is a round-trip discount ticket for JR train unreserved seats. You might worry about finding a seat in the unreserved section, but the route to Asahikawa isn't typically overcrowded, so you should have no problem finding a comfortable spot.

S-Kippu tickets cannot be reserved online; they must be purchased in person at the ticket counter or a ticket machine at Sapporo Station. A round-trip ticket costs just over ~$35. Buying two separate one-way tickets would be considerably more expensive. While you can purchase them on the day of travel, remember that S-Kippu tickets are valid for 6 days from the date of issue.

Reserved Seat Booking

If you prefer the peace of mind of a reserved seat (rather than an S-Kippu), online booking is available, though the process can be a bit intricate. For those who wish to book ahead, I've detailed the steps in another post below:

How to Get from Sapporo to Asahikawa: JR Train S-Kippu Ekiknet Bookingblog.naver.com

How to Ride the Train

Once you purchase your paper ticket from the vending machine, simply insert it into the ticket gate, just like you would for a subway, to pass through.

Both Sapporo and Asahikawa are terminal stations for this route, so you don't need to worry about missing your stop – it's a straightforward journey!

I purchased a reserved seat for my trip, and even on a weekday, the car was surprisingly empty, with just a few other passengers. As a result, the train's interior was exceptionally clean and comfortable.

You can store your luggage either on the overhead racks, similar to most high-speed trains, or in the designated luggage compartments in the aisle.

The seats are plush and well-maintained, each equipped with a convenient tray table and a bag hook on the seat in front.

Finally, a crucial tip: when you arrive at Sapporo Station, remember that you'll need to insert your ticket into the gate for return. Don't lose it!