Every great journey tells a story—not just at the destination, but along the way. In Hokkaido, Go Hokkaido elevates rail journeys into refined, experience-driven travel where panoramic landscapes, regional encounters, and curated off-train moments combine into a narrative of place.
Step aboard and discover a side of Hokkaido where the journey is as unforgettable as the arrival.
Train Journey as Experience in Hokkaido
Go Hokkaido is reimagining the way travelers explore Japan’s northern frontier with the launch of its Train Journey as Experience in Hokkaido concept. Instead of treating rail as simple transportation, this new experience positions the journey itself as the highlight—a moving window into Hokkaido’s vast natural beauty and rural character.
What makes these rail journeys especially rewarding is how easily they connect with experiences beyond the tracks. Despite spending a significant portion of the trip on the rails, the experience never feels confined to the carriage. Scenic train routes are thoughtfully paired with immersive moments beyond the station, shaping a journey where travel and exploration flow naturally into one another. Along the route, travelers can step into Hokkaido’s landscapes and daily life, like following forest trails or discovering regional flavors. Each stop adds depth and context, so the journey unfolds as one evolving story rather than a string of separate sights.
Sustainability is also central to the concept. Rail travel is one of the most environmentally responsible ways to explore Hokkaido, producing far lower CO₂ emissions than car or air travel and covering longer distances while supporting regional infrastructure and local economies. In fact, Train Journey as Experience in Hokkaido relies on existing and underutilized lines and links them with meaningful travel experiences, helping channel visitors beyond major hubs and into communities that shape Hokkaido’s identity in a sustainable way.
Curated Rail Journeys Through Landscapes and Local Life
Currently, Train Journey as Experience in Hokkaido features three distinct rail routes, each offering a different perspective on the region’s winter scenery, culture, and local life. Together, they illustrate how travel by train reveals Hokkaido gradually—through shifting landscapes and meaningful stops that connect visitors with communities along the way.
Wildlife Paradise: Winter Kushiro Wetland Nature Train & Okhotsk Drift Ice
This one-day charter train journey from Kushiro to Abashiri last January 29, 2026 was a rare opportunity to experience Hokkaido’s winter wilderness at its most dramatic. As the train passes through Kushiro’s vast wetlands, travelers may spot red-crowned cranes, Ezo deer, and Steller’s sea eagles set against wintry scenery. The journey is accompanied by nature guide Lan Ping Fang, a Taiwanese expert based in Shiretoko, who shares ecological knowledge and local stories that add depth to the landscape unfolding outside the window.
Beyond the rails, the adventure unfolds with visits to scenic spots like Lake Mashu and Mount Iozan, followed by a memorable cruise aboard the drift ice sightseeing vessel Aurora on the Sea of Okhotsk. Onboard dining features handpicked local foods and ekiben (train station bento lunches), bringing regional flavors into the journey itself. This tour blends nature, culture and rail travel into a winter experience that lingers well beyond the final stop.
Follow along for the next season of the Wildlife Paradise tour and find full itinerary and inclusion details here.
Sapporo Departure and Arrival Drift Ice Train Journey
The Sapporo Departure and Arrival Drift Ice Train Journey operates from February 1 to February 28, 2026 as a two-day rail tour designed to showcase Hokkaido’s dramatic winter scenery. Tour prices are set at ¥39,000 for adults and ¥24,500 for children. The package includes train fares, one night of accommodation with breakfast, the drift ice sightseeing cruise boarding fee, a private vehicle, two ekiben bento lunches, insurance, and tax.
The journey begins in Sapporo and travels by train to Kitami, where participants stay overnight after enjoying a regional salmon ekiben on board. The second day continues eastward with a stop at Kitahama Station, famed for its proximity to the Sea of Okhotsk drift ice, followed by a cruise on the drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora. The return trip from Abashiri to Sapporo includes another local ekiben meal, rounding out a rail journey that combines winter scenery, coastal highlights, and regional flavors.
This two-day experience combines rail travel with one of Hokkaido’s most iconic winter phenomena. Learn more about the itinerary and inclusions here.
Sapporo Departure: Winter Furano Biei Local Train Tour
This tour operates from January 4 to February 28, 2026 as an 11-hour rail experience through central Hokkaido’s winter landscapes. Priced at ¥18,000 for adults and ¥12,000 for children, the tour includes train fares, meals, and local guiding elements designed to showcase the region’s seasonal charms and support sustainable travel by public transport.
The journey begins with departure from Sapporo Station, followed by a local train ride to Takikawa and onward to Furano, where participants enjoy a famous roast beef bowl and have free time to explore the town’s shops and winter atmosphere. In the afternoon, the tour continues by local train to Biei, with a visit to the iconic Blue Pond, where snow-covered surroundings and contrasting water tones create a striking winter vista. The return to Sapporo by rail wraps up a day of seasonal highlights and scenic travel.
Overall, this tour invites travelers to experience Hokkaido’s winter at a relaxed pace, with quiet local trains and tranquil scenery that emphasize the journey as much as the sights. Learn more about the itinerary and inclusions here.
Put together, Go Hokkaido’s Train Journey as Experience in Hokkaido is a fully connected journey that flows naturally from start to finish, with each rail segment and off-train moment building on the last. All the currently offered routes present different windows into Hokkaido during winter—from the coast to the countryside. And traveling by train keeps the pace relaxed and the scenery front and center, so the focus stays on the surroundings rather than the schedule.
If you’re curious about experiencing Hokkaido this way, you can explore more routes, seasonal highlights, and practical details here.
