| Hokuto | |
| Type: | Limited express |
| First: | 1949 (Express) 1965 (Limited express) 1994 (Super Hokuto) |
| Last: | 2020 (Super Hokuto) |
| Status: | Operational |
| Start: | Hakodate |
| Stops: | 15 |
| End: | Sapporo |
| Journeytime: | 3 hours 40 minutes approx |
| Distance: | 318.7km (198miles) |
| Frequency: | 12 return workings daily |
| Line Used: | Hakodate Main Line (Hakodate-Oshamambe)Muroran Main Line (Oshamambe-Tomakomai)Chitose Line (Tomakomai-Sapporo) |
| Class: | Standard + Green |
| Access: | Yes |
| Catering: | None |
| Entertainment: | None |
| Observation: | None |
| Sleeping: | None |
| Otherfacilities: | Toilets |
| Stock: | KiHa 261 series |
| Owners: | JR Hokkaido |
The is a limited express train service that runs between and in Hokkaido, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The journey time of the Hokuto is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.
Super Hokuto services started on 1 March 1994,[1] and cut journey time by about 30 minutes due to the higher speeds through the many curves of the line between Sapporo and Hakodate. All trains have been renamed to Hokuto since 2020, after the KiHa 183 series used on the original Hokuto service was replaced with KiHa 261 series.
Trains stop at the following stations:
Hokuto No. 4 (for Hakodate) and 21 (for Sapporo) does not stop at Shiraoi.
The Hokuto is operated by 7-car KiHa 261 series DMUs,[2] with car 1 at the Hakodate (southern) end. All cars are no-smoking. Until 30 September 2022, the Hokuto was also operated by KiHa 281 series DMUs.[3]
For departures using KiHa 281 series, cars 1, 2 and 4 to 7 were ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating, and car 3 was a "Green" car with 2+1 seating.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | |
| Facilities | Toilets | Toilets | Wheelchair space, accessible toilet | Toilets |
For departures using KiHa 261 series, car 1 is a "Green" car with 2+1 seating, and cars 2 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | |
| Facilities | Wheelchair space, accessible toilet | Toilets | Toilets | Toilets | Toilets |