Rail Passes & Tickets
How to Use JR Hokkaido
How to take trains
Reading the Electronic Display
After checking your ➊Train Number, ➋Departure Time, ➌Destination, and ➍Platform, pass through the ➎Ticket Gate.
【Rail Pass】
Please insert only your rail pass into the automatic ticket gate. Please make sure to pick up your rail pass after passing through the gate. The rail pass cannot be reissued or repurchased even if it is lost (or stolen).
*Reserved seat tickets cannot be used to go through the gate.
【Tickets other than rail passes】
Please insert all tickets together into the automatic ticket gate and don’t forget to pick them up. If you lose your ticket, you need to pay the basic fare and charge again for the section you took a train.
There is a magnet on the back of the ticket. Please be careful not to put your ticket and items using magnets (smartphone etc.) close to each other. Also, please do not bend your ticket.
Wait for Your Train on the Platform
Boarding door plates hang over the platforms at major stations indicating boarding locations for Local and Rapid trains.
For Limited Express trains, the name and car number are displayed. Please confirm your train and line up double file in front of the plate to wait.
Information Monitor for Boarding Positions
There is an “information monitor for boarding positions” at some stations. Please wait near the guide plate after checking the car number mentioned on the ticket and the boarding position (alphabets) on the monitor.
Board Your Train
- When using a reserved seat, please use a seat mentioned on the ticket.
- ★All seats are reserved on all JR Hokkaido’s limited express trains. There are no non-reserved seats.
| Ltd. Exp. Hokuto, Suzuran, Kamui, Lilac, Soya, Sarobetsu, Okhotsk, Ozora, Tokachi, Furano Lavender Express | Ticket(s) Required | |
|---|---|---|
| With a seat number | A reserved seat as mentioned on the ticket can be used to your destination. |
・Rail pass + Reserved seat ticket ・Basic fare ticket + Reserved seat limited express ticket |
| Without a seat number | Passengers without a seat number may need to stand. If there are vacant seats in the ordinary cars, you may use them temporarily. However, if a passenger with a reserved seat ticket comes, you will need to move to another seat. |
・Rail pass only ・Basic fare ticket + Vacant seat only ticket |
If You Miss the Train You Reserved
Reserved seat limited express tickets and the first-class car (green car) tickets will be invalid once the train you reserved has departed, and refunds cannot be made. If you miss your train, you will be required to stand in the ordinary car of a later limited express train on the same day. If there are vacant seats, you may use them temporarily. However, if a passenger with a reserved seat ticket comes, you will need to move to another seat. If you wish to use a reserved seat, you need to pay the reserved seat limited express charge again.
How to open and close the train doors of the Series 737 and H100 series car
The train doors of the Series 737 and H100 series car don't open automatically.
Please push the button next to the very front door by yourself to open the door when you get on or off the train. (All door buttons can be available for use at some stations and on some trains.)
- When you get on
- Push the button when you get on the train.
- When you get off
- Push the button when you get off the train.
Available when lights are on. Please be aware of other passengers when you open or close the doors.
*Different cars may have different shaped buttons.
*The light turns off when the train is about to move. Do not touch the button when lights are off.