JR Hokkaido will implement a timetable revision on March 14. All limited express trains departing from Sapporo and bound for Asahikawa will have reserved seats. With this change, all limited express trains in Hokkaido will have reserved seats (non-reserved seat limited express tickets will not be handled). In addition to the boarding ticket, a reserved-seat limited express ticket or a conventional ticketless limited express ticket is required.
Limited express trains already operating with all seats reserved (as of March 13, 2026)
Sapporo – Hakodate: Hokuto
Sapporo – Higashi-Muroran, Muroran: Suzuran
Sapporo – Kushiro: Ozora
Sapporo – Obihiro: Tokachi
Each train has unassigned seat tickets that allow passengers to use empty seats in ordinary cars. The ticket is the same price as the reserved-seat express ticket, and only the date and section of the train ride are specified. If a person with a reserved seat reservation arrives while an unassigned seat is being used, the seat must be moved, and if the train is full, a standing seat will be available (no refund).
The “Hokkaido Free Pass”, “Peach/FDA East Hokkaido Free Pass”, and “Peach/ANA/FDA Kita Hokkaido Free Pass”, which include a train ticket and a limited express ticket, will continue to allow passengers to use a reserved seat on a standard car within a set number of times (4 to 6 times) after the timetable revision.
If the number of times the ticket is used is exceeded, only the fare is valid and a separate non-discounted fare is required. If no seat reservation is made in advance, the ticket is treated the same as an unassigned seat ticket.
The limited express commuter pass “KayoAir” will be changed to “KayoAir+” which can be used with seat reservation 7 days in advance and will continue to be available until March 31, 2027.
As a successor service, the ticketless limited express commuter pass “Limited Express e-Pass” will be available from March 14 after the timetable revision. We encourage customers to continue to use this sub-subscription if they wish to use limited express trains.
In addition, some special tickets will no longer be available by March 13. The Furano-Biei Free Ticket, which was on sale for a limited time during the Furano and Biei tourist season, will no longer be available.
© Source travel watch