March2013

1. Observation point for cherry blossoms in southern Hokkaido2. Hanami(cherry blossom viewing) Train＆Twinkle Bus3. Let’ s enjoy spring skiing by using the Ski Trip Ticket “Tebura Skip” !4. Yet another station for buying/exchanging a Hokkaido Rail Pass!5. JR Hokkaido - Doraemon Stamp Rally 2013

Visit the cherry blossoms in southern JR Hokkaido Mail Magazine

Contents

Observation point for cherry blossoms in southern Hokkaido

Matsumae松前

This is a very popular cherry blossom viewing spot among citizens. You can see approx. 1,600 cherry trees, mostly Yoshino cherry. The view from the Goryokaku Tower is fabulous, including the star, shaped by lines of cherry blossoms.

Address: 44 Goryokaku-cho, HakodateAccess: Approx. 15 minute on foot from the “Goryokaku Koen(park) mae” streetcar stop

Goryokaku Park Hakodate Park

Opened in 1879. Cherry tree saplings from Mt. Yoshino in the Nara prefecture were transplanted; now there are about 700 cherry trees, including Yoshino cherry and double-flowered cherry, all calling a spring visit.

Address: 17 Aoyagi-cho, HakodateAccess: Close to the “Aoyagi-cho” streetcar stop

Matsumae Castle Late Apr-Late May

Early May-Mid May Early May-Mid May

Long winter is drawing to a close and the pale pink of cherry blossoms ( ‘sakura’ ) lets us know that by the end of April spring will be visiting our northern island. Flower viewing on Hokkaido comes rather later than on Honshu to the south. The ‘front line’ for cherry blossoms arrives first at Hakodate in southern Hokkaido and then spreads gradually to the north and east, brightening the landscape with pink blossoms. On occasion you can actually enjoy a view of the stunning bossoms against a backdrop of lingering snow on the mountainsScattered around warmer southern Hokkaido are numerous places to view cherry blossoms: Matsumae Park, Goryokaku Park and others. Let’ s go out to find spring colors in the countryside by taking a train!

Its 10,000 cherry trees, of 250 varieties, bloom for almost a month all around Matsumae Castle, Hokkaido’ s only Japanese-style fortification. Because the many varieties of cherry trees bloom at slightly different times the flower viewing season is exceptionally long.

Address：Matsumae Cho Aza MatsushiroAccess： 1h 30 min from Kikonai Station to Matsumae by Hakodate Bus. 7 min on foot from Matsushiro bus stop.

Donan(southern Hokkaido) Sakura(cherry blossom) Express” will operate only in the cherry blossom season.With wide windows for a better view and with a larger lounge space, your trip is sure to be a pleasant one.

Hanami(cherry blossom viewing) Train＆Twinkle Bus

Route / Sapporo ～ HakodateDates of operation/ Operates daily: 3May- 6 May,2013

Matsumae Yozakura Bus It connects from the Donan Sakura Express, and it is suitable for view㏌g cherry blosso㎳ at night by bus and enables you to stay ㏌ Hakodate for a night.

Matsumae Sakura Bus This bus operates ㏌ the blossom season.

Hokuto Sakura Bus

Dates of operation/ Operates daily: 29April - 19May,2013

It tours a new scenic place ㏌ the north ㏌ the spr㏌g, the cherry blossom corridor.

Fare/ Round-trip 2000Yen　(Ages6-11 are the same price)Route：

Route：

Matsumae-clan HouseA theme park with an Edo period reconstructed townscape. (Entrance fee is not included.)

Donan Sakura Express

Route/ Hakodate ～ Mori（Entire train is reserved seating）

Dates of operation：Operates daily:27 April ‒ 6 May,2013（It is also planned to operate in July and August.）

The train staff, dressed in retro style, enlivens the SL journey atmosphere by offering information about what’ s located along the line, original goods for sale, and events.

SL Hakodate-Onuma Train

13：00

Hakodate Sta.16：00 21：45

Hakodate Sta.Trappist monastery14：40 19：30

MatsumaeFree timeKikonai Sta.

9：50～10：10 15mins. 11：50Kikonai Sta.

18：30-5017：20Kikonai Sta.Matsumae

13：10Ar./16：10Lv.10：25Hakodate Sta.

19：10Hakodate Sta.

Route：

7：50-8：10 10mins. 50mins. 20mins.8：30Hakodate Sta.

11：55Hakodate Sta.

Trappist monastery

Trappist monasteryA row of cherry trees blossoming along the Ono River (view from a train)

Model Course

8：04 12：12

Donan Sakura Express

Hakodate Sta. Hakodate Sta.Matsumae Sapporo Sta.13：00 16：00

Matsumae Yozakura Bus

19：30 21：45

Matsumae Yozakura Bus

StayDay1

Day2　Hakodate Koen(park), Miharashi Koen, cherry blossom viewing in Goryokaku Koen, overnight

9：00 10：12

SL Hakodate-Onuma Train

14：21 17：29

Ltd. Exp. Hokuto No.11

Onumakoen Sta. Onumakoen Sta.Hakodate Sta.Day3

FromSapporo

FromTokyo

9：36 12：35

Hayabusa No.9

Shi Aomori Sta. Kikonai Sta.Tokyo Sta.12：45 14：19

Super Hakucho No.19

14：40 16：00

Matsumae Yozakura Bus

Day1

Day2　Hakodate Koen(park), Miharashi Koen, cherry blossom viewing in Goryokaku Koen, overnight

12：30 13：05 13：31 15：25

Super Hokuto No.9

Mori Sta.Hakodate Sta.Day3

Hakodate Sta.Matsumae 19：30 21：45

Matsumae Yozakura Bus

Stay

Hakodate Sta.SL Hakodate-Onuma Train

15：55 17：56 18：24 21：23

Super Hakucho No.40

Shi Aomori Sta. Tokyo Sta.Hayabusa No.18

Sightseeing

Sapporo Sta.

Dates of operation/ Operates daily: 3May - 12May,2013

Yunokawa Onsen

Yunokawa Onsen

Yunokawa Onsen

Matsumae-clan House

Fare/ One-way 1,500Yen (Ages6-11 are the same price). Round-trip 2,000 Yen (Ages6-11 are the same price)

Dates of operation/ Operates daily: 3May - 12May,2013 Fare/1000Yen (Ages6-11 are the same price)

Schedule/ Dep.Sapporo 8：04>Arr. Hakodate12：12　　　　 Dep.Hakodate14：44> Arr. Sapporo 18：59Tra㏌: 5 cars (4 reserved seat cars and 1 non-reserved seat car)

Schedule/ Dep. Hakodate 9:00> Dep. Onuma Park 10:12 > Arr.Mori 10:46　　　　Dep. Mori 13:31 > Dep. Onuma Park 14:39> Arr. Hakodate 15:25

Advance reservations

Please reserve at JR Hokkaido stations up to 3 days prior. Tickets are available at long-distance ticket windows (Midori no Madoguchi) or Twinkle Plaza counters.Please show your JR ticket at the time of purchase, or purchase both of them together.Holders of the Hokkaido Rail Pass or the Japan Rail Pass will have to pay the fare separately .

※When you have the Japan Rail Pass or Hokkaido Rail Pass, please make a seat reservation at our statio㎱ beforehand. (№ surcharges.)

Houki Temple Kiyokawa Senbon-zakura(a thousand cherry trees) [viewed from the bus]

Site of Matusmae-clanHekirichi Jinya

25mins.

Let’ s enjoy spring skiing by using the Ski Trip Ticket “Tebura Skip” !

In Hokkaido, the spring comes much later and you can still enjoy the skiing in March. People in Hokkaido enjoy the extended season, and call the skiing on powdery snow under warm sunlight “spring skiing.” It has a distinctive pleasure all its own. There’s nothing more exhilarating than taking off a jacket and skiing with just a sweater. If you try spring skiing just once, the freedom of it will keep calling you back for more. Please come experience it in Hokkaido!

Ski Trip Ticket “Tebura Skip” offered by JR Hokkaido is a set of discount tickets that include a roundtrip for the train and bus, and that cover the ski lift and the rental of ski equipment.There’ s no need to pack your ski equipment or rent a car. From first timers to repeaters, everyone can enjoy the skiing and avoid the hassles of planning and carting equipment.

Detial： http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/pdf/e/tebra_skip.pdf

Yet another station for buying/exchanging a Hokkaido Rail Pass!

Starting April 1, then Hokkaido Rail Pass can be exchanged or purchased at Noboribetsu Station. Already available at Hakodate, New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Asahikawa, Obihiro, Kushiro, and Abashiri stations, this additional site for the pass will make your travel in Hokkaido more convenient.

MemanbetsuAirport

HakodateAirport

New Chitose Airport

ObihiroAirport

Kushiro Airport

AsahikawaAirport

New Chitose Airport StationJR Information Desk（ 8:30 ～ 19:00 ）

Kushiro Station(Twinkle Plaza)（ 10:00 ～ 18:00 ）

Obihiro Station(Twinkle Plaza)（ 9:00 ～ 17:00 ） Hakodate Station

(Twinkle Plaza)（10:00 ～ 18:00 ）

Asahikawa Station(Twinkle Plaza)（ 9:30 ～ 17:30 ）

Noboribetsu Station （ 7:10 ～ 19:30 ）

Sapporo StationJR Information Desk（8:30 ～ 19:00 ）

Abashiri Station(Twinkle Plaza)( 9:30 ～ 17:00Closed Sat., Sun., and Hol）

Abashiri Station( 5:50 ～ 22:30）

JR Hokkaido - Doraemon Stamp Rally 2013

“Doraemon Stamp Rally 2013” will be held at stations around Sapporo. Again

this year, by collecting 18 stamps (one placed at each of 16 Sapporo area

stations and two found at “DORAEMON WAKUWAKU SKY PARK” in the New

Chitose Ariport Terminal), you can get original goods and other presents.

Why don’ t you ride and enjoy the train while collecting stamps of Doraemon!

Event period: Mar.26- Apr.7,2013 (No participation fee)

Stamping hours: 9:30 ～ 15:30　

Stamping places: Stamps for the following 16 stations and 2 stamps at “DORAEMON WAKUWAKU SKY PARK” in New Chitose Ariport, for a total of 18 stamps.

How to participate in the stamp rally:

1.Receive a leaflet/stamp sheet (only in Japanese) at JR Hokkaido station in Sapporo area.2.Collect 4 stamps at the stamping places.3.Go to the Sapporo Station (the goal) with your 4 collected stamps and get a participation prize (first 1,700 people). <Participation Prize> Original plastic sheet and Doraemon movie sticker <Place and hours for exchange> Sapporo Station west concourse 10:00 ～ 16:00　4.When you collect all 18 stamps from 16 stations and DORAEMON WAKUWAKU SKY PARK, you will receive “Certification for acquisition of all stamps” and a “Doraemon towel handkerchief” at the goal, Sapporo Station (first 470 people).

LocalTrain No.122 No.143 No.145 No.147 No.151

9：28Lv. 　 　 10:07 Ar.

No.121 No.140 No.144

A model course to get all stamps:

【

】

【

】

8：42Lv. 　　9：32Ar.

10：05Lv.　　10：22Ar.

10：44Lv. 　 10：48Ar.

11：18 Lv.　 11：30Ar.

12：08Lv.　 12：14Ar.

12：33Lv.　 13：01Ar.

14：19 Lv.　 14：26 Ar.

14：41Lv.　 14：46 Ar.

15：02Lv.　15：09Ar.

15：24Lv. 　　15：40Ar.

10：37Lv.10：50Ar.

11：10Lv. 　　　　 　11：22Ar.

11：43Lv. 　11：55Ar.

12：44Lv. 　 　13：16Ar.

13：34 Lv. 　 　 13：40Ar.

14：10 Lv. 　 　 14：26 Ar.

14：40 Lv. 　 　14：46 Ar.

14：57Lv. 　 　15：04Ar.

Goal！

　

　

　

Lunch Time

Kotoni

Shi-Kotoni

　　　　　

Ainosato-Kyoikudai

Ishikari-Tobetsu

Nopporo

Ebetsu

Iwamizawa

Teine

Otaruchikko

Otaru

Shiroishi

Shin-Sapporo

Kita-Hiroshima

Eniwa

Chitose 　　

New Chitose Airport

　

　

Sapporo

Stamps2 ！

* Because Sapporo Station is the goal, no stamp is placed there.

Goal ！

DORAEMON WAKUWAKU SKY PARK

*There are 2 stamps at “DORAEMON WAKUWAKU SKY PARK” in the New Chitose Airport Terminal. No fee is required to get the stamps. There is an adimission fee, however for playing in the Sky Park.

1 7 82 3 4 5 6 9 10 11

A model course to get 4 stamps :Goal！

RapidAirportNo.104

10:40Lv.　11:09Ar.

No.106

11:24 Lv. 　　 11:31Ar.

No.141

14：04Lv. 　　14：40Ar.

21 3 4

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

RapidAirport

Let’ s get a participationprize!

Let’ s get a prize for acquiring all of the stamps!

Sapporo

Chitose

New Chitose

Airport

Sapporo

Sapporo

Sapporo

Sapporo

Sapporo

Chitose

Sapporo

DORAEM

ON

WAKUW

AKUSKY PARK

New Chitose

Airport

DORAEM

ON

WAKUW

AKUSKY PARK

Iwamizaw

a

Ebetsu

Nopporo

Shiroishi

Shin-Sapporo

Eniwa

Kita-Hiroshima

Ishikari-Tobetsu

Ainosato-Kyoikudai

Shi-Kotoni

Otaru

Otaruchikko

Teine

Kotoni

Let’ s get a participationprize!

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

LocalTrain

Ishikari Liner Rapid Train

Ishikari Liner Rapid Train

Ishikari Liner Rapid Train

Day1

Day2

Publisher: Inbound Tourism Sales & Marketing Railway Operation Headquarters　Hokkaido Railway CompanyCopyright © Hokkaido Railway Company ALL Rights Reserved.

http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/pticket/pticket05.html#01Detail：

Economical Tickets One-Day Round Tour Ticket (Central Hokkaido) (Sat., Sun., and Hol. Free pass)

Available everyday from March 26 to April 7, during the stamp rally period.