Is JR Pass worth it in Hokkaido?

So, you’re wondering if a JR Pass is worth it for Hokkaido? I get it, it’s a big chunk of change upfront. But honestly? It can be a fantastic deal, especially if you’re planning on zipping between Tokyo and Sapporo.

Let me tell you, that Hayabusa Shinkansen is fast. Like, seriously fast. And with a 7-day JR Pass (around ¥29,650, I think?), it’s covered! A regular round-trip ticket between those two cities? Oof, something like ¥55,520. That’s a hefty difference, right? We’re talking almost ¥26,000 saved! Who wouldn’t want an extra ¥26,000 for, like, amazing ramen and some souvenirs? Or maybe even another onsen visit?

Just think about it – you could almost buy another week’s worth of delicious Hokkaido milk ice cream with those savings! Okay, maybe not quite, but you get the idea. ????

Of course, it really depends on your itinerary. Are you planning on mainly staying in one city, or hopping around a lot? If you’re going to explore all over Hokkaido – Sapporo, Hakodate, maybe even up to Furano or Asahikawa – then the pass could be a lifesaver for your wallet. Remember that time I went to Hokkaido and tried to travel everywhere by local trains? Let’s just say it wasn’t cheap. Learned my lesson there! ????

So, yeah, do the math. Figure out where you want to go and how much those individual tickets would cost. Compare that to the price of the JR Pass. Then you’ll have a much better idea of whether it’s a good deal for your trip. It was definitely worth it for me last time I was there, zooming around everywhere!