“How to Travel from Sapporo to Nemuro: Train, Bus, and Flight Routes Explained”

▷ What This Article Covers

• The different ways to get from Sapporo to Nemuro
• Pros and cons of train, bus, and air routes
• Real experiences from travelers and mistakes to avoid
• Why Nemuro is worth visiting despite the distance

✅ TL;DR – Best Route Summary

🚆 Option 1: By Train (Sapporo → Kushiro → Nemuro)

Step-by-step:

1. Take the Limited Express “Ozora” from Sapporo to Kushiro
   • Duration: ~4 hours
   • Cost: ¥9,000–11,000
   • Runs ~6 times/day
2. Transfer at Kushiro to a local train for Nemuro
   • Duration: ~2.5–3 hours
   • Cost: ¥2,500–3,000
   • 4–5 departures/day

📝 Tips:

• JR Pass covers the entire route
• No food onboard; bring snacks
• Some stations are unmanned—prepare cash for rural travel

🚌 Option 2: By Highway Bus

Although there is no direct Sapporo–Nemuro bus, you can transfer:

1. Sapporo → Kushiro
   • Highway bus “Pirika-go”
   • Duration: ~6.5 hours
   • Cost: ~¥6,500
2. Kushiro → Nemuro
   • Local bus by Akan Bus or Nemuro Kotsu
   • Duration: ~2 hours
   • Fewer daily services

📝 Tips:

• Not all buses support IC cards—carry cash
• No English signs; confirm destination with the driver
• Schedule carefully—delays in Kushiro may cause missed connections

✈️ Option 3: By Flight + Bus (Fastest, but Least Flexible)

1. Sapporo (New Chitose Airport) → Nakashibetsu Airport
   • ANA or Hokkaido Air System
   • Duration: ~1 hour
   • Cost: ¥15,000–30,000 depending on season
2. Nakashibetsu → Nemuro
   • Akan Bus or taxi
   • Duration: ~1 hour
   • Cost: ¥1,500–3,000

📝 Tips:

• This route is great in winter (less risk of snow delays than rail)
• Taxis from the airport may be necessary if buses are limited
• Fewer flights per day; booking in advance is highly recommended

🗺️ Local Access in Nemuro

Once you arrive in Nemuro:

• 🚌 Buses: run only a few times/day
• 🚖 Taxis: expensive, but available near the station
• 🚲 Rental bikes: available at tourist centers (summer only)
• 🏃 On foot: the town is compact, but some sights (like Cape Nosappu) require transport

🧳 Real Travel Experiences: When Things Didn’t Go As Planned

✏️ Case 1: “I Missed the Bus from Kushiro and Was Stuck Overnight”

A traveler from Tokyo planned to take the early morning Limited Express to Kushiro and catch a connecting local bus to Nemuro. Unfortunately, the train was delayed by 25 minutes due to snowfall.

“I arrived in Kushiro at 13:25, and the last bus to Nemuro had already left. There was no other way to get there that day.”

They ended up staying overnight in Kushiro, and rescheduled the rest of their trip.

Lesson: Bus connections aren’t tightly coordinated. One delay can cancel your entire day. Always have an overnight backup plan in case of bad weather.

✏️ Case 2: “I Flew to Nakashibetsu but Found No Bus Available”

Another tourist booked a flight to Nakashibetsu Airport, thinking it was a quick and easy route. But the flight landed at 4:30 p.m., and they learned the last bus to Nemuro had already departed.

“There were no taxis at the airport either. I had to call a small local cab company, and it cost me ¥9,000.”

Lesson: Nakashibetsu is rural. Always check onward transport options from small airports—don’t assume buses align with flights.

💬 Reflection: Why Getting to Nemuro Is So Complicated

While Japan is praised for its incredible public transportation, remote regions like Nemuro expose its blind spots:

• Train and bus lines are designed more for locals than tourists
• Intermodal coordination is weak—buses often don’t wait for delayed trains
• Language barriers remain for smaller transport operators
• There are fewer services, and they can be canceled or altered without notice

Additionally, Google Maps and other navigation tools often don’t reflect seasonal timetables. Travelers relying solely on their phones are often the ones who get stuck.

If you treat Nemuro like Tokyo—where there’s always “another train in 5 minutes”—you will be disappointed. You must think like a rural traveler: proactive, flexible, and cautious.

✅ Final Checklist: Are You Ready for Nemuro?

Before setting off, make sure you:

• 🔄 Have a primary and backup route (ex: bus and train combo)
• 📱 Download local schedules (PDFs or screenshots) offline
• 🏨 Book accommodation with late check-in options—just in case
• 💴 Carry cash for small buses and rural taxis
• 🧭 Accept that “on time” is less guaranteed in eastern Hokkaido

With the right planning, Nemuro offers peaceful coastlines, rare birdlife, and access to Japan’s easternmost point—Cape Nosappu. It’s worth the effort—but only if you respect the distance.

🔗 References

• Rome2Rio – Sapporo to Nemuro Route Comparison
• Moke Blog – Sapporo to Nemuro Train Breakdown
• Note – Hokkaido East Trip via Kushiro & Nemuro
• 4Travel – Local Train Journey from Kushiro to Nemuro
• Navitime Transit – Sapporo to Nemuro Timetable