Hokkaido Star Trains 2027: Group Seasons

The short answer

JR Hokkaido's two new sightseeing trains start in 2027. The Red Star runs between Sapporo and Abashiri in February and early March, then in eastern Hokkaido. The Blue Star runs on the Furano line from June. Explera DMC plans group programmes around each train's season and keeps a back-up on regular trains.

Agencies selling Hokkaido for 2027 can now plan around two new sightseeing trains. Our Japan team covers the routes in its Red Star and Blue Star note; this page sorts them by season for agencies that sell Japan alongside our other destinations.

What Are the Red Star and Blue Star?

Two rebuilt trains. JR Hokkaido is rebuilding KiHa 143 diesel cars into two four-car sightseeing trains, designed by Eiji Mitooka.
Later than first planned. Both were due in spring 2026. Repairs to the old cars took longer than expected, so the start moved to 2027.
A name for each run. Each route has its own train name, so the name on the ticket depends on where the train runs.

A traveller looks out of a train window at a snowy landscape

Which Season Suits Which Train?

Winter: the Red Star to Abashiri. It starts between Sapporo and Abashiri in February 2027 and runs until early March, in the drift ice season on the Sea of Okhotsk coast.
Spring and early summer: the Red Star in the east. From late April to mid-July 2027 it is planned between Kushiro and Shiretoko-Shari.
Summer: the Blue Star to Furano. It starts in June 2027 between Asahikawa or Biei and Furano, in the flower season.
Summer and autumn: tour trains. From July to November 2027 the Red Star is planned as a cruise train run by travel companies around Hokkaido.

Rolling flower fields in the Furano and Biei area of Hokkaido

How Should Agents Sell Them?

Sell the season, not only the train. A Red Star day fits a winter programme with drift ice, and a Blue Star day fits a summer trip to Furano and Biei.
Treat seats as limited. These are small trains, so we ask for group space as soon as sales open.
Keep a back-up. Until timetables and sales dates are fixed, we plan each itinerary so it also works on regular trains or by coach.
Combine regions. Our notes on Shiretoko for groups and Furano and Biei for groups cover the stops around each route.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Red Star and Blue Star start?

The Red Star is due to start in February 2027 and the Blue Star in June 2027. Both were first planned for spring 2026.

Which train suits a winter programme?

The Red Star. It runs between Sapporo and Abashiri from February to early March 2027, in the drift ice season.

Which train suits a summer programme?

The Blue Star. It runs on the Furano line between Asahikawa or Biei and Furano from June 2027, in the flower season.

Can groups be sure of seats?

No. The trains are small and sales dates are not yet fixed, so we request group space as soon as sales open and plan a back-up on regular trains or by coach.

Sources

Where Explera Fits

Our Japan team builds Hokkaido programmes around the train days, books hotels and coaches at net rates, and confirms every date with JR Hokkaido before we quote.

Write to b2b@explera.jp or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341).