Chitose Line
The Chitose Line (千歳線, Chitose-sen) is a railway line in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), connecting Shiroishi Station in Sapporo to Numanohata Station in Tomakomai and providing vital access to New Chitose Airport via a short branch from Minami-Chitose Station.[1][2] This 57-kilometer route serves as a key transportation artery in southern Hokkaido, linking the island's largest city with the important industrial hub of Tomakomai and the region's primary international gateway at New Chitose Airport, which handles millions of passengers annually.[2] The line features 17 stations, including major stops like Sapporo, Shin-Sapporo, Chitose, and Minami-Chitose, and supports a mix of local, rapid, and limited express services, with the Rapid Airport trains offering a direct 37-minute journey from the airport to central Sapporo.[2][3] It forms part of the broader Hakodate Main Line network, enabling through services to destinations such as Otaru, Muroran, and Hakodate via connections with the Muroran Main Line, and plays a crucial role in regional commuting, tourism, and airport transfers.[1][2]Route and Services
Route Description
The Chitose Line is a railway line operated by JR Hokkaido, spanning approximately 56.6 km along its main route from Shiroishi Station in eastern Sapporo to Numanohata Station near Tomakomai.[4] Services on the line typically commence at Sapporo Station, proceeding southeast through key intermediate stations including Naganuma and Chitose before reaching Tomakomai.[2] This path serves suburban districts near Sapporo and transitions into more rural landscapes in central Hokkaido, facilitating regional connectivity across the Ishikari Plain.[5] A short branch line, measuring 2.6 km, diverges from Minami-Chitose Station to New Chitose Airport Station, providing direct rail access to Hokkaido's primary international airport for passengers and cargo.[4] The overall network length, including this branch, totals 59.2 km.[4] At its endpoints, the Chitose Line interconnects with the Hakodate Main Line: to the south at Numanohata and Tomakomai Stations, enabling through services toward Hakodate, and to the north at Sapporo Station, where it also links with the Sassho Line for northern Hokkaido routes.[2] The line employs the 1,067 mm narrow gauge standard for JR Hokkaido's conventional rail network and features double tracking throughout the main line for efficient operations.[6][5]Current Services
The Chitose Line facilitates key rapid services for airport connectivity and regional travel, primarily operated by JR Hokkaido. The Rapid Airport service links Sapporo Station directly to New Chitose Airport Station in 37 minutes, with the Special Rapid Airport variant completing the journey in 33 minutes and the Semi-Rapid Airport in 43 minutes. These trains stop at select intermediate stations, including Minami-Chitose, and some extend northward to Otaru Station. Frequencies are high during peak hours, with six Rapid Airport operations per hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., totaling 163 daily services overall.[3] Limited express services, such as the Hokuto, utilize sections of the Chitose Line en route from Sapporo to Hakodate, stopping at major stations like Minami-Chitose and Tomakomai to serve passengers connecting to the airport or southern Hokkaido destinations. This service runs approximately 11 times daily from Sapporo, providing all-reserved seating and integration with broader Hokkaido rail networks.[7] Local and semi-rapid services operate along the main line from Sapporo to Tomakomai, offering frequent but less intensive options compared to airport-focused trains. Timetable data indicates around 70 rapid services and 15 section rapid services daily on the airport branch alone, with local trains numbering about six per day, emphasizing commuter and regional access.[8] Freight operations on the Chitose Line support local industries, including dairy farming prominent in the Chitose area, with JR Freight trains observed at junction points like Minami-Chitose.[9][10] As of 2025, the line's services remain unaffected by the Hokkaido Shinkansen, whose extension from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo—originally targeted for 2030—has been delayed to 2039, though future through-services to New Chitose Airport are under consideration.[11] Ticketing for Chitose Line services is streamlined with compatibility for the Kitaca IC card across the route from New Chitose Airport to Otaru, allowing seamless tap-and-go payments. The base fare for the Rapid Airport to Sapporo is 1,230 yen, with an additional 840 yen for reserved seating in designated cars.[3]Stations and Infrastructure
Station List
The Chitose Line proper comprises 14 active stations spanning 59.2 kilometers from Shiroishi Station in Sapporo to Numanohata Station in Tomakomai, facilitating commuter, regional, and freight services across Hokkaido's central and southern regions. These stations are primarily served by local and rapid trains, with key interchanges at Minami-Chitose enabling connections to broader JR Hokkaido networks, including the Airport Branch Line. Distances are measured from Shiroishi Station along the Chitose Line alignment. Operational services often extend westward via the Hakodate Main Line to Sapporo Station (7.2 km west of Shiroishi) and eastward via the Muroran Main Line from Numanohata to Tomakomai Station (4.8 km east). The following table lists the stations in order from Shiroishi to Numanohata, including brief opening dates, connecting lines, and notable facilities.[1]| Station Name | Distance from Shiroishi (km) | Opening Date | Lines Served | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiroishi | 0 | 1903 | Hakodate Main Line, Chitose Line | Local commuter stop with shelters and automated ticket machines.[12] |
| Heiwa | 2.1 | 1986 | Chitose Line | Residential access point with platform canopies and parking.[12] |
| Shin-Sapporo | 5.2 | 1973 | Chitose Line | Interchange with Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line, staffed ticket office, elevators.[2] |
| Kami-Nopporo | 8.9 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Suburban stop with basic amenities and bus connections.[12] |
| Kitahiroshima | 17 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Sports facilities access (planned Hokkaido Ballpark nearby), parking lot.[13] |
| Shimamatsu | 22.8 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Rural platform with shelters.[12] |
| Megino | 25.3 | 1988 | Chitose Line | Unstaffed local stop serving agricultural areas.[14] |
| Eniwa | 27.8 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Industrial access, waiting room, bus links.[12] |
| Sapporo Beer Teien | 29.8 | 1987 | Chitose Line | Adjacent to Sapporo Beer Garden, tourist-oriented with seasonal events.[2] |
| Osaru | 31.8 | 1958 | Chitose Line | Flag stop for local passengers, minimal facilities.[14] |
| Chitose | 35.8 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Mid-sized station with ticket sales, nearby aquarium and outlet mall.[2] |
| Minami-Chitose | 38.8 | 1980 | Chitose Line, Sekisho Line | Major junction with 4 platforms, staffed, connections to airport branch and eastern Hokkaido.[15] |
| Uenae | 47.8 | 1926 | Chitose Line | Rural unstaffed stop with basic platforms.[12] |
| Numanohata | 59.2 | 1926 | Chitose Line, Muroran Main Line | Junction with freight facilities, local access.[12] |
| Station Name | Distance from Shiroishi (km) | Opening Date | Lines Served | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minami-Chitose | 38.8 | 1980 | Chitose Line, Airport Branch, Sekisho Line | Junction platform for branch services, baggage storage, staffed counters.[17] |
| Shin-Chitose-Airport | 41.4 | 1992 | Airport Branch | Integrated into New Chitose Airport terminal (B1F), baggage check-in counters, IC card gates, direct escalator/elevator access to arrivals/departures.[3] |
Closed Stations
The Chitose Line has undergone several rationalizations, leading to the closure of stations primarily due to route rerouting for improved efficiency and declining ridership from rural depopulation. In 1973, a major line reconfiguration between Kitahiroshima and Sapporo abandoned the original route, closing multiple stations along the old alignment to facilitate double-tracking and urban development integration. This shift eliminated underutilized facilities in sparsely populated areas, reflecting broader post-war efforts to modernize Hokkaido's rail network amid shifting demographics.[18] Key closures from this era include:| Station Name | Location (Approximate km post from Shiroishi) | Closure Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higashi-Sapporo Station (東札幌駅) | 2.1 km (east of Shiroishi, old alignment) | September 9, 1973 (passenger service); full closure November 1, 1986 | Route rerouting to new alignment; retained briefly as freight station for local industry before decommissioning due to low demand. |
| Tsukisappu Station (月寒駅) | ~0.6 km (near Shiroishi, old alignment) | September 9, 1973 (passenger service); full closure October 1, 1976 | Line reconfiguration; temporary freight use for nearby brewery until operations shifted, exacerbated by urban expansion reducing local rail dependency.[19] |
| Oyachigai Station (大谷地駅) | ~3.6 km (old alignment) | September 9, 1973 | Direct result of new line opening, with daily ridership around 200 passengers deemed insufficient for retention amid route optimization.[18] |
| Old Uenopporo Station (旧上野幌駅) | ~7 km (old alignment near Shin-Sapporo) | September 9, 1973 | Obsolete following new routing; site repurposed for recreational paths, highlighting transition from rural to suburban land use.[20] |