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Coming October 2026: JR Hokkaido Introduces Ticket Machines with Passport Readers for Easier Rail Pass Purchases

• Written by: Guest Contributor

Date published: 5 September 2026

Traveling by train is one of the most popular ways for international visitors to explore Hokkaido’s spectacular scenery and abundant nature. However, as visitor numbers have risen in recent years, long lines have become increasingly common at major stations such as New Chitose Airport Station and Sapporo Station, particularly for travelers purchasing or exchanging rail passes.

To make the process more convenient, JR Hokkaido will introduce new Talking Ticket Machines equipped with passport readers. By allowing travelers to scan their passports directly at the machine, the new system is designed to simplify procedures, reduce language barriers, and help visitors get their Hokkaido journey off to a smoother start.

Until now, travelers purchasing or exchanging rail passes available exclusively to international visitors have generally needed to present their passports at a staffed counter, such as an Information Desk, so that their Temporary Visitor status could be confirmed.

From October 20, 2026, eligible travelers will be able to scan their passports at designated ticket machines, which will automatically verify their eligibility before allowing them to purchase applicable rail passes.

This means travelers can obtain their passes even when staffed counters are closed, including early in the morning or late at night. It should also provide a convenient alternative during busy periods when lines at station counters are particularly long.

・Launch date: October 20, 2026
・Sapporo Station: 3 machines in total, with 2 in the West Concourse and 1 in the East Concourse
・New Chitose Airport Station: 1 machine next to the Information Desk
・Eligible rail passes: Hokkaido Rail Pass, Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, and JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

Once you have picked up your rail pass, Hokkaido’s cities, cultural attractions, hot springs, and countryside are within easy reach. Here are several areas worth exploring with JR Hokkaido’s rail passes.

As Hokkaido’s largest city, Sapporo is home to numerous landmarks connected with the region’s development from the Meiji era onward.

The Sapporo Clock Tower, designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, better known as the Red Brick Office, are two of the city’s best-known examples of late 19th-century Western-influenced architecture.

Another popular stop is the Sapporo Beer Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of beer production in Japan and its development in Hokkaido’s cold climate. After exploring the museum, a popular way to round out the experience is with fresh Sapporo beer and jingisukan, Hokkaido-style grilled mutton.

Shiraoi, easily accessible by limited express train from New Chitose Airport, is home to Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum and Park. This national center is dedicated to promoting and revitalizing the history and culture of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of northern Japan.

Visitors can learn about Ainu traditions, their relationship with the natural world, and traditional Ainu dance, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Continue farther south and you can visit Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Hokkaido’s best-known hot spring destinations, whose history stretches back centuries. Nearby Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, is known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, with steam rising from vents across the rugged terrain. It is an atmospheric place to experience both Hokkaido’s volcanic scenery and Japan’s traditional onsen culture.

The Furano and Biei area, accessible with the Sapporo-Furano Area Pass, is one of Hokkaido’s most iconic countryside destinations. Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy expansive flower fields, rolling farmland, and the patchwork-like hills for which Biei is particularly famous.

These beautiful rural landscapes are also closely connected with generations of agricultural development in Hokkaido. After exploring the area’s flower fields and farmland, sample some of the region’s local specialties, including Furano wine and cheese made using high-quality local ingredients.

Q. Can I also purchase the JAPAN RAIL PASS (nationwide) at these ticket machines?

A. No. The nationwide JAPAN RAIL PASS will continue to be handled at staffed counters such as Information Desks. The new machines can only be used to purchase designated regional passes covering Hokkaido and parts of the Tohoku region.

Q. Are the ticket machines available in languages other than Japanese?

A. Yes. JR Hokkaido’s Talking Ticket Machines support multiple languages, including English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. Travelers can also receive assistance from an operator via the machine’s screen when necessary, making the process easier even for those unfamiliar with using Japanese ticket machines.

Q. Will the staffed counters at New Chitose Airport and Sapporo Station be closed?

A. No. The Information Desks for international travelers at Sapporo Station and New Chitose Airport Station will remain open. Travelers who need face-to-face assistance, such as help planning a journey or arranging tickets for a more complicated itinerary, will still be able to use the staffed counters.

(Source/Main Image :JRHokkaido)