Hokutosei

infobox j-rail service
name="Hokutosei"

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caption=
type=Limited express
operator=JR East and JR Hokkaidō
lines=
startyear=1988
endyear=
stock=The Nihongo|"Hokutosei"|北斗星 is a limited express sleeping car train service in Japan operated jointly by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaidō). The limited express train runs twice a day between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo Station in the northern island of Hokkaidō. The journey takes approximately 16½ hours.

Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at Ōmiya, Utsunomiya Station, Kōriyama, Fukushima, and Sendai. One train makes additional stops at Ichinoseki and Morioka. The first stop on Hokkaidō is at Hakodate, with arrival in Sapporo around five hours later.

The "Hokutosei" consists of type "A" and type "B" accommodations. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥6,300 for a type "B" compartment or solo room to ¥27,000 for a type "A" Twin Deluxe room. Other fares, notably the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance.

Tourists using the Japan Rail Pass do not pay the basic fare but will have to pay limited express and accommodation fare. Thus, the total runs to somewhat over ¥9,000 for the trip from Ueno to Sapporo. Overnight service between Ueno and Sapporo is also available on the more luxurious, and more expensive, Cassiopeia which runs three times a week.

Route

The "Hokutosei" runs on the following rail lines:

JR East
* JR Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
* Iwate Ginga Railway Line, Morioka - Metoki
* Aoimori Railway, Metoki - Hachinohe
* JR Tōhoku Main Line, Hachinohe - Aomori^

JR Hokkaidō
* JR Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line, Aomori - Hakodate^
* JR Hakodate Main Line, Hakodate - Oshamambe
* JR Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
* JR Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
* JR Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo

^ train reversal point

The JR Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line consists of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line, Esashi Line, and Hakodate Main Line.