[ UrbanRail.Net ]     [ Europe ] [ America ] [ Asia ] [ Africa ] [ Oceania ]     [ News ] [ Books ] [ Links ]

Sapporo's subway was the fourth in Japan after Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. It was the first in the world to use a central guiding rail together with rubber-tyred wheels. Construction of the first line began in 1969 and it opened in 1971, in time for the Winter Olympic Games in early 1972. The Nanboku Line is elevated along its southernmost section between Hiragashi and Makomanai but this stretch is covered with an aluminium shelter to protect it from heavy snow fall common in the area, but also to reduce the noise along the line.

Currently, the system has a total length of 48 km with 46 stations and three lines, the Nanboku Line (14.3 km, third rail power supply), the Tozai Line (20.1 km, overhead line), and the Toho Line (13.6 km, overhead line). Sapporo also maintains a 8.5 km long streetcar line which serves the southwest of the city and intersects with the subway at Susukino.

16 Dec 1971 - Nanboku Line Makomanai - Kita 24-jo (12.1 km, 4.4 km elevated)
10 June 1976 - Tozai Line Kotoni - Shiroishi (9.9 km)
16 March 1978 - Nanboku Line Kita 24-jo - Asabu (2.2 km)
21 March 1982 - Tozai Line Shiroishi - Shin Sapporo (7.4 km)
2 Dec 1988 - Toho Line Sakaemachi - Hosui-Susukino (8.1 km)
14 Oct 1994 - Toho Line Hosui-Susukino - Fukuzumi (5.5 km)
25 Feb 1999 - Tozai Line Kotoni - Miyanosawa (2.8 km)

 Projects

..

- OPERATION

6:15 - 24:00, every 3-4 minutes during morning rush hours, every 5 minutes evening rush hours and every 5-7 minutes the rest of the day

- FARES

Single fare on subway 200-360 Yen depending on distance, 320-480 Yen for transfer between subway and bus or streetcar

Cash cards (With You Cards) are available for 500, 1000, 3000, 5000 and 10,000 Yen and offer a 10-15% discount.

1-Day Pass (subway only) - 800 Yen
1-Day Pass (subways, buses and streetcar) - 1000 Yen

Sapporo City Transportation Bureau

Sapporo Subway on Wikipedia

Osamu Abe's Map including Japanese station names

Sapporo Subway Stations