Getting around Kushiro
Kushiro is a coastal city in eastern Hokkaido and the capital of its subprefecture, and it spreads over a large area that includes rivers, lakes and a stretch of national park. That geography matters for visitors: the practical reality of getting around is that public transport exists but is limited, and many travellers find that a car gives them far more freedom. The guidance below covers the main options, from the airport shuttle to local buses, trains and taxis.
How visitors typically move around
Because services within the city and the wider Kushiro area are few and far between, a rental car is strongly recommended for travellers who do not have a local contact to drive them. Rental cars are available at Kushiro Airport, across the street from the terminal. If you would rather not drive, the practical combination is local buses for the city, taxis for short trips, and the rail network for reaching other towns in eastern Hokkaido.
Rail network
Kushiro is served by JR Hokkaido. The Nemuro Main Line runs through the city, and the Senmō Main Line also serves the city at Higashi-Kushiro. In plain terms, this means Kushiro sits on a rail corridor that connects it westward toward the rest of Hokkaido and eastward along the coast, with a branch line meeting the network in the city.
For longer journeys, the Limited Express Ozora connects Kushiro with Sapporo and requires a mandatory seat reservation, with a green car available. Local trains also run from Abashiri, and services connect Kushiro with Nemuro, including a Rapid service on which seat reservations are optional and slower local trains. If you plan to arrive or leave by train, booking the limited express in advance is the sensible approach, since seat reservations are compulsory on that service.
Note that Kushiro has no metro or tram network. Rail here means the JR lines described above, not an urban rapid transit system.
Buses and other public transport
Two bus operators cover the area, and it helps to know which does what:
- Kushiro Bus operates local buses around the city. Be aware that route maps and schedules are Japanese-only, which makes them difficult to navigate if you do not read Japanese.
- Akan Bus operates buses further out of the city, serving destinations such as Tsurui, Shibecha, Akan and Mashu. This is the operator to look for if you want to reach Lake Akan and the surrounding hot spring and national park areas without a car.
Kushiro Bus also runs long-distance services to and from Sapporo, with one midday bus and one overnight bus. Schedules and pricing are published on their Japanese-only website, so it is worth asking at your accommodation or a tourist information desk for help if you cannot read the site.
Because the local bus information is not well set up for non-Japanese readers, build in extra time and confirm your stop and departure time in person before you rely on a bus for a time-sensitive connection.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Local taxis in Kushiro are rather cheap and are described as the easiest form of travel within the city proper. For short hops around central Kushiro, or when a bus does not line up with your plans, a taxi is a straightforward choice. The source material does not describe ride-hailing apps operating in Kushiro, so plan on conventional taxis rather than assuming a ride-hailing service will be available.
Walkability
Kushiro is a large, spread-out municipality that includes rivers, lakes and an enclave to the west, so walking is best thought of as a way to cover a central area rather than a way to get across the city. The source material does not present Kushiro as a walkable city overall; the emphasis is on limited public transport and the usefulness of taxis and rental cars. Treat walking as a complement to other modes, not a replacement for them.
Getting from Kushiro Airport into the city
Kushiro Airport is the main air gateway, with flights from Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo. To reach the city from the airport you have two main options:
- Airport shuttle bus: Akan Bus operates shuttles that correspond with every inbound and outbound flight, running between the airport and Kushiro Station. The one-way adult fare is ¥910. Note that the shuttle information is Japanese-only.
- Rental car: Rental cars are available across the street from the airport. Given how limited public transport is in the city and the greater Kushiro area, this is strongly recommended if you do not have a local contact.
If you are arriving by air and continuing by train, the shuttle's connection to Kushiro Station is the convenient link, since that is where you pick up JR services.
Practical summary
- Rent a car at the airport if you want flexibility; public transport in and around Kushiro is limited.
- Use Akan Bus for the airport shuttle and for trips out to Tsurui, Shibecha, Akan and Mashu.
- Use Kushiro Bus for local city routes and for the Sapporo long-distance bus, but expect Japanese-only maps and schedules.
- Use JR Hokkaido trains for Sapporo, Abashiri and Nemuro; reserve seats on the Limited Express Ozora.
- Use taxis for cheap, easy trips within the city proper.
- There is no metro or tram in Kushiro.