Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko Train Ends After 37 Years in 2026
JR Hokkaido’s Kushiro branch announced the end on 7 August 2026 in the JR Hokkaido Kushiro Norokko last run press release. The train ran between Kushiro and Toro stations on the Senmo Line, along the edge of Kushiro Wetland. Only the sightseeing train is ending. The Senmo Line and its stations remain, so the marsh is still within reach by train.
Why the Kushiro Norokko train ended after 37 years
The first Norokko carriages entered service in 1989. In 1998 JR Hokkaido replaced them with a second-generation set, and that set ran until the end. The company describes the Norokko as a sightseeing train for taking in the wide views of Kushiro Wetland slowly from your seat.
In the 7 August release, JR Hokkaido gave one reason for stopping: the carriages have aged. The train therefore finished with the 2026 season, after 37 years on the line.
The photo below shows the Norokko on the Senmo Line, the route it used every season.
The train had four cars. Car 1 was an ordinary coach, and cars 2 to 4 were observation cars. Every seat was reserved. JR Hokkaido sold seats from one month before the travel date, at JR ticket offices across Japan and on the Ekinet booking site.
The final season opened on 25 April 2026. Alongside the regular trips, JR Hokkaido ran special versions on set dates. The Yokubari Norokko ran from 10 to 14 August, and the Yuhi (sunset) Norokko ran from 20 to 30 September. The timeline below runs from the first carriages to the last day.
The last Kushiro Norokko train runs: dates and timetable
Regular service ended on Sunday 4 October 2026. JR Hokkaido then ran two farewell days, each with a special last-run headmark on the locomotive and on the rear of car 4.
On Friday 9 October, the Norokko Kawayu Onsen made one round trip from Kushiro to Kawayu Onsen. It stopped for 24 minutes at Shibecha in each direction. At Kawayu Onsen it waited 38 minutes before heading back to Kushiro.
On Saturday 10 October, the last Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko made one round trip between Kushiro and Toro. JR Hokkaido held a departure ceremony on platform 3 at Kushiro Station, set to start at about 10:35. Local mayors presented flowers to the crew, and the train left at 11:06. The JR Hokkaido Norokko last run events press release lists the times for both days, set out in the table below.
| Train | Departs | Arrives | On the way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norokko Kawayu Onsen, 9 Oct | Kushiro 11:06 | Kawayu Onsen 13:32 | 24-minute stop at Shibecha |
| Norokko Kawayu Onsen, 9 Oct | Kawayu Onsen 14:10 | Kushiro 16:39 | 24-minute stop at Shibecha |
| Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko No. 2, 10 Oct | Kushiro 11:06 | Toro 11:51 | Kushiro-Shitsugen 11:32, Hosooka 11:38 |
| Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko No. 1, 10 Oct | Toro 12:17 | Kushiro 13:05 | Hosooka 12:32, Kushiro-Shitsugen 12:38 |
Everyone on board either day received a postcard-size boarding certificate made only for the last runs. The counter in car 2 sold an acrylic magnet of the headmark design for 900 yen.
Who this affects, and who it does not
The change hits travellers who planned to see the marsh from the Norokko on a later trip. If the train sits in your draft itinerary for next spring or summer, take it out and plan a regular train instead.
The stations stay. The Norokko stopped at Kushiro, Higashi-Kushiro, Kushiro-Shitsugen, Hosooka and Toro, and all five are stations on the JR Senmo Line. The announcement covers the sightseeing train only. Regular Senmo Line trains still call at these stations.
The JR Hokkaido Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko Train page now states that the train ends with fiscal year 2026. The screenshot below shows that page with the final 2026 timetable.
If you are in Kushiro this week, you can still say goodbye. A message box and board stand in the Kushiro Station concourse from 1 to 13 October 2026, and anyone can leave a note. The 210-yen commemorative admission ticket, sold only at Kushiro Station, went off sale on 10 October.
How to see Kushiro Wetland by train now
Ride a regular Senmo Line train from Kushiro. Kushiro-Shitsugen, Hosooka and Toro are the three wetland stops the Norokko used, in that order heading out of Kushiro. On the last day the Norokko left Kushiro at 11:06 and reached Toro at 11:51.
On the platform, look for the station sign 釧路湿原 (Kushiro Shitsugen), which means Kushiro Wetland. Buy your ticket at the みどりの窓口 (midori no madoguchi), the JR ticket office at Kushiro Station, or show a rail pass. JR Hokkaido’s Norokko page notes that IC cards cannot be used at Kushiro Station or the other Norokko stops. Carry a paper ticket or a pass, and see our IC card guide for where the cards do work.
The photo below shows the reed marsh and river that make up Kushiro Wetland.
Check the Senmo Line times on JR Hokkaido’s site before you set out, and plan the return train as well. A regular train has ordinary windows, so sit by a window for the view of the marsh. If you want a sightseeing train experience in Hokkaido, check JR Hokkaido’s sightseeing train pages before you book.
The cards below sum up what to do if you had planned to ride the Norokko.
Hokkaido Rail Pass and autumn leaves in Kushiro
A regular train fits easily into a rail pass. The Hokkaido Rail Pass covers all JR Hokkaido lines except the Hokkaido Shinkansen. That includes the Senmo Line and its wetland stations. It costs 22,000 yen for 5 days when you buy in advance from an overseas travel agent or JR-EAST Train Reservation. Children pay 11,000 yen, and 7-day and 10-day versions are sold too.
The nationwide Japan Rail Pass also covers JR local trains. It starts at 50,000 yen for 7 days, so it makes more sense when your trip also covers other regions of Japan.
The bigger change is timing. The Norokko’s regular season ended on 4 October, before the leaves turned in any of the cities on our Hokkaido autumn leaves guide. Regular Senmo Line trains keep running after that, so you can now match a wetland trip to the colours. The comparison below puts the last regular Norokko run next to the leaf dates in eastern Hokkaido.
Our guide uses Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) records for 6 Hokkaido cities, averaged over 1991–2020. The JMA date for Kushiro is 16 October. The sample tree there is an itaya-kaede maple, which turns yellow rather than red. Maples turn red in Obihiro, also in eastern Hokkaido, around 20 October, and in Muroran, the last of the six, around 7 November.
So a trip in mid-October lines up best with Kushiro’s yellow leaves. If you start from Sapporo, its sample maple turns red around 28 October. Our Sapporo in October page covers the weather and events that month. For the trip north, the Tokyo to Sapporo route guide compares flights and trains from the capital.
Kushiro Norokko train FAQ
Is the Kushiro Norokko train still running next year?
No. JR Hokkaido ended the Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko Train with its last run on 10 October 2026 because the carriages had aged. Regular Senmo Line trains still serve the same stations.
Can I still see Kushiro Wetland from a regular train?
Yes. Kushiro-Shitsugen, Hosooka and Toro stations are on the JR Senmo Line, the same track the Norokko used. You ride a regular train and look out of an ordinary window instead of an observation car.
Does the Hokkaido Rail Pass cover the Senmo Line to Kushiro Wetland?
Yes. The Hokkaido Rail Pass covers all JR Hokkaido lines except the Hokkaido Shinkansen. It starts at 22,000 yen for 5 days for adults, and children pay 11,000 yen.
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