JR-East and JR-Hokkaido operate Limited express HOKUTOSEI from Ueno to Sapporo. (1207.9km, 16hours 28minutes) the train is leaded by EF81 (ED79, DD51) and the passenger car (sleeping car) is series 24. HOKUTOSEI means "Big Dipper" in Japanese. (the constellation)
Ueno 16:50 -- Tohoku line -- Morioka -- Iwate-ginga-tetsudo -- Aomori -- Tsugaru-kaikyo line -- Hakodate -- Hakodate line -- Oshamanbe -- Muroran line - Tomakomai -- Chitose line -- 9:18 Sapporo (HOKUTOSEI#1)
Photo: Mar. 1st, 2008, Hasuda, Saitama Pref, Japan.