Sapporo Municipal Subway

Trains run under the ground in a city.

There are three lines. One is green. One is orange. The last is blue.

These trains use rubber wheels. The wheels roll on flat paths. A single rail helps guide them. This is special for these trains.

Snow falls a lot in this city. Because of the snow, the tracks stay covered. This keeps the trains safe and dry.

Many people use the trains. They help people get around the city. It is a fast way to travel.

The Sapporo subway is a fast way to travel.

It is in Sapporo, Japan. This is the only subway on the island of Hokkaido. It has three lines. The Namboku Line is green. The Tozai Line is orange. The Tōhō Line is blue.

These trains are special. They use rubber tires instead of metal wheels. The tires roll on flat paths. A single rail in the middle guides the train.

Most of the tracks are underground. This helps because Sapporo gets a lot of heavy snow. The tracks and stations are kept inside a cover. Because of this, the trains do not have air conditioning. If they did, they would trap hot air in the tunnels. Instead, the trains have fans. They also run with the windows open.

Many people use the subway. In 2024, 630,000 people rode it every day. Most people can walk or take a bus to a station. The lines meet at Ōdōri Station. You can also find shopping areas under the ground near the stations.

The Sapporo Municipal Subway is a fast way to move through Sapporo, Japan.

It is the only subway system on the island of Hokkaido. This system is very special because it is the only one in the country that uses rubber tires. The subway has three different lines for travelers. The Namboku Line is green and runs north to south. The Tozai Line is orange and runs east to west. Finally, the blue Tōhō Line runs toward the northeast.

These trains work in a very unique way. Instead of metal wheels, they use rubber tires that roll on flat paths. A single central rail acts as a guide to keep the train on track.

This central rail is so helpful that the trains do not need extra guide bars. The Namboku Line uses a T-shaped rail and double tires. The Tozai and Tōhō lines use an I-shaped rail and single tires. The surfaces of these paths are made of either resin or steel. This design helps the trains move smoothly through the city.

History shows how the system grew over many years. The Namboku Line was the very first to open in 1971. It opened just before the 1972 Winter Olympics took place. Later, the Tozai Line opened in 1976. The Tōhō Line was the last of the three to start in 1988. Today, the system has a total of 49 stations. Most of these stations and tracks are located deep underground. Only a small part of the Namboku Line stays above the ground.

There are many important facts about how the subway operates. In 2024, about 630,000 people used the subway every single day. Because Sapporo gets heavy snow, the tracks must be fully enclosed. This means the trains cannot use air conditioning. If they did, the hot air would get trapped in the tunnels. Instead, the trains use fans and keep their windows open for air.

Passengers can pay for rides using special cards like SAPICA or Kitaca. You can even use some contactless credit cards to ride.

The subway connects people to many parts of the city. Most areas are close to a station by walking or bus. The three lines all meet at the big Ōdōri Station. Two main hubs, Sapporo Station and Ōdōri Station, help manage the flow. You can even find large shopping areas under the ground. These include Pole Town and Aurora Town. These paths connect stations to big malls like Daimaru and JR Tower.

The Sapporo Municipal Subway is a rapid transit system located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

It serves as the primary method for moving large numbers of people through the city. This system is quite unique within the country. It is the only subway system on the island of Hokkaido. Furthermore, it is the only subway system in all of Japan that is entirely rubber-tired. This technology distinguishes it from other metro networks that use traditional metal wheels on steel rails.

The subway operates using a specialized mechanism for movement. Instead of standard wheels, the trains use rubber tires that travel on two flat roll ways. To keep the trains on the correct path, a single central rail acts as a guide.

Because this central rail provides guidance, the system does not require the extra guide bars used by other rubber-tired transit lines. There are technical differences between the lines. The Namboku Line utilizes a T-shaped guide rail and double tires. It also uses a third rail for power collection. In contrast, the Tōzai and Tōhō Lines use an I-shaped guide rail and single tires. These newer lines use overhead line power collection instead.

The system is divided into three distinct lines, each identified by a specific color.

The Namboku Line is the green line and runs in a north-south direction. The Tozai Line is the orange line and runs east-west. The Tōhō Line is the blue line, also known as the Higashi-Toyohira Line, which runs toward the northeast.

These lines are not all built the same way. The surfaces of the roll ways are made of different materials. The Namboku Line and the central section of the Tozai Line use resin surfaces. However, the outer sections of the Tozai Line and the entire Tōhō Line use steel surfaces.

History shows that the subway grew in stages to meet the needs of the city. The Namboku Line was the first to open in 1971. This was timed to be ready before the 1972 Winter Olympics.

The Tozai Line followed later, opening in 1976. The Tōhō Line was the final addition, opening in 1988. Over time, the rolling stock, or the actual train cars, has changed. For example, the Namboku Line used the 1000 and 2000 series trains from 1971 until 1999. It now uses the 5000 series, which consists of six-car formations.

The scale of the system is quite large. It contains a total of 49 stations.

Most of the tracks and stations are located underground. The only exception is a section of the Namboku Line south of Hiragishi Station. This specific segment is above ground, but it is entirely covered to protect it from the elements. This enclosure is necessary because Sapporo experiences heavy snowfall. Because the tunnels are enclosed, the trains cannot use air conditioning. If they did, the hot air would become trapped in the tunnels. Instead, the trains use fans and keep their windows open for ventilation.

The subway is a massive part of daily life in Sapporo. In 2024, the system saw a daily ridership of 630,000 people.

Travelers can pay for their trips using various methods. Fares range from 210 yen to 380 yen depending on the distance. Many riders use SAPICA, which is a rechargeable IC card. Other cards like Kitaca or Suica are also accepted. Since April 2025, travelers can even use EMV contactless credit cards to pay for their rides. Special one-day passes are also available, such as the Donichika ticket, which costs 520 yen and is only for weekends and holidays.

Finally, the subway connects to many other parts of the city infrastructure. The three lines all meet at the Ōdōri Station hub. Two other main hubs are Sapporo Station and Ōdōri Station. The Namboku and Tōhō lines connect to the JR Hokkaido main lines at Sapporo Station. Passengers can also transfer to the streetcar at Ōdōri and Susukino stations. The subway even connects to large underground shopping areas. Pole Town runs between Susukino and Ōdōri stations. Aurora Town connects Sapporo Station to major malls like Daimaru and JR Tower.