Kiha 281 Series "Super Hokuto" honked in a loud sound and came to track 7 of Hakodate Station around 8:30 (in the first photograph).
I sat on a right window side one from which I could see Lake Onuma and Uchiura Bay (Volcano Bay). The last time I watched the view from the front door, but passengers couldn't allow going there because of their safety after a crash of "Super Kamui" limited express by 789 Series, which has a similar design, into a dump truck on Hakodate Main Line in 2010 (in the second photograph).
At 8:55, The train departed on time.
The train stopped at Goryokaku, Shin-hakodate-hokuto, Onuma-koen [Onuma Park], Mori, Yakumo, Oshamambe, Toya, Date-mombetsu, Higashi-muroran, Noboribetsu, Tomakomai, Minami-chitose, and Shin-sapporo stations before arriving Sapporo terminal. It takes 3 hours and 46 minutes.
Goryokaku Station, the adjacent to Hakodate, is the junction with South Hokkaido Railway Donan Isaribi Tetsudo Line toward Kikonai Station, which used to be a part of JR Hokkaido Esashi Line and where "Hatsukari" or "Super Hakucho" limited express trains used to be in service from Honshu, such as Morioka Station or Shin-aomori Station, before opening Hokkaido Shinkansen.
Arriving at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station, the railway of Hokkaido Shinkansen comes closer to the left. The station functions as the entrance of Hokkaido from Honshu instead of Hakodate Station or Goryokaku Station.
Departing from Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station, the train went into a forest. At Onuma Station, Fujishiro Branch Line merges into and Sawara Branch Line separates from mainline.
Leaving Onuma-koen [Onuma Park] Station, Lake Onuma appeared on the right (in the third photograph).
Gradually getting away from the lake, the train started to get faster and faster continuously tilting itself on curves along the west foot of Mt. Komagatake. When the train passing Komagatake Station, I could see Mt. Komagatake over the window (in the fourth photograph).
Near Mori Station, Sawara Branch Line merges into and Uchiura Bay (Volcano Bay) appears on the right. The train ran almost along the bay to Higashi-muroran Station (in the fifth photograph). From Mori Station, the double-track section started again.
Switching to Muroran Main Line from Oshamambe Station, the train started to come and go between bayside and mountainous areas. On the way, the train passed Koboro Station, which is located between the two tunnels and known as the station in hidden scenic spots and difficult to come among Japanese railfans (in the sixth photograph).
After stopping at Toya Station and Date-mombetsu Station, the train got away from the bay and the factories in Muroran City appear on the right. Then, the train arrived at Higashi-muroran Station.
As leaving Higashi-muroran Station, the conductor announced that passengers should be beware of a sudden stop to prevent the crash with Yezo sika deer.
On the right, the Pacific Ocean appeared instead of Uchiura Bay. The train kept running along the coast to Tomakomai Station.
Leaving Tomakomai Station and passing Tomakomai Freight Station, the train passed Numanohata Station, which is the junction of Muroran Main Line and Chitose Line. The train switched to Chitose Line. though the railway between Numanohata Station and Uenae Station is a double-track, each of those is separated; that of Sapporo-bound spread in parallel with the double track of Muroran Main Line and that of Tomakomai-bound does away from the three.
The two tracks meet again near Uenae Station and then train ran in a forest to Minami-chitose Station, where a branch line to New Chitose Airport Station and Sekisho Line toward Shin-yubari, Tomamu, and Obihiro meet.
From Chitose Station, the adjacent station of Minami-chitose, the train went into Sapporo urban area, where flats and stores with large parking as well as detached houses are located. The train gradually got slow down.
From Shin-sapporo Station, the tracks of Hakodate Main Line get closer and the two lines cross Toyohira River. A few minutes later, the train arrived at Sapporo Terminal.