Conquering JR Dead-End Lines with the Seishun 18 Kippu <East Japan Edition>

Introduction
Last time, I traced the JR dead-end lines in the Chubu, Hokuriku, Kanto, and Koshin regions, but this time I would like to explain how to conquer those in the Echigo, Tohoku, and Hokkaido regions. Please refer to the following for the <Central Japan Edition>.

Yahiko Line: From Yahiko Station to Yoshida Station

Since the number of trains between Yoshida and Yahiko on the Yahiko Line is limited, depending on the time of your itinerary, you may need to take a one-way trip and rely on a bus for either the outbound or return journey. A circular bus connecting Yahiko Village and Tsubame City runs 5 round trips per day, taking 37 minutes for 100 yen. Once you reach Yoshida Station, you can easily travel further using the Echigo Line trains.

Aterazawa Line: From Sagae Station to Tendo/Tendo-Minami Station

The Tendo-Sagae Line, the only route operated by the Tendo City Bus, runs 7 round trips per day, taking about 30 minutes for 300 yen. This allows you to travel to Tendo Station and Tendo-Minami Station on the Ou Main Line (Yamagata Line). However, please note that prior membership registration is required and it does not operate on Sundays and holidays.

Ishinomaki Line: From Onagawa Station to Ishinomaki Station

Connecting buses at Onagawa Station are mainly community buses within Onagawa Town, and the only one you could potentially use is the route bus to Ishinomaki operated by Miyagi Kotsu. Since there are many cases where the train turnaround time is less than 10 minutes, this would be effective if you need sufficient time to stay. It runs 5 round trips per day, taking 36 minutes for 860 yen.

Ominato Line: From Ominato Station to Kanita/Hakodate Station

Although it cannot be used with this spring's Seishun 18 Kippu, the Mutsu Bay Ferry operates between Wakinosawa Port and Kanita Port from April 20th to November 5th. By combining buses and walking, it is surprisingly possible to connect the Ominato Line and the Tsugaru Line. From Ominato Station, take a JR bus (2 round trips per day) for about 1 hour and 10 minutes for 1,700 yen to reach the ferry terminal. Take the ferry (2 round trips per day) for a 1-hour voyage for 1,950 yen to arrive at Kanita Port. You can reach Kanita Station by walking 1.4 km in about 16 minutes from the port. It costs money, but depending on the time of day, it is overwhelmingly faster than taking the Ominato Line and going via the Aoimori Railway and the Tsugaru Line.
On the other hand, there is also a way to cross to Hokkaido. Take a Shimokita Kotsu route bus (6 round trips per day) from Shimokita Station to the Oma Ferry Terminal for 1 hour and 37 minutes for 2,090 yen. Take the Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry (2 round trips per day) for a 1.5-hour voyage for 2,320 yen to disembark at the Hakodate Ferry Terminal. You can reach Hakodate Station by taking a shuttle bus (4 round trips per day) for 30 minutes for 320 yen.

Tsugaru Line: From Tsugaru-Futamata Station (Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station) to Tsugaru-Nakasato Station

In the past, a route bus was in operation, but it has been discontinued, and currently, a reservation-based Aijo Taxi is in service. Advance reservation is required, but you can use it at any time for a flat rate of 2,400 yen, which is cheaper than a regular taxi fare.

Oga Line: No bus route connecting to other lines

Since connecting buses at each station on the Oga Line only operate within Oga City, you cannot transfer to other JR lines. It is wise to take the train back.

Hidaka Main Line: From Mukawa Station to Hayakita Station ⇔ Chitose Branch Line: From New Chitose Airport Station to Hayakita Station

From Mukawa Station, the current terminus of the Hidaka Main Line which was damaged by high tides and mostly discontinued, you can travel to Hayakita Station on the Muroran Main Line and New Chitose Airport Station/Chitose Station on the Chitose Line by transferring between two Atsuma Bus routes at the Atsuma bus stop. This allows you to conquer two dead-end lines at once.
It takes 30 minutes to travel from Mukawa Station to Atsuma bus stop (2 round trips per day) for 810 yen. From Atsuma bus stop, there are buses (3 round trips per day) to Hayakita Station (18 minutes, 490 yen), New Chitose Airport (48 minutes, 1,110 yen), and Chitose Station (1 hour 6 minutes, 1,200 yen).

Rumoi Main Line: From Chippubetsu Station to Horonobe Station ⇔ Soya Line: From Horonobe Station to Chippubetsu Station

This is the conquest of the longest dead-end line in this trip, the 259.4 km Soya Main Line. By combining this with the Rumoi Main Line, you can conquer two dead-end lines at once.
Return two stations from Ishikari-Numata Station on the Rumoi Main Line to arrive at Chippubetsu Station. Walk 500m southwest from the station for 7 minutes along the Fukagawa National Highway to the Chippubetsu 1-chome bus stop, and take the bus to Rumoi (5 round trips per day operated by Enkai Bus and Dohoku Bus) for 1 hour and 10 minutes for 1,100 yen. From Rumoi, take the bus to Horonobe Station on the Soya Main Line (7 round trips on weekdays, 5 on weekends/holidays) for a 3-hour and 25-minute ride for 3,980 yen. It is a long journey along the Sea of Japan coast, but it is possible to travel in half a day. You can travel by bus further to Toyotomi Station, but there is no way to get from Toyotomi Station to Wakkanai other than by JR or taxi. Also, if you take a bus in the opposite direction at the Chippubetsu 1-chome bus stop, you can return to Fukagawa city center or Asahikawa Station.

Sassho Line: From Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station to Iwamizawa Station

This line, which once had Ishikari-Numata Station as its terminus, now ends at Hokkaido-Iryodaigaku Station due to two partial closures. From here, you can reach the former Tsukigata Station via a local bus operated by Gedan Motors, which runs 8 times a day. The ride takes 27 minutes and costs 200 yen. At the Tsukigata Yakuba-mae transfer point, you can switch to a Chuo Bus to travel to Iwamizawa Terminal. This terminal is located next to Iwamizawa Station on the Hakodate Main Line and Muroran Main Line. It operates 5 round trips on weekdays, and on weekends/holidays, there are 3 trips from Tsukigata and 2 trips from Iwamizawa, with a 39-minute ride costing 780 yen.
For reference, there is also a method to travel from the former Tsukigata Station to the former Urausu Station using the Sassho Line replacement bus, then take a local bus operated by Bijiko Kanko Bus to Sunagawa Station via Naie Station on the Hakodate Main Line, or take a town-operated bus from the former Urausu Station to Takikawa Station on the same line.

Nemuro Main Line: No bus routes connecting to other lines

The connecting buses at Nemuro Station on the Nemuro Main Line only operate as far as Ochiishi Station and Attoko Station within the Nemuro Line, so it is not possible to transfer to other JR lines. It is wise to simply ride back the way you came.

[Appendix] Nemuro Main Line: Furano Station ⇔ Shintoku Station Connection Route

Although this is not a dead-end line, I will mention the bus connection for this section, which was discontinued last year. This connection route is not listed in the JR timetable, so this should be useful.
You can ride this route by booking the North Liner, an intercity bus connecting Asahikawa and Obihiro. It runs 5 round trips per day, with a 1-hour and 35-minute ride costing 1,300 yen.

※Image source: photolibrary
※Map image: NAVITIME