New Chitose Airport access guide. How to get Sapporo, Otaru and other cities in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido Area
New Chitose airport station ticket gate (C) JP Rail
2012.06.02
New Chitose airport station is located at the underground of the terminal building. (C) JP Rail

New Chitose airport (新千歳空港) is the biggest airport in Hokkaido and the primary gateway for the trip to Hokkaido by flights. Some of you start your trip from this airport.

In this post, I would like to share the guide of the access between this airport and Sapporo and Otaru. I will also show you how to take the trains to most of major cities in Hokkaido.

Access between the terminal building and the station

There are lots of signages between the terminal building and the station.

This station is directly connected to the terminal building. You can get the station from the terminal building easily just inside the building. You can move without any outer jacket even in the freezing weather.

As you have seen the picture above, the station is located at the underground level. You can simply take the stairs, escalators or elevators from the arrival level. There are lots of signage. You cannot miss it. Please see the following links to get the maps and more information.

Platform and ticket gate of New Chitose Airport station

New Chitose airport station ticket gate (C) JP Rail

New Chitose airport station is quite small. There is only one ticket gate and one platform. If you want to exchange Japan Rail Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass, and/or JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can do it at JR Hokkaido information desk. It is located by the ticket gate.

Rapid Airport which is the train between New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Otaru

Rapid Airport at Sapporo station

Rapid Airport train runs between New Chitose airport and Sapporo, Otaru. Please see the link below to find more information:

Rapid Airport train for New Chitose Airport to/from Sapporo and Otaru

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in New Chitose Airport
Hotels in Otaru
Hotels in Sapporo

Please see the timetable at JR Hokkaido website to get the full timetable of Rapid Airport.

Transfer to the trains to other major cities in Hokkaido

All trains stop at Minami-Chitose station. It is very easy to transfer. (C) JP Rail

You can access to Sapporo and Otaru from New Chitose Airport directly. But if you go to other cities, you have to change trains. There are several transfer points.

First of all, Minami-Chitose station is the transfer point for the following places:

  • Hakodate
  • Noboribetsu
  • Toya (Lake Toya)
  • Hakodate
  • Tomamu
  • Obihiro
  • Kushiro
  • Nemuro (via Kushiro)

Sapporo station is the second transfer points if you visit these following cities:

  • Asahikawa
  • Furano(via Asahikawa or Takikawa)
  • Biei (via Asahikawa)
  • Abashiri
  • Wakkanai
  • Shiretoko-Shari(via Abashiri)

And Otaru station is the last transfer point for Niseko, Kutchan and Yoichi.

The airport shuttle bus

If you are looking for the direct access to your accommodation, airport buses may be better. You can find the detailed information at New Chitose Airport Buses information page.

I hope this airport guide make your trip planning be easier.

Comments

  1. BT Tan says:
    August 17, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    I need to travel within Hokkaido by train during end of November for 5 sections as below:
    1. New Chitose Airport to Saporro-Day 1
    2. Sapporo- Otaru(return)-Day 2( may use Welcome Pass)
    Day 1,2 &3 stay at Sapporo
    3. Sapporo – Hakodate( single trip)-Day 4
    Day 4 & 5, stay at Hakodate
    4. Hakodate -Noboribetsu( single trip)-Day6
    Day 6 stay at Noboribetsu
    5. Noboribetsu- New Chitose Airport( single trip)Day 7.
    Day 7 -Stay at airport hotel
    Day 8-early flight.
    We are a group of 5 adults & 2 children.
    Which pass do you recommended? Or buy it separately ? It is convenient to buy the train ticket separately?
    I first have Flexi 4 days in my mind, but need to squeeze in the Sapporo-Otaru section in the Day 1, but is too rush & too tired ( over night flight& arrive at Sapporo noon of the next day)for us as we are traveling with children and old folks.
    May I have your opinion, please?
    Regards
    BT

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 17, 2016 at 10:38 pm

      Hi BT,

      Single ticket is a bit cheaper than Flex 4 days. In my rough calculation, total fare is around 21,000 yen for day 2, 4, 6 and 7. It’s slightly cheaper than flex 4 days pass. But the difference is very tiny. If you want to have flexibility, you can go for Flex 4 days pass. If you use Flex 4 days pass, use day 2, 4,6 and 7. Don’t use day 1. Round trip fare to Otaru is higher than one way fare to Sapporo from New Chitose. You can simply add single fare. You can purchase it at the vending machine. If you want to have the exact fare, please check it at Hyperdia:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • BT Tan says:
        August 17, 2016 at 11:51 pm

        Thanks ! Takeshi
        I read about your other post talking about stopover. On the day 4 Sapporo_-Hakodate section, I will stop by for a short visit at Onumakoen. Do I get the free stopover with just buying the single Sapporo- Hakodate ticket or buy 2 separatet ticket for Sapporo- Onumakoen & Onumakoen- Hakodate ?
        Regards
        BT

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          August 18, 2016 at 6:28 am

          Hi BT,

          You can make a stopover without extra. But if you take limited express from Onumakoen to Hakodate, you have to purchase another limited express seat fee ticket. As I mentioned, the difference between regular ticket and Flex 4 days pass is very small. If you make a stopover and take limited express train from Onumakoen to Hakodate, Flex 4 days pass may be better choice.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Jason t says:
    August 3, 2016 at 8:13 am

    Hi Takeshi San

    I am also travelling to hokkaido and have a question about ordinary train to sapporo city

    Is ordinary train the same as chitose airport express ?

    I just need single Ticket to travel from airport to city . Should I buy JR pass to travel ?

    If I buy ordinary single trip train ticket , can I buy in chitose airport.?
    Must I show my passport details and travelor card ?

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 3, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      Hi Jason san,

      Now there is only rapid train running between Chitose airport and Sapporo. This is a sort of commute train and ordinary train. You can purchase a regular ticket at the vending machine in New Chitose airport station. You don’t need to have any rail passes.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Jason t says:
        August 3, 2016 at 6:50 pm

        Hi Takeshi San

        Thank you for fast response

        Yes because I am asking my secretary to purchase ticket for me in advance , to buy this rapid rail ticket from machine , there is no need to show passport details ?

        Also , if I again want to buy a single ticket from sapporo city to otaru city , is it same method , buy at machine ?

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          August 3, 2016 at 10:34 pm

          Hi Jason san,

          You don’t need to show your passport. It’s just a commute train. Everybody need to get only a ticket from the vending machine. It’s same to Sapporo to Otaru.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Alvin says:
    June 19, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Need help here. Travelling with my family with young children from Singapore in Dec. Reaching New Chitose Airport (NCA) via Haneda and heading to Otaru Chikko station.

    Is there a direct train ride from NCA to Otaru Chikko? And what is the fare like?

    Thank you.

  4. Carmen says:
    June 7, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    hi There ,

    Really happy to find some one can hep ! 🙂

    i am travelling to Japan end of June. I have purchased JR east South Hokkaido to travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido.

    We would go to Tokyo- Hakodate- Furano- Asahikawa- Sapporo for 2 weeks.

    Noticed JR East South Hokkaido doesn’t cover Asahikawa to Sapporo 🙁 , can i know where and how can buy ” S-Kippu tickets with a set of four tickets to be used in either direction (9960 yen) – gotten this info from http://www.japanguide.com
    We need 4 adults one way train ticket from Asahikawa to Sapporo, may i know which is the cheapest option ? 🙂
    Your assistance is highly appreciate . Thank you very much

  5. Issaree Imsuchart says:
    May 24, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I have to go to Kotoni station from New Chitose Airport by train.
    Please advice which train line.

    Thanks

    Issaree

  6. Pornpilai Saetang says:
    May 24, 2016 at 5:42 pm

    Dear Sir,
    My family will travel to Toya Lake from New Chitose airport this July for one night and travel to Sapporo for 2 nights. How can we get train tickets from Chitose airport to Toya Lake and from Toya Station back to Sapporo? Also if we buy 3 days JR Railpass, or Hokkaido Railpass, can we use that pass to access any transportation both train and bus during traveling in Hokkaido ? Please be advise us too. Thank you very much. Looking forward to hear from you.

  7. Ringo Chu says:
    May 5, 2016 at 12:50 am

    Dear Takeshi San,
    I’m planning to visit Furano 富良野 on 14-May 2016 for one day trip. Please advise what is best transportation by JR from Sapporo to Furano and return to Sapporo on the same day.

    Thank you,

    Ringo Chu from Hong Kong

  8. Anne says:
    May 3, 2016 at 4:39 am

    Dear sir, would you tell me if bento are sell on board the train or I have to buy from outside store to bring along. I will be taking 2 trips of bullets train that is more than an hour journey. Regards,,
    Anne

  9. daylily says:
    May 1, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Hello, where can I check the train fares of Hokkaido JR? I need this to decide whether I should buy a rail pass or not.

  10. Joanna Wong says:
    May 1, 2016 at 4:48 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    First of all, will like to thank you for helping us with questions that may not be available on the website. It really helps us a lot!

    My plane will touch down at Chitose at 8pm, which means Midori no Madoguchi will be closed by the time i clear custom. I have to travel to Sapporo from Chitose. I checked JR train schedule and i realised only Rapid Train is available . So i will like to confirm if i can get Rapid Train Ticket is available from the automatic ticket vendor

    Also, JR will only begin at about 6am from Sapporo and will only reach Chitose at about 7am. My domestic flight from Sapporo to Narita will be at about 8am, i am afraid there is not enough time to check in, is there any other way to travel to the airport at an earlier time?

    Thank You!

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