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. C says:
    November 8, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    Good afternoon Takeshi san

    I will be arriving on December 22 1950hours at New Chitose airport and plan to take JR express train to Sapporo from the basement of New Chitose JR. I understand the timings suitable for me are from 2033 hours, 2048 hours and 2103 hours. I prefer the fastest way to get to Sapporo. I see online the estimated cost is about 1380yen. Do I need to prebook this through JR Hokkaido for 3 pax or can I just go to the station and buy it?
    If I can prebook this through JR Hokkaido, from what date can I start? I tried it just now, but it says ‘Reservations for trains cannot be made before they are made available for sale.’ Will it be more expensive if I prebook through JR Hokkaido? Thank you

  2. Hk. Hk says:
    October 3, 2015 at 11:14 pm

    Hi. I can I ask if I should buy the icoca and Haruka package if I am planning to travel from kix to Kyoto station and from this hotel 🙁 1-3-25 Edobori Nishi-Ku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan 550-0002) from Osaka? Is this a good location to stay if I would like to stay in Osaka? As I am not sure how to travel from this acc to kix. Or is there any location that is recommended to stay in Osaka? Thanks 🙂

  3. Fiona says:
    October 2, 2015 at 12:26 am

    Hi

    I will be travelling to Hokkaido in Dec this year. I need your advise on the following questions:
    1) If I purchase exchange order online, I understand that that I need exchange for JR pass at the JR office. But I will reach Chitose ard 8pm and the office already close at 7pm. In this case, how do I go about to exchange for my JR pass?
    2) I want to go to Asahiyama Zoo. I read that I can purhase the zoo tickets plus train tickets at JR station. If I am to purchase a 5 days Hokkaido Rail pass, is the package of Asashiyama Zoo tickets included in this 5 days pass?
    3) What is the difference between subway line and JR line?

    Thank you very much.

    Fiona

    Thanks

  4. Esther says:
    September 3, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I will be arriving at New Chitose Airport on 4 Dec at 21:40 PM.
    I have booked the hotel in Sapporo on the same day.
    I check the schedule for the Rapid Airport but it seems like the last service to Sapporo end at 20:03. Could you help to advise which option I could consider to get to Sapporo as earlier as possible?

    Thank you in advance.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      September 4, 2015 at 12:33 am

      Hi Esther san,

      Actually there are some more rapid train from New Chitose to Sapporo. It departs from New Chitose at 22:00, 22:14, 22:35 and 22:53. JR Hokkaido will revise the timetable in mid October. So those may be changed, but not so much. I’m pretty sure rapid train runs after you arrive there.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Jack Brooks says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:12 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    My flight arrives on a Sunday evening, 6pm in Chitose and I need to get to Furano as soon as possible. What is the best way for me to do this? Having read your articles it seems that I take a train to Sapporo and then a direct train that goes North to Furano? Is this correct? If there is a better way, maybe bus, please let me know!

    Thank you very much,

    Jack Brooks

  6. Nancy says:
    August 2, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I have many questions regarding using JR lines.
    I have plan going to Hokkaido on next October.

    And i’ve checked schedule ofJR Train from Sapporo to Noboribetsu.

    We have to pass 2 stations if we get Noboribetsu from Sapporo Station, these are Chitose Station and Tamakomai Station.
    And we have to switched to other trains.

    My questions are :
    1. How much fare if i use JR Pass Hokkaido for 5 days?
    2. Are there any signs that we are knowing the name of train Example JR Rapid airport to JR Chitose Line(Chitose Airport) and JR Muroran Line (Tamakomai)?
    3. We just have 4-6 minutes time to switch and search other trains. If we left this time, is difficult to get other train?

    Need your advice 🙂
    Thank you very much for your explanation.

    BR,
    Nancy

  7. Li says:
    June 28, 2015 at 4:57 am

    Takeshi,

    I got my Hokkaido JR voucher now. Where do I change the voucher to Hokkaido Rail pass at New Chitose airport?

    Thanks again,

    Li

  8. Li says:
    June 27, 2015 at 5:10 am

    Hi,

    When is my hokaiddo rail pass expired If I start using on July 7 ? Thanks

  9. Li says:
    June 27, 2015 at 5:05 am

    Yes, hokaiddo JR rail pass. 4 days and 5 days are the same price. I assume Hokaiddo JR rail pass is for unlimited rides, right?

    Thanks,

    Li

  10. Li says:
    June 26, 2015 at 6:08 am

    Hi,

    I am going to stay in Hokaiddo for 4 days. I bought the JR Rail pass for 5 days. I am planning to visit East, South, North and Central Hokaiddo. Do you think the 5 days JR pass is good?

    Thanks,

    Li

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