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
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 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 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
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
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
Hi,
If i plan go to hokkaido and then osaka, before i leave japan.
And i plan to buy 7day JR pass.
Can i use for travelling hokkaido and also shinkansen to osaka ?
Or i need to buy another railway ticket ?
( New Chitose to Sapporo city also ? )
Thanks.
Hi Boyke,
You can take any JR trains in Hokkaido by JR pass. And also you can get Osaka from Hokkaido by JR pass. But it’s quite far from Hokkaido to Osaka. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi San,
Thanks for your information.
No worries, Boyke san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, Takeshi-san,
1. Is the train from New Chitose Airport to Tomamu still running?
2. Is the train from Tomamu to Furano restored & running?
TQ
Tiong
Hi Tiong san,
1. Yes, it does. You can catch express trains at Minami-Chitose which is one station away from New Chitose
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/03.pdf
2. The segment between Shintoku and Furano is still closed. There are substitute bus service running but it does not run very frequently. I just put the link of timetables but it is in Japanese only.
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/pdf/170322-1.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi san,
What is Japanese name/writing for Tomamu?
TQ
Hi Tiong san,
Please see the timetable for the train to Tomamu which I gave you in the previous link. You can see both English and Japanese station names.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Sorry. I am referring to the BUS time table which is in Japanese.
What is the Japanese name for Tomamu?
TQ
Hi Tiong,
You need to get Shintoku (新得) first by train from Tomamu. It’s same train from Minami-Chitose to Tomamu.
You can find Shintoku in both links of train and bus timetable.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I would be travelling to Hokkaido (New Chitose Airport) in early-mid Aug 2017 with my family (targeting these areas – Lake Toya – Sapporo – Furano – Hokuryu – Asahikawa).
Would like to check if it’s more convenient to travel from Asahikawa or Lake Toya to New Chitose Airport by JR rail? I am bit confused as to which places I should start/end my trip first for convenience, or whether it’s worth the inconvenience to go to so many places as Lake Toya & Asahikawa are pretty far apart..
Thanks for your advice!
Hi Julie,
Actually it’s not a big deal. You can go either Toya or Asahikawa. Trip time is not much different. It takes about 2 hours to go either Asahikawa or Lake Toya. But if you go to Asahikawa, you can get there with one train changes at Sapporo only. If you go to Lake Toya, you need to change trains at Minami-Chitose and then change from train to bus at Toya station. Asahikawa is a bit easier to access.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, My family is planning a holiday to Hokkaido in Dec 2017, we need adv if the below itinerary is feasible:
Day 1 – arrive New Chitose airport at 9am > transfer to JR train to Hakodate
Day 2 – Hakodate
Day 3 – Hakodate > Noboribetsu
Day 4 – Noboribetsu > Sapporo
Day 5 – Sapporo > day trip to Otaru
Day 6 – Sapporo
Planning to go direct to Hakodate on day 1, will it be too tiring (Travelling with kid – 7 years)?
Appreciate any insights.
Hi Angela,
It takes about 4 hours from New Chitose to Hakondate including transfer time in Minami-Chitose. If you are okay with it, you can do it.
By the way, there is Hokkaido rail pass available. But single fare ticket is cheaper than Hokkaido rail pass for your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Do you think i can use the baggage space of the U-seats to store my luggages even if I don’t have Hokkaido Rail Pass?
I intend to travel 1) airport to Sapporo and back 2) sapporo to Noboribetsu and back 3) sapporo to asahikawa and back. When I calculated the fares (all non-reserved), it worked out to be cheaper than if i get a 4-flexible day Pass. Do correct me if I’m wrong.
Thank you.
Hi Linda,
You are right. Single ticket is cheaper. But there are some deals for round trip to Noboribetsu and Asahikawa from Sapporo.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/pticket/pdf/direction03.pdf
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/pticket/pdf/direction01.pdf
Baggage space is basically for U seat passengers only. Even if you can leave your baggage, you may not be able to stay near luggage. You cannot keep your eyes on your luggage.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your reply. It is very helpful to help me to plan my trip. Arigato Gozaimasta
No problem, Linda.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi i would like to ask what is the best pass to get given the following route:
new chitose airport – otaru
otaru- sapporo
sapporo – niseko
niseko/ sapporo to new chitose airport.
will hokkaido rail pass cover?
thank you so much
Hi Lindsy,
Hokkaido Rail Pass covers all trips. But if you have only these trips, single ticket is way cheaper.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi / JPRail.com, would you happens to know of any luggage delivery services (within a day) from New Chitose airport to Nakajima keon area? Thank you.
Hi Chelsea,
Yes. You can use delivery service from New Chitose. Usually it takes one day to deliver.
http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/service/baggage/baggage_checkroom/
Cheersm
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I am looking to purchase a JR Rail Southern Hokkaido pass (includes Tokyo to Hakodate). Will it cover the train from Otaru to Chitose Airport?
Yes, it’s covered, Suzanna.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I tried to reserve seats on an early train (around 6am) from Sapporo to New Chitose Airport using my Hokkaido Rail Pass. The customer service agent said I need to pay extra regardless of if I want Reserved or Non-Reaerved seats. Do you know why? Is there a different train I should be taking? Thanks!
Hi Jim,
I don’t understand what the agent meant. Hokkaido Rail Pass covers either reserved or non reserved on any trains in Hokkaido. Of course train from Sapporo to New Chitose is fully covered. You should book a seat because it’s completely different from non reserved seat. Non reserved seat is just commute train. But if you reserve a seat, it’s called “U seat” and looks like express train seat. Please try to book once more.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
May I know whether the train from New Chitose Airport to Tomamu, then to Furano is now running? (Previously stopped due to typhoon damage.)
If no, when will that train route resume?
If yes, what’s the time schedule like?
TQ
Hi SK Tong,
You can get Tomamu from New Chitose via Minami-Chitose. Please see the link below to find the timetable.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/03.pdf
But when you go to Furano from Tomamu, you have to go back to Sapporo and take train to Takikawa and then Furano. We used to get Furano via Shintoku from Tomamu. But Shintoku-Furano segment is closed and this segment may be closed permanently because of low demand.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
how can i travel from sounkyo (or asahikawa) to tomamu? without coming back to sapporo? cheapest way?
Hi shazlin,
Unfortunately there is no direct ways to get Tomamu from Asahikawa. You have to go back to Sapporo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com