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
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. Lynn says:

    HI, i am planning a Ski trip in Niseko and Otaru for onsen from Singapore. Which is the best way for me to travel; To niseko first or Otaru

  2. Esther Lee says:

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I will be flying into KIX on 20 Dec and will travel from Osaka – Tokyo – Niseko – Otaru – Sapporo mainly by train, except for between Tokyo to Niseko. I am intending to fly from Haneda to New Chitose Airport, then take the train from New Chitose station to Niseko via Otaru.

    I understand that the ICOCA card only covers the train fare between New Chitose station to Otaru station. At Otaru station, I need to transfer to the JR Hakodate Line to get to Niseko.

    May I ask: when should I get the ticket for Otaru – Niseko? Should it be at New Chitose station or at Otaru? If I need to get the ticket at Otaru station, do I need to exit the train platforms to get the ticket, then re-enter the train platform to get on board the train to Niseko?

    Thanks very much in advance!

    Kind regards,
    Esther

    • Hi Esther san,

      If you use ICOCA, you have to exit at Otafu station because you have to tap your IOCCA at Otaru station. You will purchase a ticket for Otaru to Niseko there.

      But if you don’t use ICOCA and purchase a ticket for New Chitose to Niseko, you don’t need to exit at Otaru. And the fare is about 400 yen cheaper than ICOCA (New Chitose to Otaru) and a regular ticket (Otaru to Niseko).

      I recommend you to use one regular ticket. You can use ICOCA to purchase something in the convenience store.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Esther Lee says:

        Dear Takeshi san,

        thanks so much for the helpful tip! I will purchase the ticket to Niseko from New Chitose station without using the ICOCA card.

        I have some other queries (sorry, some of the questions belong to other topics but I am compiling everything here.).

        I used the Hyperdia app to check the corresponding 2018 arrival / departure times, train information and train fare to plan by 2019 itinerary. Based on the info, I feel that it may not be worth if to get a JR Pass. However, I need your expertise to advise:
        – If there is any pass I can use OR I just stick to the ICOCA card for ease of ticket-less traveling?

        You replied to a fellow traveller that online booking via JR East website is possible but the tickets need to be collected a day in advance.
        – In the event that I don’t have any pass and I am unable to collect my ticket a day before, is there any way to make seat reservations early for some of the Rapid or Limited Express trains especially since my travel dates are the New Year peak period in Japan?
        – If seat reservations cannot be made early, can I “add” a seat reservation when buying the base fare ticket from the ticket machine when I arrive at the train station?

        My current itinerary is:

        20 Dec : Flight into KIX from Singapore
        : Train from KIX to USJ Hotel (morning)
        : Visit Namba (evening)
        – At the moment, I am thinking of getting the ICOCA & HARUKA set from JR ticket counter. Based on the website, the discounted ticket does not have the seat reservation. Is it possible to pay for a seat reservation at the ticket counter?

        21 Dec : USJ

        22 Dec : Namba & Dotonbori

        23 Dec : Depart from USJ to Tokyo
        : Train from Universal-City to Maihama via Shinkansen
        – I will use the smartEX to make the ticket and seat reservation in advance. May I confirm that the ticket collection will be at the Sinkansen transfer gate at Shin-Osaka station?

        24 Dec to 26 Dec : Stay inside Tokyo Disneyland

        26 Dec : Depart from Tokyo to Niseko
        : Airport limousine bus from Tokyo Disneyland to Haneda
        : Flight from Haneda to CTS
        : Train from New Chitose station to Niseko station via Otaru station
        – The Airport 155 from New Chitose station to Otaru requires a seat reservation

        26 Dec – 31 Dec : Stay in Niseko (some day trips to Kutchan)

        31 Dec : Depart from Niseko to Otaru
        : Train from Kutchan to Otaru

        31 Dec to 2 Jan : Stay in ryokan (1 or 2 day trips via train to otaru canal area)

        2 Jan : Depart from Otaru to Sapporo
        : Train from Otaru station to Sapporo station
        – The Airport 134 from Otaru to Sapporo requires a seat reservation

        2 Jan to 4 Jan : Stay in Sapporo (day trips via train into Susukino)

        4 Jan : Depart from Sapporo to home
        : Train from Sapporo to New Chitose

        Thanks very much again, Takeshi san!

        Kind regards,
        Esther

        • Hi Esther san,

          1. ICOCA and Haruka, reserved seat
          If you want to reserve your seat, don’t use ICOCA and Haruka. You may purchase a regular ticket and buy ICOCA beside the ticket. Because this deal covers only non reserved seat. If you take a reserved seat, you have to pay the full fare of reserved seat fee. (not the difference between reserved and non reserved) As a result, the regular ticket is cheaper.

          2. Smart EX
          You can receive your Shinkansen ticket at the vending machine near Shinkansen transfer gate.
          https://smart-ex.jp/en/entraining/ticket/

          3. You can reserve your seat on rapid train to/from Otaru when you are in Osaka. There are Midori no Madoguchi in most of JR stations which includes Universal City station.

          JR Pass is not required. Just use those tickets which you are thinking.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Heidi Thrige says:

    Dear Takeshi San
    Do you have a link to the train times from sapporo to Otaru and back again?
    And Maybe a link or info have and where to buy a ticket

    Kind regards Heidi

  4. Jane Gan says:

    Dear Takeshi san,

    Would like to check with u if I take 4 days flexible JR Pass is it good enough to cover my itinerary as below?

    27/1/2019 (SUN) – ARRIVE TO NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT, JR TO HAKODATE

    28/1/2019 (MON) – HAKODATE

    29/1/2019 (TUE) – HAKODATE to SAPPOORO

    30/1/2019 (WED) – ASAHIKAWA 1 DAY TRIP

    31/1/2019 (THU) – SAPPORO

    1/2/2019 (FRI) – OTARU 1 DAY TRIP

    2/2/2019 (SAT) – SAPPORO

    3/2/2019 (SUN) – CHITOSE

    4/2/2019 (MON) – NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT  MALAYSIA

  5. Yoyo Wegerdt says:

    Hi Takeshi san
    I arrive on 28th December landing at 5 pm. I’m heading to Otaru. I researched before and thought I’d have to wait until 9pm to get the train, but I see from your website that the trains go every twenty minutes.
    So could I get a train to Otaru (via Sapporo) before 9pm? theoretically

  6. Heidi says:

    Dear Takeshi san
    I will be landing i the airport Chitose on the 16 of january and will be going to Otaru – what would be best for me – train or bus?
    Should i book a seat in advance or is it easy to buy when i arrive?
    Kind regards Heidi from Denmark.

    • Hi Heidi san,

      Train is recommended more than bus.
      Actually you cannot book a seat in advance. There is online booking but if you use it, you have to pick up a ticket one day before. So you cannot use online for arrival day train ride. Train is a sort of commute trains. You can take a train without reservation. And if you want to take “U seat” (reserved seat), you can try to book a seat after arrival. Usually it’s not hard to get it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. chae says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    Hope you doing great. I will be travelling to Hokkaido during winter festival next year with 3 kids (between 9 – 5 years old). I will be covering 3 big cities from airport (Chitose) –> Kutchan (4 days) –> Otaru (2 days) –> Sapporo (5 days). I am battling in deciding whether to rent a car or take a train as my main transport due to the fact am traveling with kids and after reading numerous of blog/site about it. If I decide to travel by train, do I buy JR Hokkaido Pass and Kitaca for travelling in those cities?

    Thank you!

    • Hi Chae san,

      Hokkaido rail pass is not your choice because you cannot get the worth of it. You may use Kitaca. But you cannot use Kitaca for Otaru-Kutchan segment. It is valid between Otaru, Sapporo and New Chitose only.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Set says:

    is there an online reservation/booking for the U Seat travelling from Chitose Airport to Otaru and Sapporo to Chitose Airport? I can’t find it in Google or anywhere online.

    also we purchased a Kitaca pass. can that be used leaving and going to airport?

  9. Raul Jacinto says:

    Hi.

    Just want to ask you before I purchase a JR Pass. I’m visiting Sapporo in February and I’m planning to get a JR Pass. Will I be able to use the JR Hokkaido Pass to ride a train from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo?

    Thank you. All the best.

  10. Annie says:

    Takeshi san,

    I have purchased JR Pass 7 days but I only can activate my JR Pass from 19/8/18 onwards. My flight to New Chitose Airport at 5pm. Therefore, I would like to check with you whether I can buy JR tickets from the station immediately for one way trip from New Chitose Airport to Chitose Station. And how much the cost fare ?

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Annie

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