Getting here

By Air
By Bus
By Train
Other

New Chitose Airport

New Chitose Airport is the main entry point to the island of Hokkaido and services both Sapporo and Niseko. Most international visitors will arrive at New Chitose Airport either directly from cities like Hong Kong. Seoul or Taipei or via a domestic transfer from Tokyo or Kansai international airports.

Flying via Tokyo

Advantages

We highly recommend a short stopover in Tokyo, one of the great cities of the world. It is a truly vibrant city that has been able to retain its unique character whilst maintaining its pivotal role on the world stage.

Disadvantages

If you are not stopping over in Tokyo, there is generally a transfer between Narita Airport (Toyko’s international airport) to Haneda Airport (Tokyo’s domestic airport). Whilst this is easy to navigate via the Airport Limousine Bus Service (JPY3,000 adult, JPY1,500 child), unfortunately it also adds at least two hours to your trip.

Flying via Kansai International Airport

Advantages

Gateway to Kyoto and Osaka if you want to stop and see some other sights of Japan. There is no transfer between airports required as this airport caters for both domestic and international flights.

Disadvantages

Flights from Australia arrive after the last flight to Sapporo so a stopover is forced. From other ports of embarkation ensure that the flight lands prior to 5.00pm so that connections can be made.

Flying direct to New Chitose Airport

Advantages

This is the best way to arrive from most Asian cities as their carriers fly direct. It minimises the number of transfers required.

Disadvantages

Australian and most European carriers do not fly to New Chitose Airport.
Niseko Hirafu is a two to three hour drive from Hokkaido’s international airport.

On arrival at New Chitose Airport, visitors have a number of options to complete their trip to Niseko Hirafu. The trip is only 110 kilometers but transfers take between 2 and three hours due to weather conditions and icy roads.

The bus is the cheapest and probably easiest way to get from New Chitose Airport to Niseko Hirafu. A bus departs the Airport every 30 minutes and stops at each of the three Niseko resorts.

One way will cost JPY2,300 and return JPY4,600.

There are four bus companies that provide a Niseko service and each can be booked upon arrival at the airport if necessary. Resortliner runs the latest with a bus leaving at 9.30 pm.

Each bus company has a desk at New Chitose Airport. They are as follows:

Resort Liner Buses
Whiteliner Buses
Chuo Buses
Donan Buses

Door to Door Transfer

Skybus can be booked online using the Owashi Lodge Booking Application.

Outside of the ski season, train is the best away to get to Niseko Hirafu from New Chitose Airport as the direct bus service is suspended. At any time of the year the train is an interesting way to travel as it takes you into Sapporo and takes you by a scenic coastal route before heading inland through snowbound mountains, national parks and farmland.

The train station at New Chitose Airport is in the basement of the terminal and very easily accessible. All routes are posted in Romanji (English) and are fairly easy to follow. Ticket machines have an English button.

The best route is to catch a train from New Chitose Airport to Otaru. Change of train is required at Otaru to connect to Kutchan, the closest major town to Niseko Hirafu.

You can then get a taxi from Kutchan to Niseko Hirafu for about JPY3,000 which will take about 15 minutes. We recommend that you contact your hosts prior to departure as there may be a chance that somebody will be able to pick you up.

To preplan any train trip in Japan it is suggested you look up the following link:

www.hyperdia.com/en/

This web page contains a timetable for all Japanese trains.

Most of the major car rental companies operate out of New Chitose Airport with desks in the main lobby. It is best to book these via the internet or through a travel agent prior to departure.

A few tips for renting cars:
• Ensure you have an International Drivers License
• Request GPS to be set for the best route without using toll roads
• Be careful in Winter and spring as the roads can be extremely icy and visibility poor.