New Chitose Airport

New Chitose Airport is the biggest airport in Hokkaidō, and is the one you’re most likely to fly into — whether you’re coming from somewhere in Japan or from oversees. It’s less than an hour away from Sapporo, Hokkaidō’s capital city, and two to three hours from Niseko, the famous ski resort.

New Chitose is pretty small for an international airport, but still has a lot of stuff going for it. In fact, it’s among our favorite airports in Japan. There are lots of opportunities for last-minute shopping here and even some great entertainment options, so make sure to arrive early enough to make the most of them.

New Chitose Airport: The basics

Airport code: CTS
Bibi, Chitose, Hokkaidō
50 kilometers southeast of Sapporo (around 40 minutes on the Rapid Airport train)

As mentioned, New Chitose Airport is the largest airport out of the 14 public ones in Hokkaidō. Opened in 1988, it became the second airport in Japan — after Haneda — to feature two 3,000-meter-class runways, marking it as a significant hub for civilian aviation.

New Chitose has two terminals, a domestic one and an international one. They’re connected via a pedestrian bridge, which takes about 10 minutes to cross.

New Chitose Airport Opening Hours

Although some sources state that the airport is open 24 hours, the terminal buildings do have official opening and closing times. They are as follows:

• Domestic Terminal: 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• International Terminal: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Connecting Corridor: 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

24-hour amenities at New Chitose Airport

No facilities are fully open 24 hours in the airport. If you’re catching an early flight, we recommend staying at one these two hotels: the rather fancy Portom International Hotel, attached to the international terminal; or the more basic Air Terminal Hotel, which is connected to the domestic terminal. In both cases you don’t have to leave the airport — excellent news if you are visiting in the middle of Hokkaidō’s cold winters.

A cheaper option is to spend the night in the relaxation room in the airport’s hot-spring complex, New Chitose Airport Onsen. Admission is ¥2,600, with an additional late-night fee of ¥2,000. There are also a few guest rooms, with a bed, that you can reserve in advance. These cost ¥9,000 and are like a basic hotel room.

Tips for arriving at New Chitose Airport

Just like with any other airport, once you arrive, you’ll need to go through the standard procedures. International arrivals will need to go through quarantine, immigration, baggage claim, and customs. Domestic arrivals are normally able to just get off the aircraft, head to baggage claim, and go to the arrival lobby.

In the arrivals lobby, you’ll find a number of fast-food restaurants, a Lawson convenience store, and more general facilities like toilets, smoking areas, and lockers. If you head outside, you can find both taxi and bus stands. Planning to take the train? Just make your way down to B1F.

Tips for departing from New Chitose Airport

Even if you are flying domestically, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least 1.5 to 2 hours prior to your departure. During busy holiday periods, it’s better to take public transport, as the roads can get congested.

New Chitose Airport serves flights from both Tokyo airports (Narita and Haneda), Kansai International Airport (KIX) near Osaka, and airports in over a dozen additional cities, including as far south as Naha. There are also onward flights from New Chitose to other destinations in Hokkaidō, such as Wakkanai, Memanbetsu, Nakashibetsu, and Kushiro.

Internationally, there are flights to major cities around Asia, including: Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Seoul, Busan, and — at least prior to the pandemic — many cities in China. Airlines include both legacy carriers and LCCs.

New Chitose Airport services and facilities

Both terminals have a variety of practical and fun facilities — most of which are located before airport security. Keep in mind some of these are located in the Connecting Corridor between the two terminals.

Services and facilities in both terminals:

• Information Center
• Baggage-delivery services and coin lockers
• Cash and currency-exchange counters
• Free Wi-Fi and device charging stations
• Mobile Wi-Fi Rentals and prepaid SIM vending machines
• Restaurants and cafés
• Nurseries, stroller rentals, accessible toilet and quiet room
• Airline lounges

Domestic Terminal

Domestic flights operated by Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), and a variety of low-cost carriers.

The Domestic Terminal consists of 5 floors, if you include B1F — which is where you access JR New Chitose Airport Station. Departures are on 2F and arrivals are 1F. On 3F and 4F floor, there is an overwhelming choice of restaurants and other entertainment facilities.

Domestic Terminal Amenities

Highlight: Hokkaidō Ramen Dojo (3F), New Chitose Airport Theater (4F) and New Chitose Airport Onsen (4F)

The Domestic Terminal has more to offer than the International Terminal. There is so much to do in fact that you could easily spend a day just enjoying the airport — we’re not even joking.

This terminal is practically a mall. There are small branches of Muji, Uniqlo, and Laox (for electronics), a Pokémon store, drug stores, and various souvenir shops. But the most interesting things you can buy are Hokkaidō-fresh seafood — to have shipped frozen — and Hokkaidō-brand sweets, of which there are several.

For entertainment, there’s a theater and the hot spring that’s open 23 hours a day.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a special Gundam store and a game arcade filled with claw machines. If you or your little ones want to dive into Japan’s aviation history in an immersive way, there’s the Sky Museum. Notably, from April to November, you can head to the observation deck to see real planes up close.

In terms of food, you’re spoiled for choice at New Chitose Airport. Highlights include the Hokkaidō Ramen Dojo, which is a collection of 10 mini branches of ramen shops from around Hokkaidō, and the Streetcar Dining District, serving other Hokkaidō specialties (like soup curry and kaisendon, a bowl of rice topped with seafood).

There’s also a food court with budget fast-food restaurants like Hanamaru Udon, plus plenty of places to get coffee.

International Terminal

International flights operated by a variety of airlines including Peach Aviation, Korean Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines

The International Terminal has 4 floors. 1F is where the curbside lobby is — with the bus and taxi lane. On 2F is arrivals and 3F is departures. Finally, on 4F is where you’ll find the Portom International Hotel.

International Terminal Amenities

Highlight: Soradonki (3F), Café Sky Library (4F) and The Bar／The Cigar Bar (4F)

Although the International Terminal doesn’t have as many exciting entertainment facilities, it still delivers on its dining options. Actually, most of the options are pretty fancy with there being a Café Sky Library, bar, and restaurant — all located inside the Portom International Hokkaido Hotel. For something more casual, there is also Mitsumoto Coffee.

For shopping, there is a chance to pick up your last-minute Japan goods at Soradonki (Donki’s airport minimart). There is also a toy park and shops selling Hokkaidō specific souvenirs.

Getting between terminals

The domestic and international terminal are connected via a pedestrian bridge, which takes about 10 minutes to cross. If you’re flying internationally, we highly recommend heading to the Domestic Terminal (before you check-in) so that you can make the most out of its fantastic facilities.

Note: For both terminals, options for food and shops narrow considerably past security.

Getting to and from New Chitose Airport

There are many ways to travel to and from New Chitose Airport. For those heading to Sapporo, we recommend checking out our guide to travel between New Chitose Aiport and Sapporo.

For a quick summary here, there are direct trains and buses which take you to Sapporo. In winter, direct buses also connect the airport with ski resorts in the Niseko area.

If you want really to get ahead of the game, here are some travel options you can book:

• Shuttle buses — Sapporo and Niseko Ski Resort
• Train — JR Hokkaido Rail Pass gives you unlimited travel on Hokkaidō trains
• Private transfer — more expensive but convenient

Heading to Sapporo City? Find out what to see there and check out our foodie guide.

Things to do at New Chitose Airport



There are plenty of ways to kill time at this airport. Some of the most noteworthy we already mentioned include the hot-spring complex, cinema and Sky Museum. But there is also the small theme park called Hello Kitty Happy Flight. Although this theme park doesn’t have rides or shows or anything like that, it has a few different themed “zones” with activities and photos ops. Admission is ¥800 for adults and ¥400 for elementary school students and below.

Sadly, the other theme park — Doraemon Exciting Sky Park — closed down in July 2025.

As well as Hello Kitty Happy Flight, in the connecting path there is also Royce’ Chocolate World. Here, you can watch chocolate being made in the mini factory, explore the history of chocolate in the museum, and, of course, pick up some treats to take home.

Pro tip: Want more of our personal opinion on these attractions? Check out Passing Time at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport.

New Chitose Airport FAQs

Is New Chitose Airport big?

To put it into context, New Chitose Airport is the largest in Hokkaidō — but only the fifth largest airport in Japan by size. That said, it did serve 2023 approximately 22 million passengers in 2023. So yes, it is pretty big.

How long does it take to fly from Hokkaidō to Tokyo?

It takes just under 2 hours to fly from Hokkaidō to Tokyo. Flight times may vary slightly depending on which airline you take — and which Tokyo airport you are arriving too.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Article first published in 2018, by Lily Crossley-Baxte. Last updated in August 2025, by Jane Pipkin.