Getting Around, Sapporo Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan)

Getting to Sapporo is easy, with the city's airport providing direct connections to a number of international destinations. There are also frequent air services that travel into Sapporo from Tokyo, as well as train transport offering regular connections.

Bus transport also serves the city from destinations throughout Japan and is amongst the most inexpensive way to travel around the country.

New Chitose Airport (CTS) / Arriving by Air

Address: Chitose, Hokkaido 066-0012, Japan, JP
Tel: +81 123 23 0111
Located 40 km / 25 miles from Sapporo, New Chitose Airport (CTS) is the most practical air gateway to the city. Operating four runways and a single terminal building, the airport offers passengers a good range of facilities and ground transport. Airlines serving the airport include Thai, Lufthansa, All Nippon, Continental, United and JAL. There are direct flights to the international cities of Honolulu, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong, while regular domestic flights serve Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Trains, bus transport and taxis are available for transfers into the city.

Alternatively, travellers can arrive in Tokyo where there is a wider range of direct international flights, and then transfer by air to Sapporo in around one hour, 30 minutes, or by train travel in about ten hours.

Car Rental

If you want to explore Hokkaido and travel outside of Sapporo, renting a car is a good idea, although you will need an International Driving Permit. Sapporo can be reached by using Route 36. Be aware that driving conditions during the winter months can often be risky, with lots of snow and icy roads.

Book your Sapporo (Hokkaido) Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

JR Hokkaido Bus transport offers connections to destinations throughout Japan. Hokkaido Chuo Bus and Jotetsu Bus also serve local and national destinations. The main bus terminal is next to the Bus Centre Mae Station of the subway's Tozai line.

Trains

JR trains travel from Honshu Island to Sapporo on Hokkaido Island via the Seikan Tunnel, the longest tunnel in the world. Trains travelling from Tokyo have a journey time of around ten hours and involve making two connections. The JR Sapporo station is at North 2, West 1 on the subway's Namboku line. Tickets can be bought at the numerous JR stations, as well as at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. The city's three popular subway lines offer highly efficient public transportation, being both fast and inexpensive to use.

Taxis

Sapporo's taxis are clean and the drivers polite, and in general, tipping is not usually expected. In the downtown area, taxis are usually simple to find - just raise your hand to hail a taxi. Be aware that a green light in the windshield means the taxi is full, while a red light means it is available.