Sapporo Transportation

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New Chitose opened in 1991 to replace Chitose Airport (now a JASDF base). New Chitose became Japan's first 24-hour airport in 1994. By land area, it is the largest airport in Japan. During the 1990s, it was touted as an international gateway and had regular flights to Europe and Oceania. Today, its services to Europe have ceased, while its international services are mainly transporting tourists from East Asia and Australia for sightseeing and skiing. The airport has a single semicircular terminal building which handles domestic and international flights. There is a huge shopping complex called Shopping World where travellers can purchase Japanese souvenirs, sweets, chocolates and fresh seafood.

For around 8000 yen you can catch a ferry from Tomakomai to Oarai. This is one of the cheapest ways to travel from Sapporo to Tokyo as it travels overnight, saving a nights worth of accommodation. The cheapest way to Tomakomai Port from Sapporo is by bus from Sapporo Station. Then from Oarai, you need to catch a bus to Mito Station and then either a bus or train to Tokyo.

The Seikan Tunnel linking Japan's main island of Honshu with Hokkaido took 17 years to build between 1971 and 1988 and is one of the engineering wonders of the world. It is the deepest (240 metres) and longest (58 kilometres) rail tunnel in the world, although the part of the tunnel actually under the sea is shorter than the submarine part of the Channel Tunnel. The original plan was to build a shinkansen (bullet train) link to Sapporo, but the arrival of large commercial jet aircraft in the 1970s quickly put paid to the idea. Although normal passenger trains run through the tunnel, freight traffic is now much more important.

NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT: Click Here
MAP OF SUBWAY OF SAPPORO: Click Here
JAPAN SHINKANSEN MAP: Click Here
SHINKANSEN ROUTE MAP: Click Here

It is very easy to get to and from the Chitose Airport and the trains are quite frequent. 1040 yen
It is very expensive to travel around Hokkaido!! The Hokkaido Free Kippu allows you to travel on JR trains and buses for seven days. It costs 23,750 yen for unreserved seats. You can also try the ostrich jerky!

New Chitose Airport

New Chitose Airport, northern gateway, is located thirty-six minutes by train from Sapporo. You can fly directly not only to domestic cities but also to foreign cities; Seoul, Guam, Saipan, Hongkong, Honolulu and Cairns. This Airport aims to be the bridge between Japan and rest of the world with the first twenty four hour international air cargo base in Japan. Flights connect Sapporo directly with the main cities in Japan, and the comprehensive and modern facilities of Chitose are renowned.

The island of Hokkaido is very far from central Japan. It is possible to go by train but it's almost as expensive as flying. I used the ferry instead: it took one day and a half from Nagoya but it was a real bargain at 4000 yens ($37) one-way.

All Nippon Airlines From Hanada in tokyo