Access and Orientation (original) (raw)

Tokyo-Sapporo is one of the world's busiest air routes with dozens of flights per day, operated by JAL, ANA, Air Do, Skymark, Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan and Spring Airlines Japan. The majority of flights use Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport, but quite a few flights also use Tokyo's Narita Airport.

Flight duration is about 90 minutes. The regular one way fares by the conventional airlines are as high as around 46,000 yen, but thanks to a wide range of discount offers, one way fares of around or under 10,000 yen are often available. Skymark, Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan and Spring Airlines Japan tend to have the lowest fares (sometimes under 5000 yen), especially to/from Narita.

Airline Lowest fare Average lowest fare
ANA 12,180 yen 16,747 yen
JAL 12,180 yen 17,103 yen
Skymark 8,426 yen 12,437 yen
Air Do 7,470 yen 13,287 yen
Peach 6,130 yen 7,350 yen
Jetstar Japan 5,250 yen 7,389 yen
ANA Wings 15,720 yen 26,986 yen
Spring Japan 5,700 yen 6,769 yen

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Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours). The entire one way trip costs around 30,000 yen and takes around eight hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass. Note that seat reservations are mandatory on Hayabusa trains between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

There are long distance ferries between Oarai Port, 100 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and Tomakomai Port, 50 kilometers south of Sapporo. The one way ferry ride takes about 19 hours and costs 11,500 yen in the cheapest class. View our ferry information page for more details, including port access information.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

No major city in Japan is easier to navigate than Sapporo with its rectangular street layout and simple addressing system: City blocks are named and numbered according to the point of compass, with the apex at the eastern end of Odori Park. The Sapporo Beer Museum, for example, is located in city block "North 7, East 9", i.e. in the 7th block north and 9th block east of the apex.

Signs found at intersections

Three subway lines, a tram line and many bus companies (JR Hokkaido Bus, Hokkaido Chuo Bus and Jotetsu Bus) provide Sapporo with an efficient network of public transportation. The Japan Rail Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and Hokkaido Free Pass are valid on local buses operated by JR Hokkaido Bus.

Sapporo has two airports. The main airport, New Chitose Airport, is reached in a 35 minute train ride hour south from the city center and handles most of the city's domestic and international air traffic. The much smaller Okadama Airport is more centrally located, but has only a small number of flights other cities in Hokkaido.

The following one day passes are available for Sapporo:

Prepaid cards make the process of taking subways and buses easier, as you do not always need to buy a new ticket for each ride. Some of them also give small discounts. Prepaid cards can be purchased at vending machines.

Questions? Ask in our forum.