Before going anywhere, learning more about your destination is necessary to ensure a safe and comfortable trip. So, if you’re flying to Chitose Airport anytime soon, you should learn the ins and outs of the place to have an enjoyable time there. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into learning about Chitose Airport.
About Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport opened in July 1988, replacing the old one called Chitose Airport. This airport is the main gateway to Hokkaido, Japan. You’ll arrive at this airport if you plan to visit Hokkaido, which is well-known for its volcanoes, onsen (hot springs), and ski areas.
The airport is in the South-Southeast area of Chitose and Tomakomai, around 5 km from those cities. It’s also located around 45km from Sapporo City, the capital city of Hokkaido. Because the airport also serves the Sapporo area, some people refer to the airport as Sapporo Airport.
Chitose Airport History
In 1994, New Chitose Airport became the first to provide 24-hour service. It serves passengers between 10 PM to 7 AM. However, due to noise alleviation concerns, the airport limits its flight to six daily flights. Four are passenger flights to Tokyo, and the rest of the daily flights are used by cargo flights.
Fast forward to 2018, Chitose Airport became the fifth-busiest airport in Japan. It also ranked 64th globally regarding passenger numbers that could handle that time, with around 23 million passengers that year. Moreover, despite the limited daily flights, this airport hosts the world’s second busiest domestic flight route, the Chitose – Tokyo Haneda Airport (CTS–HND). There was an average of 8.7 million passengers in 2021 for this route only.
Just from its history, the New Chitose Airport sounds lively and exciting, but wait ’til you learn about its facilities and services. As the largest airport in Hokkaido, the New Chitose Airport has various facilities and services to fulfill your needs in its airport terminals.
Chitose Airport Terminals
The New Chitose Airport has two terminals, international and domestic. Each terminal has several levels with different facilities and services. There are also airport lounges in each terminal that passengers can use to relax while waiting for their flights.
The international terminal has four levels:
- First Level (lobby)
- Second Level (arrivals)
- Third Level (departures)
- Fourth Level (food court area)
This terminal has two lounges, the North Lounge and Royal Lounge. You can find both lounges on the Fourth Level of this terminal.
As for the domestic terminal, there are five levels that you can explore:
- Basement Level (JR Line train rail)
- First Level (arrivals)
- Second Level (departures + shopping area)
- Third Level (Food court area)
- Fourth Level (Oasis Park and entertainment area)
This terminal has five lounges, three more compared to the international terminal. Here is the list of the available lounges for passengers:
- AI Nippon Airways ANA Suite Lounge
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge
- Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge
- ANA Lounge
- Super Lounge
With so many airport lounges available, you can have a decent rest while waiting for your flight. However, in case you’re looking for a more proper place to rest, you can always go to one of the many Chitose Airport hotels.
Chitose Airport Hotels
Finding a good place to rest well before your next flight might be challenging if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Fortunately, you can find many hotels close to Chitose Airport. The closest one is Air Terminal Hotel, a three-star hotel inside the airport that’s only an elevator ride away!
Besides Air Terminal Hotel, you also can try other hotels, such as Chitose Airport Hotel, Portom International Hokkaido, Hotel Grand Terrace Chitose, and ANA Crowne Plaza Chitose.
Now, you know where to stay to get a good rest and freshen up, but do you know how to get there or anywhere outside of the airport? If you’re still clueless about the airport transportation method, let’s hop on to the next section!
Chitose Airport Transportations
Four different transportation methods are available for you to leave or head to Chitose Airport. JR Line and Buses are the best choices because they are affordable and comfortable. You also can rent a car if you know the route. If you have enough budget, you can call a taxi to take you to the airport or any destination you want.
With your transportation set, let’s get into the fun part: creating an itinerary based on the best things to do in Chitose!
Best Things to Do in Chitose
Chitose City has so many amazing places to visit and things to do. For an unforgettable visit, make sure to have some time to visit these places:
- Chitose Outlet Mall Rera – The largest outlet mall in Hokkaido where you can shop, eat, and have fun.
- Lake Shikotsu – enjoy the emerald green lake and the best relaxing time.
- Northern Horse Park – interact with horses and enjoys beautiful garden scenery.
- Yuni Garden – take pictures in this garden facility with lovely pink and purple Linaria flowers.
- And more!
Aside from the mentioned places in Chitose City, you can also visit a famous nearby area, Niseko City.
Going to Niseko from Chitose
Famous for its powder snow in winter, Niseko City offers a fantastic snowy mountain view and an excellent location for skiing or snowboarding. It’s also a wonderful destination during summer because of its mild heat during the hot summer months.
There are many best things to do in Niseko City, including the famous winter activities. To get to Niseko from Chitose Airport, you can ride the bus, train, bullet train, or taxi. If public transportation isn’t your cup of tea, you can also rent a car and drive to Niseko City.
That’s all about Chitose Airport’s essential information. Hopefully, you have a clearer idea about the airport and can navigate the bustling place just fine. Just make sure to have your documents and bookings in order before flying here, and if you still need to book your flight or hotel, check out Airpaz to get the best deal for your booking!
