Jazmin Li
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, is a popular tourist destination. There are 13 airports in Hokkaido, with the three largest and most trafficked being New Chitose Airport (CTS), Hakodate Airport (HKD), and Asahikawa Airport (AKJ). New Chitose Airport is the largest airport in Hokkaido by both traffic and land area and is often considered the gateway to the island. It is located in the Chitose region of Hokkaido and serves the Sapporo metropolitan area. It is well connected to smaller airports on the island, such as Hakodate, Kushiro, Rishiri, and Nemuro Nakashibetsu. If you're looking for quick access to the Asahiyama Zoo, the Furano area, or the onsen and mountain trails of Asahidake, Asahikawa Airport is a good option as it is located in the center of Hokkaido.
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What You'll Learn
New Chitose Airport (CTS)
CTS is one of six 24-hour airports in Japan and the only inland airport among them. It is also one of the top 50 airports in the world, according to Skytrax, which awarded it the title of "World's Most Improved Airport" in 2024. The airport features separate runways for commercial and military aircraft, with the latter being used by the adjacent Chitose Air Base, home to F-15 Eagle fighter jets and the Japanese Air Force One government aircraft.
New Chitose Airport offers a range of facilities and services for travellers, including temporary baggage storage, home delivery counters, prayer rooms, smoking areas, and wheelchair assistance. It also has a hot spring (onsen) on the fourth floor, a cinema complex, museums, and a variety of dining options, including ramen restaurants and the Streetcar Dining District, specialising in Hokkaido cuisine. The airport also has hotels connected to both the domestic and international terminals, providing convenient accommodation options for travellers.
In terms of transportation, New Chitose Airport is easily accessible by train, with the JR Line providing connections to major cities such as Sapporo, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Obihiro, and Kushiro. Bus services are also available, including fixed-route buses to ski resorts like Niseko and Rusutsu. Rental cars and taxis offer additional flexibility for travellers.
For those with a connecting flight or a layover, the Air Terminal Hotel at the domestic terminal and the Portom International Hokkaido at the international terminal provide comfortable accommodation options. The airport also offers a range of dining and entertainment choices, ensuring that travellers have a pleasant experience during their time at New Chitose Airport (CTS).
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Hakodate Airport (HKD)
Hokkaido is home to 13 airports, including Hakodate Airport (HKD). HKD is a smaller airport located in Hakodate City in southern Hokkaido. It is one of the three main airports in Hokkaido, alongside New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Asahikawa Airport (AKJ).
HKD is accessible via a 40-minute flight from Sapporo Okadama Airport, which is located in downtown Sapporo. It also takes about 40 minutes to fly from Sapporo's New Chitose Airport to Hakodate Airport. If you're travelling by car, the journey from Sapporo to Hakodate takes around 4 hours.
From Hakodate Airport, there are direct flights to various destinations in the United States, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Sky Harbor International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and more. There are also direct flights to several other destinations, including Saipan International Airport and Hilo International Airport.
Hakodate City is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful night views, delicious seafood, and unique townscape that blends Japanese and Western architecture. The city offers several attractions, such as Fort Goryokaku, the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Mount Hakodate, and Yunokawa Onsen.
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Asahikawa Airport (AKJ)
Asahikawa Airport is accessible by bus from Asahikawa Station, Asahiyama Zoo, and Furano Station. The airport has direct international flights, and it is possible to fly directly to and from Tokyo. Within Hokkaido, trains and sightseeing buses are available to travel between airports and to various destinations within the prefecture.
Asahikawa Airport is one of the three main airports in Hokkaido, along with New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hakodate Airport (HKD). New Chitose Airport is the most popular airport in Hokkaido for flights from the Japanese mainland, and it offers convenient access to nearby cities such as Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu/Toya, and Niseki. Sapporo Okadama Airport is another airport in Sapporo that mainly serves smaller planes and has flights to more remote airports in Hokkaido.
Hokkaido Air System operated intra-island flights from Asahikawa to Hakodate from 1998 to 2013 and to Kushiro from 1998 to 2008. International service to Seoul began in 2006, and various airlines served the Taipei route until 2020. China Eastern Airlines served Beijing and Shanghai from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, plans were made to build a new international terminal to increase international passenger traffic.
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Sapporo Okadama Airport
From Sapporo Okadama Airport, you can reach other regional airports in Hokkaido, including Hakodate Airport, Tancho Kushiro Airport, and Rishiri Airport. However, there are very few flights between Hokkaido's regional airports, so more remote areas are best accessed via car or by using New Chitose Airport as your gateway to the region.
Okadama Airport has a car rental counter in its domestic terminal building, and there are bus services to various destinations, including Jozankei, Toyako, Noboribetsu, and Furano. The airport previously had limited flight operations, mainly serving propeller flights, but in July 2023, the Sapporo government announced plans to extend the runway to 1,800 meters, which may attract more carriers and flight options in the future.
When planning your trip to Hokkaido, it's worth noting that New Chitose Airport is the primary airport serving the region. It offers convenient access to Sapporo and other nearby cities, with excellent public transport links, including trains and buses. New Chitose Airport also has direct international flights, making it a popular gateway to Hokkaido and its many attractions.
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Kushiro Airport
Hokkaido is home to 13 airports, making it easy to fly in and visit the island's many beautiful areas. One of these airports is the Kushiro Airport, located 17 km (11 mi) west-northwest of the centre of Kushiro, a city in eastern Hokkaido. The airport is also known as the Tancho Kushiro Airport.
From the airport, there are bus services to the city centre, with a travel time of about 25 minutes. There are also sightseeing bus tours that depart from Kushiro Station. For those looking to explore the area independently, car rental counters are located in the arrival lobby on the first floor.
Kushiro City is blessed with magnificent nature, including two national parks: Kushiro Shitsugen and Akan-Mashu. The city stays cool during the summer, making it a popular retreat. There are also hot spring resorts nearby, such as Akanko Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. The area is also famous for its delicious seafood, including oysters, crabs and fresh fish, as well as robatayaki (traditional charcoal grilling).
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Frequently asked questions
The three largest and most trafficked airports in Hokkaido are New Chitose Airport (CTS), Hakodate Airport (HKD), and Asahikawa Airport (AKJ).
New Chitose Airport is the largest airport in Hokkaido by both traffic and land area. With several direct international flights, it is well-known as the gateway to Hokkaido.
There are 13 airports in Hokkaido, including Sapporo Okadama Airport, Tancho Kushiro Airport, Wakkanai Airport, Rishiri Airport, Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport, and Memanbetsu Airport.
You can take a direct flight from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo New Chitose Airport, which takes about 90 to 110 minutes. You can also fly into Haneda and take a cheap connecting flight to Sapporo.
Hokkaido is Japan's northernmost island and one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. It is known for its skiing, the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, hot springs, seafood, and beautiful national parks.
