Cheap Flights to Sapporo Chitose Airport

Discover Sapporo Chitose

Cheap Flights to Sapporo Chitose

New Chitose Airport (CTS)

New Chitose Airport is one of Japan’s busiest airports and has a good range of facilities. Passengers will have access to free WiFi, tourist information desks, a post office, foreign exchange counters, nursery rooms, medical services, duty-free shops, a prayer room and several restaurants serving western and Japanese cuisine.

The airport is a fair way from the city, situated about 50km away, but there are decent links between the two. Hop on the JR Express Train, use the buses, or jump in a taxi for about 16,000-18,000JPY ($206-232).

Flights to Sapporo are operated by lots of different airlines, including Japan Airlines, ANA, Jetstar, China Eastern, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Qantas and Thai Airways.

Why visit Sapporo?

Sapporo is one of Japan’s largest cities, and the premier hub on the nation’s most northern island: the beautiful, forested, mountainous Hokkaido. With an unusually western layout, due to its European and American architects, this is a Japanese city with a twist. Cradled by surrounding mountains, the city’s shining modern skyscrapers rise up between wide, leafy avenues, making it one of the country’s loveliest cities. Added to that, the street culture boasts a fantastic culinary, arts and music scene. Come to Sapporo, you won’t be disappointed.

Things to do in Sapporo

Start by investigating the older side of Sapporo and its surrounds. Visit the serene and beautiful Hokkaido Shrine, a Shinto temple that was built in the late 19^th century, and hosts the spiritual Sapporo Festival every summer. Then spend a few hours in the Maruyama-koen Park, a landscaped garden that blooms pink in the spring, viridian green in summer, and sees the leaves turn yellow, orange and then fiery red in the autumn, only to be blanketed white in winter.

Stop by the downtown area and drop into Odori Avenue Park, a lovely slice of greenery in the middle of the city. From here you can see the Sapporo TV Tower, shop ‘til you drop, and enjoy the many restaurants in the area.

See the European and North American influence on the city by visiting the Former Hokkaido Government Office, or the Clock Tower that in particular harkens to US colonial style architecture. Today, both buildings frequently serve as venues for musical and theatrical performances, perfect if you’re looking for an evening activity.

Just outside the city, you will find Sapporo’s vaunted natural attractions, such as the magical Shikotsu-Toya National Park, whose extinct volcano Yotei, softens into hills, lakes and craters, ideal for a day or two of hiking. And when you’re done, ease your muscles in the Jozankei Onsen Hot Springs, a resort set in a scenic valley north of the National Park.

Best time to visit Sapporo

· If you want to visit during the warmest season, June-August is your best bet, where highs hover between 22-26°C.

· Autumn (September-November) and spring are lovely seasons, though spring (March-May) can be on the chilly side. Autumn’s averages are far warmer, sticking around the mid to late teens.

· This is Japan’s northernmost isle, so winters are cold, sitting between -7 to 2°C.

Arriving in Sapporo by plane

· All flights from Australia to Sapporo are subject to at least once stop, but these will depend on where in Australia you are departing from. Frequently used hubs are Tokyo (NRT), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Hong Kong (HKG) and Singapore (SIN).

Currency

· Japanese Yen (JPY).

Visa requirements

· Australian nationals are usually granted a 90 day stay upon arrival in Japan, and do not need to apply for visas in advance. However, all entry agreements are subject to change so it is important you check with the foreign affairs websiteto ensure you are travelling with the right information.

Please note that information is correct as of June 2016