Landing at New Chitose Airport

What CTS is like

New Chitose is Hokkaido's main airport, a fair way south of Sapporo, with domestic and international sides joined by an internal walk. The domestic side carries a shopping and eating area large enough that people arrive early on purpose. What sets it apart from other Japanese airports is winter: snow can move an entire day's schedule, not just one flight. Anyone flying here between December and March should treat the timetable as provisional.

On arrival

Get the line up as soon as you land, because in winter the first thing many people need to check is whether the trains are running normally. The station is in the basement of the domestic building, so passengers off an international flight walk across first, entirely under cover and clearly signposted. After the belts, do not rush down to the platform before looking at the departures, since heavy snow can change them. If you are travelling with ski gear or oversized bags, allow more time than usual for moving between levels. A few minutes spent reading the situation is worth more here than at any other Japanese airport.

How far the airport Wi-Fi gets you

The free Wi-Fi is available and reaches across the retail floors where people spend the most time, but on a bad-weather day with several delayed departures the entire terminal goes online at once to check status, and speed collapses at exactly the moment you need it. That is why an independent line is worth more here than at a calmer airport: the information you want is the information two thousand other people are refreshing. Do not build a tight connection on the assumption that you will be able to look something up instantly.

Getting into town

A rapid service from the station under the terminal reaches Sapporo Station in about forty minutes and is what most people use in normal conditions. Buses run to hotel districts and directly to the ski towns, which suits anyone hauling equipment. In winter both can be delayed, and roads that have not yet been cleared put the bus much further behind than the train. The route into town alternates open country and forest with built-up stretches, so you keep service throughout but not at big-city strength. Load your map and your accommodation details while you are still inside the terminal.

What people ask about this airport

• In winter, check status before heading down — Heavy snow shifts both train and bus times, and checking from a seat upstairs is easier than standing on a cold platform not knowing when anything arrives.
• The station is on the domestic side — Arriving internationally means walking across to the other building before you reach the way down to the platforms. It is all under cover, but put it in your timings.
• Do not plan tight connections in snow months — Delays here tend to arrive as a whole-day pattern rather than one flight at a time, so building in more slack than seems necessary protects the rest of the trip.