Niseko resort area is located approximately 110 kilometres away from the major city of Sapporo, and the major airport of Hokkaido: New Chitose Airport. There are three major ways to reach the Niseko from New Chitose Airport.
New Chitose Airport to Niseko by Bus
I will promote this option without a second thought. This has to be the best way to reach the main Hirafu, or Niseko area, from the airport. The drive is approximately 2 hours to 2 and a half hours and you will be dropped directly into Hirafu.
Why do I recommend this option?
First, you will be picked up from the airport and directly to different locations in Niseko (such as Green Leaf Niseko, or Hirafu Welcome Center. If you are like me and are bringing a ski bag, this is one of the easiest transportation options. That is because you just need to drag that large bag from the baggage carousel, and then to the bus, then for two hours, you are done with the struggle of an oversized bag.
Being dropped off at the Hirafu Welcome Center is the best option for getting to the various hotels and lodging in Hirafu. I have yet to meet a hotel that will not have some shuttle or transportation that will collect you from the Welcome Center. Most of the outlying hotels that are in Kutchan do shuttle buses to the Welcome Center every thirty minutes. Therefore, taking the bus will drop you off at the epicentre of Hirafu.
Now for the story as to why I am very heart set on recommending the bus: the roads are cleared faster during inclement weather than the trains. The bus has the most reliable route! I found this information surprising, as I thought most roads would be closed first. I learned this the hard way on my first trip to Niseko when I thought the fastest route to Niseko was going to be by train. However, there was a moderate snowstorm in the area during arrival to the airport and the start of my train journey. My airport train ended up being delayed 3-hours! That was longer than the actual train route to get to Niseko. The train was so delayed waiting for the tracks to be cleared, that I had to get off the train at the next stop as that became “cancelled’ due to extreme delays. Then wait at that random station for another train that was headed to Kutchan Station. Long story short, when I got into Niseko, I asked the hotel staff about what is the most reliable method of getting to Niseko from the airport and everyone agreed: the bus.
The most important tip I have though is: book your ticket in advance. These busses fill up quickly and the below options all have online reservation options, do it as far in advance as you can!
Bus Options from New Chitose Airport to Niseko:
Chuo Bus
This is the cheapest option for travel to Niseko and will depart from the New Chitose Airport Bus Platform 12
You can book online reservations in advance here.
- Operation dates: December 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020
- Daily times: check their schedule for their latest times
- Price: Adult ¥3,000 one way, ¥5,200 round trip
White Liner
White liner is the one I have the most experience with. The White Liner is run by the company Good Sport. The upside to White Liner is the fact there are more options available for time slots. Book a minimum of 4pm the day before. However, make sure you leave enough time to check in at the desk 20 minutes before the bus departure.
Note: if you are flying internationally you will have to walk over to the domestic terminal to meet for this bus. Read below about moving from International to Domestic Terminal.
- Operation dates: December 1, 2019 – March 30, 2020
- Times:
- From the Domestic Terminal: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:30
- From the International Terminal: 16:30, 20:00
- Price: Adult ¥5,400
Hokkaido Resort Liner
This liner offers the most time options. Additionally, this company offers the most pick ups at the international terminal (1230 and after pickups only though).
This bus line also offers shuttles to destinations in the area if you are looking to explore around more.
- Operation dates: December 1, 2019 – April 3, 2020
- Times: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00, 19:20, 21:20
- After 12:30 pick ups at International Terminal are 10 minutes later
- 1800, 1920 and 2120 trips do not include a rest stop.
- Price: Adult – ¥5,000
Transferring from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal at New Chitose Airport
If you have browsed through some of the bus websites you will notice that Hokkaido Resort Liner and the White Liner predominately pick up from the Domestic Terminal. So what does that mean if you are landing into the international terminal?
No big deal.
The terminals are connected by a long corridor. This corridor has three sets of moving walkways to make it easier to move between the two sections.
Once you land and exit the international baggage claim, you will see signs leading to the domestic terminal. Just head towards the corridor and start walking across the walkways to the other side. The walk between the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal takes approximately 5 minutes. Depending on if you walk or stand on the moving walkways.
Ultimately, I would not be worried if you are landing in at the international terminal but are departing from the domestic terminal. All of my trips have been international arrivals and departures from domestic. Just a quick walk over the corridor in-between and you are in the domestic terminal.
New Chitose Airport to Niseko by Train
This is the second most popular option.
This will require a change in trains though, which is one of the reasons I do not recommend it for individuals traveling with ski bags or with a lot of luggage – as moving all the luggage around is just inconvenient. However, if everything else is booked up then this is another availability.
This will require much more organization than the bus option as you will have to transfer trains, and then arrange for a ride from Kutchan station to Niseko area (if your hotel does not include pickups from the station).
Regular train service runs between New Chitose Airport and Kutchan Station (Niseko). The total time of the train ride will be approximately 3 hours. Here is what you should expect:
- Train 1: The Airport train from New Chitose Airport to Otaru.
- Train 2: Otaru to Kutchan station on the JR HAKODATE LINE.
You can look up train time options through HyperDia. Just search for routes from New Chitose Airport to Kutchan station.
The total cost for the train ride from the airport to Kutchan is approximately ¥3,200.
If you are looking at purchasing train tickets, my recommendation is to use HyperDia to get a rough estimate of the train times. Then head down to the train station (there are plenty of signs in the airport). Go to the information desk with information about the trains that you are interested in purchasing and they will easily assist you.
Resort Shuttle or Private Shuttle to Niseko
If you are staying at one of the nicer establishments in Hirafu or Niseko, there may be services available to hire a transfer between the airport and the resort.
I won’t list this information, as it will be hotel dependent. I would just look out for an email and see if there is the option available – however, it will probably be more expensive than the above options but will be a more posh experience.
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