New Chitose Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

New Chitose Airport is Sapporo's main gateway, but it actually sits in Chitose, around forty kilometres south of the city: the JR Rapid Airport line links the station under the terminal to Sapporo in 37-40 minutes, with a train every 15 minutes. For anyone staying more than one night, the city is almost always the better choice, with Sapporo Station, Odori and Susukino all reachable without changing trains. Sleeping near the airport makes sense mainly for the earliest morning flights or a single-night stopover, when every minute on the train eats into sleep. Travellers after a quieter stay, steps from a large park, can look at the Nakajima Koen area, three metro stops from Susukino.

Chitose

Airport area · Both hotels are around 5.6 km from the terminal, 10-11 minutes by car; the Chitose Airport Hotel is also a 4-minute walk from Chitose JR station, just one stop by train from the airport.

Best for: Early departures before 6am and one-night stopovers, for anyone who wants to skip the train into Sapporo.

Pros

Chitose JR station just minutes on foot, with frequent trains to the airport even in the early hours
Lower rates than hotels in Sapporo, useful for anyone who just needs to sleep before a flight

Cons

Sapporo's centre is still 35-40 minutes away by train: not the right base for anyone wanting to visit the city
Shuttles and schedules vary from hotel to hotel, not always free or continuous

Recommended hotels in this area

Chitose Airport Hotel: A 4-minute walk from Chitose JR station, just one stop by train from the airport; a budget option for anyone who just needs to sleep before a morning flight.
ANA Crowne Plaza Chitose by IHG: About 5.6 km from the terminal, 11 minutes by car, with rooms larger than the area's average; also close to Chitose JR station and the Salmon Aquarium.

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Sapporo Station

Near the airport link · Rapid Airport direct in 37-40 minutes, every 15 minutes; the Hyatt Centric is a 10-minute walk from the station, also linked by the Chi-Ka-Ho underground passages, handy in winter.

Best for: Anyone who wants the direct train to the airport just minutes from their room, with the JR station as a base for exploring all of Hokkaido.

Pros

Direct train to the airport with no changes, even in snow
Underground passages connecting the area to the station without stepping out into the cold

Cons

10 minutes on foot, or underground, still separate it from the platforms: this isn't a hotel right on the station
Prices above Sapporo's average, as a recently opened hotel

Recommended hotels in this area

Hyatt Centric Sapporo: Occupies the first floor and floors 17 to 26 of the Urban Net Sapporo Link Tower; opened on 3 October 2026, it's the first Hyatt hotel in the city, with underground passages to the station and Odori Park a 6-minute walk away.

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Susukino

Neighbourhood · Namboku metro line from Susukino to Sapporo Station in just minutes, then change onto the Rapid Airport for the airport; both hotels are within a 5-minute walk of a metro station.

Best for: Anyone wanting to stay among restaurants, izakaya and evening spots, with the metro to the station and the airport just minutes away.

Pros

The district with Sapporo's highest concentration of restaurants and bars, open late
Two metro lines, Namboku and Toho, just minutes on foot

Cons

The streets around Susukino remain noisy and crowded on weekend nights
A change between the metro and the Rapid Airport is still needed to reach the airport

Recommended hotels in this area

Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino by IHG: Opened on 17 July 2026 in the heart of Susukino, a 5-minute walk from Susukino station; the brand's first hotel in Hokkaido, with the next-generation Gen 5 design.
Mercure Sapporo: A one-minute walk from Hosui-Susukino station (Toho line) and three from Susukino station (Namboku line), right in the district's evening-dining heart.

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Nakajima Koen

Neighbourhood · Nakajima Koen metro station, Namboku line, a 3-4 minute walk from all three hotels; from there it's three stops to Sapporo Station and the change onto the Rapid Airport.

Best for: Anyone preferring a quieter base, overlooking a large park, three metro stops from Susukino and Sapporo Station.

Pros

Nakajima Koen park just steps away, handy for a stroll between flights
A quieter area than Susukino, with often lower rates

Cons

No restaurants or venues comparable to those in Susukino in the immediate vicinity
A metro change is still needed to reach the station and then the Rapid Airport

Recommended hotels in this area

Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo: Right across from Nakajima Koen park, a 3-minute walk from the station of the same name; Sapporo's centre is 10 minutes away by metro.
ibis Styles Sapporo: A 3-minute walk from Nakajima Koen station, with rooms larger than average for the category; a good compromise between price and location, between the park and the centre.
InterContinental Sapporo by IHG: A 4-minute walk from exit 1 of Nakajima Koen station; an upscale hotel opened recently, with views over the park.

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