New Chitose Airport Guide: Things to Do While Waiting for Your Flight

Hokkaido and Sapporo’s airport, “New Chitose Airport,” packs so much of what makes Hokkaido great that you won’t get bored even if you spend the whole day there. Its open, futuristic-feeling space is cool; New Chitose Airport is a commercial facility all on its own—or rather, a theme park. Let’s enjoy New Chitose Airport.

In this article, we introduce how to enjoy New Chitose Airport based on photos the author took from firsthand experience.

Ways to Pass Time at “New Chitose Airport”—Enjoyable All Day

Hokkaido and Sapporo’s airport, “New Chitose Airport,” packs so much of what makes Hokkaido great that you won’t get bored even if you spend the whole day there. Its open, futuristic-feeling space is cool; New Chitose Airport is a commercial facility all on its own—or rather, a theme park.

Using it only to kill time while waiting for a flight would be a waste; I’d want to go just to enjoy New Chitose Airport itself. Although it’s far…

Shopping in New Chitose Airport’s Almost Too Fun “Shopping” Area

Arrive at New Chitose Airport and a grand shopping area spreads out right in front of you. The souvenir area has so many shops you can’t cover them all, packed with Hokkaido’s bounty—enough to make your eyes light up the first time you see it.

It’s vast enough that just looking at the signs gets you excited. Time can slip by right there just browsing the signs. You’ll wonder which shop to hit first, but if you have time, wandering around at your leisure is a good approach.

An absolute must-visit is “AIR LeTAO.” Read LeTAO backwards and you get “Otaru”—a delicious cake shop that started in Otaru. You can buy cakes as souvenirs, and it also works as a cafe where you can savor them slowly on the spot.

It’s seriously delicious, and you end up relaxing just like this. Even though it’s a shopping area, unwinding this way is another way to enjoy it.

Eating in the “Gourmet Area” Packed with Delicious Hokkaido Dishes

A gourmet area rich in Hokkaido’s bounty spreads out. Jingisukan, soup curry, Sapporo ramen, delicious seafood, sushi, sushi, sushi…—the lineup is tempting.

Walking through the gourmet area, a great big polar bear-chan drawn by Hokkaido cuisine comes into view. …The cola looks delicious.

Unwind at New Chitose Airport Onsen—Relaxation Even at an Airport

Amazingly, New Chitose Airport even has a hot spring. It’s what you’d call a super sento, but it’s authentic and wonderful. Having a hot spring is one thing, and the dining area also lets you dig into Hokkaido cuisine and seafood so thoroughly you’d hardly believe it’s all one facility inside an airport.

You can enjoy food and drinks at a Japanese-concept dining spot that gets you excited just looking at it. Seafood with a beer after the bath is outstanding.

True to Hokkaido, the seafood is delicious. Seafood bowls are irresistible!

Phew! Beer after a bath hits the spot!! You might lose track of time while drinking and forget to board your plane.

The hot spring has a spacious indoor bath and an open-air bath. The open-air bath is quite hot, but midwinter New Chitose is below freezing—hot once you’re in, freezing if you stay out—an outstanding open-air bath where you feel the hot-and-cold contrast like a little ascetic training.

Is that alright?

The relaxation room after the bath is so comfortable you might accidentally fall asleep—but there’s something almost too tempting here.

All-you-can-read manga!

You seriously lose track of time and keep reading. Lose yourself in manga and you might forget to board your plane. Be careful.

Perfect for Passing Time! New Chitose Airport Even Has a Movie Theater

New Chitose Airport even has a movie theater. Watching a movie might make you forget to board; check the showtime carefully before you go in. By this point New Chitose Airport feels like an almost too-fun shopping mall!

Might also be perfect for dates!

JAL Lounge at New Chitose Airport

Diamond Premier / First Class Lounge (JAL)

A luxury lounge that only coveted First Class passengers (or Diamond / Premier members) can enter. The interior is gorgeous and clean, with many composed guests—a lounge where you can calmly spend the wait until departure.

Inside the Calm Lounge

Inside the calm lounge, seats and sofas are provided, and guests mostly relax quietly until boarding. Unlike the Sakura Lounge, children are rarely seen, so the vibe is mostly composed adults.

Abundant Drinks (Alcoholic Beverages)

Alcoholic drinks such as champagne, red wine, white wine, beer, shochu, and whisky are plentiful; soft drinks and coffee are available too, so you can spend a relaxed, easy time. Everything is complimentary.

Beer, white wine, red wine, and champagne lined up make a picture in their own right. I’m the type who brings them all at once—going back for more repeatedly is a hassle. Drink too much and you might doze off and miss your flight, so please be careful!

How to Get from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo

When visiting an airport for the first time, you may wonder how to get to the city center. To avoid getting confused on the day, researching ahead matters. In this article, we cover the main (recommended) ways to get from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo city.

Summary: New Chitose Airport is a Theme Park Where You Can Spend a Whole Day

New Chitose Airport is not merely a transfer point, but a giant entertainment complex packed with Hokkaido’s charm. With shopping, gourmet dining, relaxation, and entertainment all in one place, coming here as a destination in itself is more than enjoyable enough.

Please be extra careful with time so you don’t get absorbed in souvenir shopping or linger too long in the hot spring and miss your flight—the whole reason you came.

Fascinating! The Appeal of Susukino Snack Bar “Sapporo Snack Street”

Inside a building in Sapporo’s “Susukino,” you’ll find “Sapporo Snack Street,” a cluster of snack bars in a space with a Western-style mansion atmosphere reminiscent of a Haunted Mansion or Resident Evil.