[ Flights ]
With 25 domestic routes (nineteen flights from other parts of Japan and six within the island), New Chitose Airport can be readily accessed from across the country. Tokyo is only 90 minutes away and is served by over 40 return flights per day, making it officially the single highest-traffic passenger route in the world!
| Approximate time required from major cities |
| Tokyo |
90 minutes |
| Nagoya |
90 minutes |
| Osaka |
2 hours |
| Fukuoka |
2 hours 20 minutes |
|
[ Overland ]
Train routes to Hokkaido are also quick and convenient. A combination of Shinkansen (bullet trains) and local express trains can be used from across Japan. A planned extension of the Shinkansen network into Hokkaido is currently underway. Popular overnight sleeper trains run from Tokyo and Osaka, including the famous "Cassiopeia" service which is so well-appointed that it has earned the nickname "moving hotel".
There are a variety of national and regional JR (rail) passes available for visitors to Japan, which represent an attractive deal for those wishing to see a broad cross section of the country. Charters and special trains are also possible. |
