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Japan offers a wide range of travel experiences, and perhaps the most distinct one would be exploring snowy Hokkaido island in the north. Famous for its world-class skiing and the Sapporo Snow Festival, this winter wonderland leans into its weather conditions and rugged terrain. While you can certainly visit during the summer when the mountains turn from skiing to hiking trails, the full experience is best enjoyed by visiting during the winter.
Most travelers will doubtless already be familiar with the name, as just about every Japanese restaurant serves the iconic lager from the Sapporo Brewery. This refreshing beverage is far from the only culinary offering, as Hokkaido’s distinctive regional cuisines make for a worthy foodie adventure. Of course, there’s fresh seafood and sushi, but the heavily miso-flavored Hokkaido-style ramen is worth the trip alone (just think about how comforting a steamy bowl of ramen is after a day of skiing). There’s also the traditional grilled mutton dish called Jingisukan that will satisfy the more adventurous eaters.
There are a few ways to get to Sapporo and the surrounding ski resorts, including the bullet trains, but the most common travel method is flying into Sapporo Airport. The official name is New Chitose Airport, but even locals will refer to it as Sapporo Airport. It’s situated just outside the city center, with a quick 45-minute train ride (the JR Hokkaido Airport Express train runs to Sapporo Station throughout the day) to most of the downtown hotels and attractions. Many international travelers will take a quick flight up to Hokkaido from Tokyo, but there are direct international flights from North America, Europe, and throughout Asia.
It’s an efficient and comfortable travel experience, and you’ll get to the ski hill in practically no time. Here’s everything you need to know about New Chitose Airport in Sapporo:
New Chitose Airport’s luggage storage facilities are situated in the arrivals area, and they cost between $2 and $6 to rent a locker for the day. They come in three different sizes and can be rented for up to three days. It’s a solid option if you have a few hours on a layover and want to check out Sapporo (connecting flights are quite rare) or ski trips where you have a bag of street clothes you won’t be needing. There are large lockers for bigger checked bags, but ski gear will have to be kept with a proper luggage storage service. One benefit is that the opening hours of the airport offer much more flexibility than other options. A downside is that if you’re staying in Sapporo city center, you won’t have access to your baggage.
You don’t necessarily have to fly to the north island of Hokkaido to get to Sapporo. The Shinkansen bullet train network is one of the most efficient and expansive transit networks, and there’s a route between Tokyo and Sapporo. Even the more remote cities like Sapporo have been incorporated into this infrastructure. You can now take a four-hour train ride between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. From there, you can take the train to Sapporo Station.
Almost all major Japanese train stations offer coin-operated lockers, and Sapporo Station does offer this temporary baggage storage service for commuters and tourists. The lockers are highly affordable, with prices starting at $2 for small cubby-sized units or large lockers that can accommodate luggage. These are equipped with English-compatible touch screens, which will make it easy to control your locker rental. You’ll still need to hit the money-changing machine to get 100-Yen coins, but it’s still a simple process. Unfortunately, these aren't big enough to accommodate ski bags or larger items, so you’ll want to look into a luggage storage service like Bounce if you're traveling with these items.
If you're actually going to explore Sapporo and not just head to the ski resort, you'll have a few options for storing your bags while enjoying the city. Plenty of train stations will have coin lockers onsite, and more than a few museums will offer a cloakroom, but these aren't always reliable options. A luggage storage service is your best bet, especially Bounce. With storage spots throughout Sapporo (Bounce partners with local shops) and the surrounding areas, you'll have an easy time finding a place to store the bags. With an intuitive mobile app, Bounce makes it easy to store large bags and specialty items, as you can check ahead of time with your reservation to make sure the storage spot can accept your belongings. This is crucial if you're bringing your own ski gear to Sapporo!
New Chitose Airport and Sapporo Station are connected by the JR Rapid Trains that run throughout the day. It takes about 40 minutes and costs only $7 to get to the city center. If you have a JR Rail Pass from other stops on your trip, this is covered and would be the most affordable option. From Sapporo Station, the rest of the city is your oyster.
Multiple bus routes operate from the airport and destinations like Susukino, Odori Park, and Sapporo Station. Because it does take over an hour to get to the city center, taking the bus really isn't the most efficient way to get there, especially considering how quickly the train runs.
If you’re heading to the city center, you can hail a cab from the taxi stand outside of arrivals. It takes between 40 minutes to an hour and costs between $60 and $80. This is by far the most expensive option, and might not be worth the time saved when comparing it to the train.
For a ski trip, renting a car can actually be pretty useful as you’ll be heading outside the city center. There are plenty of rental companies operating out of New Chitose Airport, including ones that serve the US and Europe. There are dozens of ski resorts within a few hours from Sapporo and the airport. Teine Ski Resort is only a 40-minute drive from Sapporo and provides an easy day trip from the city center. Kiroro is a little further but still within 90 minutes and is ideal for a weekend getaway. Rusutsu Resort is about two hours away with one of the largest footprints of any resort, and it’s ideal for advanced and serious skiers.
You've probably heard the name ‘Sapporo’ long before you even considered a trip to Japan. The country's favorite beer is about as ubiquitous as it gets in sushi restaurants and ramen shops around the world. If you want to head to the source, you can tour the Sapporo brewery right in the middle of town. It's vaguely reminiscent of the Heineken Experience, or Guinness’s Saint James Gate brewery in Dublin. It's a beautiful facility with a delightful red brick structure covered in ivy and a lovely beer garden. The Sapporo Brewery is only a 10-minute walk from the subway, which is ideal if you’re going to enjoy a few beers after the tour.
You'll get to sample a few of the brewery's lesser-known offerings, including Sapporo's full-bodied Black Label, Sapporo Classic (found only on the island of Hokkaidō) and their hoppier Kaitakushi Pilsner.
The vast majority of international and domestic travelers head to Hokkaido for the sole purpose of utilizing its many world-class ski resorts. One of the closest options to Sapporo city center is reachable within an hour.
Sapporo Teine is one of the most popular skiing destinations in Japan. Much of this is because of its proximity to Sapporo, but the mountain and facilities are all top-notch. There are runs catering to all skill levels from the bunny hill for beginners to some of the length fear and steeper runs built for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. This event essentially put Sapporo on the map for the rest of the world, and the resort’s enduring popularity certainly is a testament to the influence of that event. In fact, the Olympic flame still burns above the resort to this day.
Whether you’re heading north for an epic skiing adventure or you’re checking off a vital destination on your Japan bucket list, Sapporo provides plenty of thrills along with one of the more unique travel experiences you’ll ever have. If you’re hitting the slopes, your logistics will need to be planned efficiently, and that might include finding a secure place to store your ski gear and larger luggage. The best option for luggage storage Sapporo has would be Bounce, which offers unparalleled left luggage services that will accommodate ski equipment and other specialty items. All you’ll have to do is plan ahead a bit, and your trip will be a breeze. If you’re heading elsewhere in Japan, Bounce has you covered with luggage storage locations across the country.