Plan your Sapporo trip here

Flying is by far the default way to cover the roughly 834 km between Tokyo and Sapporo, with frequent flights linking Haneda or Narita to New Chitose Airport. The train is a slower but scenic alternative that runs via the Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto with a transfer onward to Sapporo, since the Shinkansen line does not yet reach Sapporo directly. A long-distance overnight ferry also exists for travellers bringing a vehicle or simply wanting a slower, cheaper sea crossing.

• flight · about 1.5 to 2 hours in the air Multiple airlines connect Haneda and Narita to New Chitose Airport (CTS), the main gateway to Sapporo; this is the standard choice for most travellers given the distance.
• train · roughly 7 to 8 hours total Take the Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, then transfer to a limited express train onward to Sapporo, as the Shinkansen extension to Sapporo itself is not yet ope
• ferry · roughly 18 to 20 hours Long-distance overnight ferries run from ports near Tokyo, such as Oarai, to Tomakomai near Sapporo; mainly used by travellers taking a car or looking for a slower, scenic overnight crossing rather th

Flying is the standard way to cover this distance, since Kyoto has no airport of its own and travellers connect via Kansai International or Osaka Itami to New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. A few rail enthusiasts make the trip by Shinkansen and local trains via Tokyo and the Hokkaido Shinkansen, but it takes most of a day and rarely saves money over flying. An overnight ferry from nearby Maizuru is also an option for those travelling with a car or wanting to save on lodging.

• flight · about 4 to 5 hours door-to-door Take a train or bus from Kyoto to Kansai International Airport (or Osaka Itami), fly to New Chitose Airport, then a train or bus into central Sapporo.
• train · about 8 hours or more Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, then on to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto via the Hokkaido Shinkansen, with a further limited express transfer to Sapporo; long but usable with a JR rail pass.
• ferry · roughly 20 to 30 hours including the transfer from Kyoto Long-distance ferries (e.g. Shin Nihonkai Ferry) sail overnight from Maizuru, about an hour from Kyoto, to Otaru or Tomakomai in Hokkaido, then a short trip on to Sapporo; mainly used by drivers or bu

Flying is the default way to cover this route — Osaka and Sapporo are nearly 1,000 km apart on different islands, and Kansai Airport has frequent direct flights to New Chitose. An overnight ferry exists for travelers bringing a car or in no hurry, and a shinkansen-plus-transfer rail option exists but takes most of a day, so it's rarely chosen over flying.

• flight · about 2 hours Direct flights connect Kansai International Airport (KIX) to New Chitose Airport (CTS), the main gateway to Sapporo.
• ferry · roughly 30 hours Long-haul ferries sail from the Osaka area to Tomakomai, near Sapporo; used mainly by those traveling with a car or wanting an overnight/budget option rather than speed.
• train · about 8 to 9 hours Requires shinkansen from Shin-Osaka toward Hokkaido and a transfer to a limited express into Sapporo, since the Hokkaido Shinkansen does not yet reach the city; mostly chosen by rail-pass holders or t