For Australian skiers heading to Japan, the reintroduction of Sydney to Sapporo direct flights has made travel to Hokkaido faster and easier than ever before. Instead of dealing with a transfer through Tokyo for a domestic connection, travellers can now fly directly to New Chitose Airport, the closest airport to Sapporo and Hokkaido’s famous powder resorts of Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano.
Qantas first launched the Sydney to Sapporo winter service in 2019–20, and it’s now making a highly anticipated return for the 2025–26 season. Running from 15 December 2025 to 28 March 2026, the flights align perfectly with Hokkaido’s peak snow period. With a flight time of around 10.5 hours, it’s the fastest and most direct way to reach Sapporo from Australia.
Sydney to New Chitose Airport Direct Flight
The Sydney to New Chitose Airport direct flight lands at New Chitose (CTS), which serves as the main airport for Sapporo. The airport’s international terminal is modern and well-equipped, with shops and convenient transport links.
The flight schedule lines up with resort buses so it’s quite easy to then check into your Niseko or Rusutsu accommodation that same day and prepare for a day of skiing the following morning.
Qantas will operate the direct Sydney–Sapporo flights three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with the seasonal service running from 15 December 2025 to 28 March 2026.
Flight Schedule:
- QF107 Sydney (SYD) 09:05 – Sapporo (CTS) 17:55
- QF108 Sapporo (CTS) 19:40 – Sydney (SYD) 09:05 (+1 day)
Access to Hokkaido’s Major Resorts
For most visitors, Sapporo itself is not the final destination, but a starting point for reaching Hokkaido’s most famous ski areas. From New Chitose Airport:
- Niseko is around two and a half hours by coach.
- Rusutsu takes about two hours.
- Furano can be reached in roughly three hours.
Convenience Compared with Tokyo Connections
Before the reintroduction of Sydney to Sapporo direct flights, travellers needed to fly into Tokyo Narita or Haneda, then take a domestic flight north to New Chitose Airport before continuing on to the resorts. Another great benefit is that you won’t need to collect and recheck your luggage at Tokyo or Osaka airports.
Planning
Seats on the Sydney to Sapporo route are limited and in high demand particularly during peak periods such as Christmas and New Year.
It is also worth noting that while the direct service operates only during the winter months, connecting flights through Tokyo, Osaka or other Asian hubs remain available year-round.
Japan Ski Experience does not book flights as they can be most cost-effectively sourced directly from the airline. What we can do however is provide you with any advice that would help in selecting the best flight to book, and align your flights with your transfer arrangements in Japan. Our team is also available for you to get in touch in the event of flight delays to ensure the best possible coordination of your arrival in resort. Get in touch with us for your next ski holiday to Japan get a quote from our team.