Overview
Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, is Japan's 5th largest city and has a population of around 2 million people.
Sightseeing, shopping, dining, nightlife and the famous Sapporo Snow Festival that takes place every February are the main draws for visitors.
The transfer time from Sapporo to Niseko is 2 hours.
Train, bus, private taxi transfer and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Sapporo to Niseko.
Sapporo to Niseko Bus
- Price: ¥4,500 per adult / ¥3,000 per child
- Transfer Time: 2 hours
Hokkaido Resort Liner offers a bus service from Sapporo to Niseko with a choice of over 20 hotel pick-up locations in Sapporo and drop off locations in Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri and Moiwa.
There is one departure per day for the Sapporo to Niseko bus and three departures per day for the Niseko to Sapporo Bus
The transfer time is around 2 hours but can vary a little bit depending on road and weather conditions.
If you let your accommodation provider know which bus you have booked, most will meet you at your drop-off location in Niseko and take you to your accommodation for check-in.
Similarly for departure, if you let your accommodation provider know which bus you have booked with sufficient notice, most will pick you up from your accommodation and drop you off at the Niseko bus pick-up location in plenty of time.
The Sapporo to Niseko bus service needs to be booked in advance as buses will only pick up from the Sapporo hotels where they have a booking.
Pros
- Well priced
- Reasonably convenient
- Reasonably fast
Cons
- Limited bus departure times
Sapporo to Niseko Taxi
- Price: ¥3,000 to ¥30,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 2 hours
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer from Sapporo to Niseko with a variety of vehicle sizes offered.
For transfer from Sapporo to Niseko, the driver will meet you in your hotel lobby, carry your bags to the vehicle and drop you off at your check in location in Niseko.
For transfer from Niseko to Sapporo, the driver will collect you from your accommodation and drop you off at your Sapporo hotel. This means no lugging ski bags around the city!
Tip
- You can book a stop off at a supermarket to buy groceries for an additional charge. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation in Niseko and plan to cook some of your own meals, this can be really useful. Hirafu has a couple of grocery stores but none of Niseko’s villages have any large supermarkets. So, a trip to the supermarket requires visiting nearby Kutchan town.
Pros
- Available 24 hours a day
- Most convenient
- Faster than bus services
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Train from Sapporo to Niseko
- Price: Approximately ¥2,100 per person
- Transfer Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Japan has a world-class network of trains that famously run on time to the second!
Sapporo Station is centrally located in the city. Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
The route takes place in two stages:
- Stage 1: JR Rapid Airport Line: Sapporo Station -> Otaru Station (30 minutes)
- Stage 2: JR Hakodate Line: Otaru Station -> Kutchan Station (75 minutes) OR Otaru Station -> Niseko Station (90 minutes)
Some Train Services will allow you to complete both stages without changing trains. More commonly a change of trains at Otaru Station is required. This change is pretty straightforward as Otaru Station is a small station with just a few platforms. Most often this entails disembarking from your train, crossing the platform to the opposite track and boarding the train shortly after arriving at that platform.
If you are staying in Hirafu & Hanazono villages, Kutchan Station is the closest station and is a 15 minutes drive away.
If you are staying in Niseko Village or the Annupuri area, Niseko Station is the closest station and is 10 minutes drive away.
If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Niseko will provide a pick up and drop off service between Kutchan Station or Niseko Town Station and your accommodation, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks’ notice.
Alternatively, you can take a local taxi for approximately ¥2,500 for the 15 minutes’ drive. Please ensure you have your destination written out in Japanese as most taxi drivers in Japan do not speak conversational level English.
Tip
- If travelling during daylight, try and get a window seat on the right-hand side of the train for the section of the journey around Otaru as there are fantastic views out of the Sea of Japan to be had.
Japan Rail Pass: For guests visiting Niseko as part of a longer itinerary of travel elsewhere in Japan, either side of their ski experience, a Japan Rail Pass can be a fantastic investment, allowing unlimited train travel on most Japan Rail trains, for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days to suit your travel schedule.
- Look up winter season train timetables on JR Hokkaido
- Search Japan's train schedules using the Japan Transit Planner.
Note: Sapporo train station is listed as “SAPPORO(JR)” in this system (not to be confused with “SAPPORO(SUBWAY)" or "SAPPORO-BEER-TEIEN”, which are different services.
Pros
- Free if you hold a JR Rail Pass
- Least expensive option
Cons
- A little complex if not familiar with trains in Japan
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
Drive from Sapporo to Niseko
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 2 hours
Sapporo has lots of car hire options for those wanting to drive themselves the 2 hours drive from Sapporo to Niseko.
The route is pretty straightforward with road signs in English but driving in January and February can be a little tricky for those without experience of driving in challenging winter conditions. Snow & ice covered roads are commonplace and visibility can be poor when snow is falling, which is not uncommon in Hokkaido!
If you are comfortable driving in these conditions, having a vehicle opens up the possibility of day tripping to Rusutsu or Kiroro ski resorts, off-the-beaten path Onsen (hot springs) in the area or authentic dining in Kutchan Town.
If you like the sound of this but prefer not to drive yourself from Chitose Airport to Niseko, you can hire a car in Niseko. This is becoming increasingly popular, so book as early as you can and check that your accommodation has sufficient parking.
Larger 7 or 8-seater vehicles, such as Toyota Hi-Ace or Mistubishi Delica, are commonly available to book in advance and can easily transport ski and snowboard bags.
Hire vehicles are four-wheel drive, come with winter tyres already fitted (so no snow chains are required) and English language GPS can be booked.
All drivers must bring their own national driver's license and a valid International Drivers Permit to legally drive in Japan. Car hire companies will not hand over the keys without these documents.
Pros
- Flexibility to get around in the Niseko area
Cons
- Challenging driving conditions – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility
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Niseko Transfers
Whether you are coming from Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate or one of the other Hokkaido Ski Resorts, there are numerous options for the transfer to Niseko.
Book now through our Pre-Trip Concierge Service.
Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.
Getting Around Niseko
Whether you prefer to jump on a shuttle bus, book a taxi or hire a car and drive yourself, there are plenty of options to get around the Niseko area.
Niseko Accommodation
With the healthy mix of visitors from East and West, there is a variety of styles to suit everyone.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.