| Opening Hours | 5:00 - 23:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0123-23-0111 http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/ja/ |
| Notes | International and domestic terminals, restaurants, 2 hotel, play area, museum, and souvenir stores, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | New Chitose Airport is in the south west of Hokkaido. It is about a 45 minute train ride from Sapporo city. The cost is ¥1150 per person Bibi, Chitose, Hokkaido 066-0012 |
The New Chitose Airport opened in 1988 to replace the old airport. Since then the airport has been upgraded and has expanded its international terminal as well as its domestic terminal. The airport is the gateway to Hokkaido and sees over twenty million visitors each year pass through its gates. From the airport to the major city of Sapporo, it is a 45 minute train ride or an hour bus ride. The three story complex has an array of souvenir stores, restaurants, relaxation facilities, and entertainment facilities.
Points of interest at the New Chitose Airport include the Hokkaido Ramen Dojo. You can enjoy one more ramen bowl before heading home. There are ten famous Hokkaido ramen stores to choose from. At the airport you can also check out Roycs Chocolate World. They have a small factory to watch, a chocolate museum, and of course, a chocolate shop. There is also a small Doraemon Sky park for the kids. For those needing to relax there is the New Chitose Airport Onsen. Here they have reclining chairs to relax and wait for your flight. This airport closes at 11:00pm so there is nowhere to stay overnight. This onsen is available to stay at however!
The trains that run from New Chitose Airport leave around every fifteen minutes. The trains run from the basement floor. For buses see below.
| Sapporo (via Fukuzumi station) Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo | Bus stop 14, 22 |
| Oyachi Kita 24 (via Asabu) Miyanosawa Sapporo Beer Garden (via kanjo dori east) | Bus stop 13, 20 |
| Makomanai Maruyama Bus Terminal Soen,Nishi 14-chome Kita 9-jo | Bus stop 12, 21 |
| Jozankei Onsen Obihiro Tokachigawa Onsen Asahikawa 21 | Bus stop 21 |
| Downtown Chitose Atsuma Lake Shikotsu | Bus stop 1, 28 |
| Tomakomai Muroran Noboribetsu Onsen Urakawa Hobetsu Shiraoi | Bus stop 2, 29 |
| Ski bus Niseko Rustsu | Bus stop 12 |
| Admission | Free entry Volcano Museum ¥600 Adults - ¥300 Children |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | December 31 to January 3 |
| Contact | 0142-75-2555 http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/ |
| Notes | Museum, parking available, local information. Volcano Theater show times are held every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 16:30 |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the southern shore of Lake Toya. A 2 minute drive up the hill from central Toya Onsen district. 142-5 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
The Toyako Visitor center is a beautifully designed building that was established in May of 2007. The facility was made by the Ministry of the Environment. It is an information center that focuses on the environment and the interesting biodiversity of Lake Toya. Through exhibitions and displays, the facility helps visitors get in touch with the area, and introducing various eco-museum projects. There is also a fantastic Volcano Museum inside, which looks at the volcanic activity of the area, both past and present!
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The volcanic science museum can be found at the Toyako Visitor Center. It is an interesting small museum that focuses on the eruptions at Lake Toya that occurred in 1977, and in 2000. Through exhibitions, and experience devices you can get a real feel for the impact of these volcanic eruptions, and introduces the history of Mount Usu. There is a theatre inside which is fascinating and definitely worth a visit. The 13 minute documentary delves into the eruptions with sound and visuals which leave a strong impact. The audio device has translations into English, Korean, Chinese, and Thai.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | - |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 19:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0133-78-2300 |
| Notes | Rest stop, Museum, Food available, Souvenir store, Observation deck, Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Found on the Ishikari coastal road, route 231. It's a 1 hour drive from Sapporo. 12-4 Atsutaku Atsuta, Ishikari-shi, Hokkaidō 061-3601 |
Observation deck
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Energy for the drive from Ishikari Fumiichi
The small museum has information on the surrounding flora and fauna. With miniatures, small exhibits, and photographs, its an interesting place to have a wander around. For those wanting to grab a bite to eat, there are a couple of food stalls on the middle floor. The ‘Ishikari Fumiichi’ store has a few fish meals, Chinese dumplings, and beers to buy. ‘Home’ is a bakery & pizza restaurant that has delicious pastries, pizzas, and fresh juices available. And the popular ‘Gelato Lico Lico’ sells (you guessed it) gelatos. Simply order your meal from the vending machines and go to the counter. There are plenty of tables to rest, eat, and drink.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2216 |
| Notes | Museum & gallery |
| Location / Getting There | Access via Mt. Tengu Ropeway. Top of Mt. Tengu 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Tengu masks
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Otaru Ski Museum
Mt. Tengu is said to be protected by this deity. Tengu Hall is is a small exhibition space that has approximately 700 varieties of Tengu masks that have been collected from all around Japan. It can be found after exiting the gondola on top of the mountain. It is a fascinating spot to see all the different types of masks. To get to Tengu hall, enter Otaru Ski Museum. This museum is interesting in itself and has some 400 items on display, relating to the history of skiing in Japan. Otaru has known to have produced many professional skiers, who have long skied the slopes of Mt. Tengu
| Mt Tengu Ropeway | ¥1200 Adult round trip ¥600 Child round trip *discount for groups of 20 or more ¥1500 Adults round trip ticket + ¥800 meal coupon: |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 21:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0134-33-7381 |
| Notes | Observatory, gift shop, restaurants, hiking path, Squirrel park, shrine, snow gallery, Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Take the Chuo (#9 天狗山ロープウエイ線) bus from Otaru station terminal, or Otaru canal terminal. Get off at "Tenguyama" (last stop). Takes about 15 minutes. 2-chōme-16-16 Mogami, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0023 |
Great views
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“Tengu” of Japanese folklore
Once alighting the cablecar, you will first enter the gift shop and restaurant, where you can sit and have lunch, dinner or coffee. If you need lockers, there are a few here for ¥500 for the day, and which are cheaper than the lockers at the bottom of the mountain. It is here too, you can see the Otaru Winter Museum, and the Tengu Hall which has fantastic Tengu masks on display. Outside, there is “Nausea’s Tengu”, a giant Tengu sculpture, which if you touch the nose, your wishes will come true. Behind this is a squirrel enclosure (open only during the summer), and a shrine, known as “Tengusan Shrine”. The shrine in the evening is lit by lanterns and is especially beautiful during this time.
One of the observation points
Circling around the top of the mountain is a small hiking path. It takes about 25 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant walk and while walking around there are a couple of clear vantage points that offer beautiful views over the surrounding area. Finally, for kids and adults there is a downhill bobsled track that runs for 400 meters. The track costs ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children. The track is closed during bad weather. All this during the summer, and during the winter there is skiing and snowboarding as well! A great place for family and friends.
Impressive views up
To get to the mountain, you can drive or take a bus. Buses leave from Otaru station, and Otaru canal bus terminal. For night viewing, there is an ‘Otaru Nightview Shuttle Bus’ (小樽夜景シャトルバス). This shuttle bus leaves from the the Otaru Grand Park Hotel at 18:50 and 19:20. It does a run through Otaru, stopping further at Hotel Otaru Furukawa, Hotel Sonia, Hotel Nord, Otaru Canal Bus Terminal, The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, Inaho Jujigai, and the Otaru Train Station Bus Teminal. It operates from the end April until the start of November and costs ¥210 per adult, and ¥110 per child.
| Admission | ¥200 Adult ¥180 Adult groups over 20 Free for children under 15 |
| Opening Hours | 8:45 - 17:10 (last entry 17:00) |
| Closed | New Years - Jan 1 to Jan 3 |
| Contact | 011-231-0838 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access Souvenir store inside Exhibits in multiple languages |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Odori subway station, or 8 minute walk from Sapporo station. Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku North Ichi West 2-chome |
Iconic exterior
The Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the famous icons of the city and is located in centre of the Sapporo, right by Odori park. It is the perfect sightseeing spot and easy to drop into while exploring the city. The clock tower was built in 1878, and is the last remnant of the drill hall of the former Agricultural College, which is now Hokkaido University. Being one of the earliest remaining buildings in Sapporo, it is an interesting look back into the history of Sapporo. The city itself was chosen as the administrative centre of Hokkaido in 1868, which is the date currently recognized as the official birth of the city.
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2nd floor interior
The clock tower’s wooden exterior is characteristic to that of American architecture during the frontier era. The building has two accessible two stories and has recently been repainted in its original light green color. The first floor serves as an exhibition room with photos, dioramas, and objects introducing the history of the Agricultural College and the development of Sapporo. There is also a library and souvenir store here. The clock in the building was installed in July 1881 by E. Howard & Co. and the second floor has a working clock showing the mechanics of the design. At only ¥200, the popular Sapporo Clock Tower is an informative and cheap sightseeing spot.
