One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Chitose千歳市
An airport gateway and a lakeside destination
Ishikari region · Sapporo's city life, plus Lake Shikotsu, Jozankei Onsen and the Ishikari City coast.
Chitose is home to New Chitose Airport and Lake Shikotsu. The lakeshore is a separate destination from the airport and city centre; check the onward journey to your chosen hotel or activity.
Chitose includes both New Chitose Airport and Lake Shikotsu, but the airport, city centre and lakeshore are separate destinations. Choose your accommodation for the place you want to visit, and check the bus, road journey or hotel pickup before booking. For an early flight, confirm the first connection to your terminal.
- Region
- Ishikari (石狩)
- From New Chitose Airport
- ~21 km · 18 min summer / 24 min winter
- From Sapporo
- ~44 km · 42 min summer / 48 min winter
- Best season in Ishikari
- City food in every season, beer gardens in summer and the Snow Festival in winter. Check event dates before planning.
Chitose at a glance
Drive estimates: straight-line × 1.35, at 65 km/h (summer) / 55 km/h (winter). How we calculate
What to see in Chitose
Lake Shikotsu
支笏湖
A caldera lake ringed by forest and three volcanoes, so deep it never freezes even in a Hokkaido winter. Clear-bottom boats, canoes and lakeside hot springs at Shikotsu-ko Onsen on the eastern shore.
Mt. Tarumae
樽前山
An active volcano on the lake's south side with a lava dome sitting in its crater. The trail from the seventh-station car park to the crater rim is short enough for most walkers, with the lake spread out below.
Chitose River salmon and the aquarium
千歳川の鮭とサケのふるさと千歳水族館
From September, salmon push up the Chitose River past a water-wheel weir, and the city aquarium beside it has underwater windows onto the actual river. Watching wild fish through the glass is something few places offer.
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
支笏湖氷濤まつり
From late January into February, lake water is sprayed over frames to build ice towers that glow blue by day and are lit up at night. There are ice slides too.
Getting to Chitose
New Chitose Airport has a JR station under the terminal. For Lake Shikotsu, Hokkaido Chuo Bus route 空4 runs from New Chitose Airport via Chitose Station toward the lake. Check the timetable for your travel date and your return bus, or ask whether your hotel offers a pickup.
Ishikari region: New Chitose Airport and JR Sapporo Station are the main gateways. Lake Shikotsu, Jozankei and the Ishikari City coast each need their own onward bus or car journey.
When to visit Chitose
June to October is the lake's season, with canoes, hiking on Tarumae and the salmon run peaking in September and October. Late January to February brings the ice festival on the shore. Because the lake never freezes, even midwinter visits are possible, though the road can be icy.
What to eat in Chitose
Kokanee salmon from Lake Shikotsu, called chip locally, are the summer delicacy, grilled or as sashimi at the lakeside. Autumn brings the river salmon and its roe. The airport concentrates the whole island's sweets, cheese and seafood in one building, which is worth a last hour before a flight.
Make room for local food
If you eat ramen at the airport, allow time for check-in and getting to your gate as well as the wait for food. The guide shows where Ramen Dojo is and what changes before and after security.
Chitose in context: the Ishikari region
Click a town to open its page
This guide covers the wider Ishikari region, which includes Sapporo and Chitose, home to New Chitose Airport. Ishikari City, on the northern coast, is one of its eight municipalities; if that is where you are heading, use the Ishikari City page.
Towns near Chitose
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