Transportation to Japan: 

The official trip begins with the scheduled shuttle departure from the Chitose Airport Hotel to Niseko February 15th and ends with the return shuttle from Rusutsu to New Chitose Airport on February 25.

If you'd like to arrive in Japan a few days early to ski more or spend time touring the country, or if you want to stay after the trip ends, you're welcome to do so. Any additional lodging, transportation, or travel arrangements outside the scheduled itinerary will be your responsibility.

The airport shuttle transfers are included in the land package. If you choose not to use the scheduled shuttles, you'll need to arrange and pay for your own transportation.

Most flights from the U.S. arrive at New Chitose Airport late in the day, making it impractical to continue on to Niseko that evening. For that reason, the package includes a one-night stay at the Chitose Airport Hotel. This gives everyone a chance to rest after the long flight before boarding the group shuttle to Niseko the following morning.

There are also flight options that arrive at New Chitose Airport in the morning of the 15th. If you choose one of those itineraries, you may not need the overnight hotel stay. We have confirmed with the tour operator that the hotel cost can be removed from the package for travelers who arrive in time to meet the shuttle.

Regardless of your itinerary, you must arrive at the Chitose Airport Hotel by February 15 in time to meet the group shuttle to Niseko. The exact departure time has not yet been determined, but plan on a midday departure. If you arrive after the shuttle has left, you will need to arrange and pay for your own transportation to Niseko.

Most flights to New Chitose Airport (CTS) connect through Tokyo, where you'll transfer to a domestic flight. When comparing flight options, pay close attention to the connection details. Some itineraries require changing airports in Tokyo, for example, arriving at Narita (NRT) and departing from Haneda (HND). We experienced this on our 2023 trip, and while it's certainly doable, it adds time, expense, and unnecessary stress to your travel day.

Whenever possible, choose an itinerary that connects through the same Tokyo airport. It will make your trip much smoother and more enjoyable.

Tokyo is 17 hours ahead of LA time. If the flight is about 15 hours, your arrival time in Tokyo will be approximately 32 hours after your departure time, expressed in Tokyo time.

Two examples:

Depart LAX at 9:00 a.m. on February 13 ? Arrive around 7:15 p.m. on February 14 (stay the night in the Chitose airport hotel)



Depart LAX at 12:05 a.m. on February 14 ? Arrive around 8:30 a.m. on February 15. I like this option because I can sleep on the way to Tokyo and wake up in sync with the day in Japan and avoid the cost of the hotel in Chitose.

Whichever flight or airline you chose you need to be at the Chitose Airport Hotel by mid-day on the 15th to catch the shuttle to Niseko.