Sydney to Sapporo: Qantas launches new Japan route for ski bunnies

Monday, 20 January 2025

Qantas will begin direct flights from Sydney to Sapporo in December 2025.

Qantas is launching a new seasonal service from Sydney to renowned Japanese snow destination, Sapporo.

It’s the only non-stop connection between the two cities and is designed to cater to the growing demand for travel to Japan’s iconic snowfields.

Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, in Hokkaido, is a key airport for skiers and snowboarders to access the prefecture’s many ski resorts, including those popular among Kiwis and Aussies such as Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Furano. The region is famous for its powder skiing, thanks to the cold winds that come across from Siberia, dumping consistent dry snow on Hokkaido’s mountains.

Currently, Kiwi skiers and snowboarders typically fly to Sapporo via Tokyo or other ports in Asia, including Beijing, Seoul and Hong Kong. This new connection will allow them to pop across the ditch first before a direct flight to the popular snow hub.

Sapporo will become Qantas’ 100th destination, with flights to get underway from December 2025, until March 28 2026. Services will operate three times a week on an Airbus A330-200, departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a flight time of around 10 hours and 50 minutes.

It will depart Sydney in the morning and arrive at New Chitose early evening.

Stuff Travel puts both carriers through a mystery test (video published June 2022).

The new Qantas flights will also coincide with the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is held every year in February and is famous for its incredible ice sculptures.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said Qantas last flew to Sapporo in early 2020.

“We know Sapporo is an extremely popular winter destination for Aussies who love the snow and we’re excited to make it even easier for them to reach Hokkaido’s world-class ski resorts with a direct flight from Sydney.

“These new flights will save passengers hours of travel time compared to connecting in Tokyo or other cities and give them more time to enjoy on the slopes.

“Australians’ love affair with Japan is stronger than ever so it is fitting that Sapporo will also mark the 100th destination in the Qantas network, following the great new destinations we added last year like Paris, Palau and Port Vila.”

Would you fly to Sapporo via Sydney? Or do you prefer to fly through Tokyo? Let us know in the comments.