Flying from Melbourne to Sapporo: what you need to know
Planning your trip begins with working out where you'll leave from in Melbourne. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for booking a flight from Melbourne to Sapporo taking off from here.
Hop off the plane at New Chitose Airport (CTS), the chief entry point to Sapporo.
Sapporo's timezone is UTC+9, which makes Sapporo two hours behind Melbourne.
To ensure you make your Melbourne to Sapporo flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Travelling during a popular month like January? School holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Sapporo
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap Melbourne to Sapporo flights if you book ahead. Airlines often have some great early bird rates.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Melbourne to Sapporo is easier if you're flexible with your travel plans. Try using the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest prices across every month and walk away with an awesome deal.
Locking in a cheap flight from Melbourne to Sapporo couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your Melbourne to Sapporo flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and maybe even tour another city. When browsing Melbourne to Sapporo flights departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Narita International Airport (NRT)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Travelling from central Melbourne to MEL takes around 40 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Melbourne to Sapporo, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 67.71% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Arriving in Sapporo
New Chitose Airport (CTS)
New Chitose Airport (CTS) is approximately 40 kilometres from central Sapporo. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 1 hour.
Book a hotel near CTS if you have a late flight from Melbourne to Sapporo. Select one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a New Chitose Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from car hire Hokkaido, Times or Nissan Rent a Car and explore beyond Sapporo's usual tourist stops.
For the best deal, book your vehicle from New Chitose Airport around two weeks in advance of your Melbourne to Sapporo flight.
The address for CTS is 987 Bibi, Chitose.
Okadama Airport (OKD)
Okadama Airport (OKD) is around 6 kilometres from central Sapporo. Once you've disembarked your flight from Melbourne to Sapporo, it takes approximately 30 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
Budget, バジェットレンタカー and Orix make collecting an Okadama Airport rental car quick and easy. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from OKD two weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Okadama Airport is located at 885 Sakaemachi, Higashi Ward.
Best time to go to Sapporo
It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from Melbourne to Sapporo. June is the most popular month to travel to Sapporo. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in April.
Before locking in your Melbourne to Sapporo tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Sapporo, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 27ºC (81ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Melbourne to Sapporo in January when temperatures average between -11ºC (12ºF) and -1ºC (30ºF).
More about Sapporo
Start your Sapporo trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Melbourne to Sapporo, browse our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. Sapporo TV Tower, Odori Park and Hokkaido Shrine are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned Sapporo itinerary.
Explore more of Japan
Sapporo has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of Japan just waiting to be discovered. About 113 kilometres north-east of Sapporo, a visit to Asahikawa will keep you on the go. Don't miss top attractions like Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa Museum of Sculpture and Kamikawa Shrine.
If there's time to check out another corner of Japan, consider Akita, about 386 kilometres south of Sapporo. Koizumigata Koen Tennis Court Chikaku Parking Lot, Buzaemonseki Water Park and Omachi Sanchome Gaiku Park are key highlights.