Outside the Nakashibetsu Airport (Photo: 221.20 / Public Domain)

Nakashibetsu Airport

Discover Hokkaido's untouched northeast

Outside the Nakashibetsu Airport (Photo: 221.20 / Public Domain)
Kim   - 2 min read

Nakashibetsu Airport is a smaller regional airport that serves the northeastern portion of Hokkaido. The airport operates daily flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and three flights a day to and from Sapporo's New Chitose Airport.

Due to the small size of the airport and the limited routes, the options for dining and shopping are less than what you may find at larger transport hubs, but they are sufficient. There are two retail stores, the Green Shop and Airport Shop Tunney, which sell a range of different souvenirs, drinks, magazines, and newspapers. The Pea Berry restaurant is on the second floor, and serves quick and simple dishes like curry rice and pizza, along with various desserts and drinks. The counter-style seating by the window at the restaurant gives a glimpse out over the vast Hokkaido landscape, which is particularly beautiful in the winter months. The retail stores open at 8.30 am, but the restaurant doesn't open until 11 am - keep that in mind if you have an earlier flight, and plan accordingly.

On the first floor there is a visitor information center, which is staffed between 9 am and 5 pm. The staff can provide information about things to see and do in the area, convenient ways of getting from A to B, or even where to find different amenities in the airport. On the topic of getting from A to B, there's also a car rental counter on the first floor. There are several different rental companies to choose from, including Times, Toyota, Nissan, Orix, and Nippon Rent-a-Car.

Getting there

Nakashibetsu Airport is approximately 6 kilometers from central Nakashibetsu. For those driving to the airport, there is on-site parking available for 375 vehicles.

Bus services are available from Nemuro, Kushiro, and the Nakashibetsu Bus Terminal to the airport, with various stops along the way. Links to bus timetable information can be found on the official Nakashibetsu Airport website (in Japanese).

Kim

Kim @kim.b