Sapporo to Hachinohe

Okadama Airbase, also used as Okadama airport, is quite a small airport with shorter runways for smaller aircrafts.

There is 3 to 5 check-in counters. Luggage are scanned before placed to weigh at the counter for boarding passes to be issued. There is a small restaurant overlooking the runway. Well, there is nothing wrong in enjoying a bowl of Hokkaido ramen before our flight 😅.

Even though this may be a domestic flight, scanning for illegal items to carry onboard is still mandatory. Be ready to remove footwear if wearing thicker snowboots or heavyduty boots onboard.

Japan Airlines (JAL) did a very good job in promoting domestic air travel to foreigners through JAL Explorer Pass. The JAL Explorer Pass for Hachinohe departs from Okadama airport rather than Chitose airport. 

Most of us know that Chitose or New Chitose is the main airport for Sapporo. But it is easy to take that for granted and overlook in checking. Okadama airport is situated north of Sapporo and there is no subway lines linking directly to the airport. Chitose airport is situated at the south of Sapporo. There is quite a distance between these two airports and note also that Sapporo tends to have heavy traffic on the roads leading to the city center.

Tip: Bus transports servicing the airport varies by the season. It is suggested to plan the season traveling to determine the mode of transportation. For more updated information, visit Sapporo Okadama Airport Official Site.