New Chitose Airport Station (新千歳空港駅, Shin-Chitose Kūkō-eki) is a railway station located in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan. It is operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) and serves as the primary rail access point for New Chitose Airport, the largest airport in Hokkaido.
Lines The station is served by the following lines:
- Chitose Line (Main line and branch line for the airport)
- Rapid "Airport" trains connect the station directly to Sapporo Station (approx. 37–40 minutes) and Otaru Station.
- Limited Express trains (e.g., Lilac, Kamui, Suzuran, Hokuto, Ōzora, Tokachi) provide connections to major cities across Hokkaido, including Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, and Obihiro.
Station Layout The station is an elevated structure featuring two island platforms serving four tracks (Tracks 1–4). It is integrated directly into the terminal building of New Chitose Airport, allowing passengers to transfer between trains and flights without going outdoors. The station concourse houses ticket gates, a "Midori no Madoguchi" staffed ticket office, ticket machines, lockers, and tourist information centers.
History
- July 1, 1992: Opened as "New Chitose Airport Station" coinciding with the opening of the new New Chitose Airport terminal building. It replaced the former Chitose Airport Station (located approx. 1.5 km away), which was renamed Minami-Chitose Station on the same day.
- October 2000: The station building was renovated and expanded alongside the airport terminal expansion.
- March 2016: Platform screen doors were installed on all platforms.
Surrounding Area The station is situated within the New Chitose Airport terminal complex. Facilities directly accessible from the station include:
- New Chitose Airport Domestic and International Terminals
- Shopping areas (e.g., "Chitose Outlet Mall Rera" accessible via walkway)
- Onsen (hot spring) facilities within the airport complex
- Hotels connected to the terminal
Passenger Statistics According to JR Hokkaido data, the station recorded an average daily ridership of approximately 17,000–19,000 passengers in fiscal years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (FY2019). Ridership dropped significantly during the pandemic but has been recovering alongside air travel demand.
