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Japan's Kiroro Resort is so Popular We Made an Entire Access Guide About it

Japan's Kiroro Resort is so Popular We Made an Entire Access Guide About it

Last updated: 13 November 2020

Kiroro Resort is a winter resort that offers world quality powder snow right through until “Golden Week” in May.

During the season’s peak, the snowfall can reach up to 5m near the summit! There are various ski slopes for beginners to advanced skiers, so there’s something for everyone.

On the vast resort ground, there are facilities such as the entrance to the skiing area "Kiroro Mountain Center,” which is in "Kiroro Snow World,” adjacent to it is the accommodation “Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort,” and “The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido” which is connected to a shopping mall and hot spring facility. The accommodation creates incredible winter vibes alongside the crisp white snow.

To reach Kiroro Resort, there are busses from New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, and Niseko. Otaru is an especially accessible location, which only takes about an hour.

We’ve made a detailed guide on how to reach Kiroro Resort from the major areas of Hokkaido.

Text & Images:Kawashima Nobuhiro

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Getting to Kiroro Resort from New Chitose Airport
  2. 2. Getting to Kiroro Resort from Sapporo
  3. 3. Getting to Kiroro Resort from Niseko
  4. 4. Access to Kiroro Resort from Otaru-Chikko

1. Getting to Kiroro Resort from New Chitose Airport

From Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport to Kiroro Resort, it takes about 2 hours to on the “Resort Liner,” operated by the Hokkaido Access Network. The best part about this route is that it involves zero transfers!

The “Resort Liner” getting ready to depart
The “Resort Liner” getting ready to depart

For New Chitose Airport, instead of heading to the bus stop, head to the meeting place in the Domestic Terminal Building or the International Terminal Building for the reception.

After making your way to the reception, follow the instructions of the staff to the boarding area. Make sure to be at the domestic and international flight meeting place 15 minutes before departure.

Also, some busses will not depart from the international terminal. So, depending on the time, customers utilizing international flights will have to go to the domestic terminal to board. It takes about 10 minutes on foot to reach the domestic terminal from the international terminal, but you don’t have to exit the building, and you can continue using luggage carts.


Areas to get off
The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
Kiroro Mountain Center
Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort

Boarding Area
The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
Kiroro Mountain Center

*Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort is near Kiroro Mountain Center.

Next up is the access information to reach the reception area in order when taking domestic flights and international flights.

For Domestic Flights
The reception for the “Resort Liner” is on the first floor of the Domestic Terminal Building.
The arrival gate of the domestic flight is also on the same floor, but since there are five arrival gates, you may have to walk a little.

Between “Arrival Gate 4” and “Arrival Gate 5” on the first floor of the Domestic Terminal Building, there is a counter area for various travel companies; this is where the reception is located. Look for the orange “Hokkaido Resort Liner” sign. After exiting “Arrival Gate 4,” take a left and walk for about two minutes, from “Arrival Gate 5” take a right and walk for about a minute.

There are counters for many travel companies. Look for the orange sign
There are counters for many travel companies. Look for the orange sign

From arrival gases 1, 2, and 3, it will talk a bit longer to get to. After exiting from arrival gates 1, 2 or 3, head left and once you reach the rental car counter, head outside to the bus and taxi lane and walk along the yellow road surface marked "To the Southside Arrival Lobby.”

Follow the yellow road surface to head toward the Southside Arrival Lobby
Follow the yellow road surface to head toward the Southside Arrival Lobby
Head outside and walk along the taxi boarding area. The door to the Southside Arrival Lobby is near the crowd of people in the back.
Head outside and walk along the taxi boarding area. The door to the Southside Arrival Lobby is near the crowd of people in the back.

After walking for a bit, there is a door to head inside, which is near “Arrival Gate 4.” Then proceed as explained earlier. Taking into account that you will be walking with large luggage in an unfamiliar place, you might want to look at 10 to 15 minute travel time.

Again, try to reach the reception 15 minutes before the bus’s departure time. The arrival gate will depend on your flight, so make sure to give yourself enough time to be safe.

For International Flights - Head to the Tour Counter on the Second Floor of the International Terminal Building.
The reception for the “Resort Liner” is on the second floor of the International Terminal Building.

After exiting the arrival gate past the restricted area, head left and the reception is located near the tour counters.

Above the reception counter, there is an orange sign with “Hokkaido Resort Liner” written in English. It is in a convenient location that you can reach in one to two minutes form the arrival gate.
Additionally, there are cases where the meeting place will change, so make sure to check with the management company’s official website.

After exiting the arrival gate, head left. Head toward the back of the photo
After exiting the arrival gate, head left. Head toward the back of the photo
Look for the orange sign
Look for the orange sign

Bus Operation
2019 December 1st - 2020 April 3rd (From New Chitose Airport)
2019 December 3rd - 2020 April 5th (From Kiroro Resort)

Time Required to Reach the Ski Resort
It takes about 2 hours to reach The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido (time may vary depending on the bus)
It takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes to reach Kiroro Mountain Center and Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort (time may vary depending on the bus)

Reservation Requirements
Reservation required from the official website.
* There may be changes such as the period of operation. Please check the official website for the latest information regarding operating periods, times, fees, and the like.

2. Getting to Kiroro Resort from Sapporo

To reach Kiroro Resort from Sapporo, buses are departing from various hotels in Sapporo City. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the resort.

Here we will use the JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo, which is connected to the JR Sapporo Station as an example.

Sapporo Station is on the left side of the photo, and JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo is the tall building in the middle.
Sapporo Station is on the left side of the photo, and JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo is the tall building in the middle.

Since this bus is convenient for not only hotel guests, but for customers using JR, we will cover the path to the boarding area.

Head right after leaving JR East Exit, and you will reach the south side outdoor area. After you enter the outdoor area, enter the “JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo” on the left side.

The JR Sapporo Station East Exit direction is on the left side of the photo
The JR Sapporo Station East Exit direction is on the left side of the photo

Go straight along the path that leads to the entrance o the hotel. The meeting place is at the hotel lobby on the first floor of JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo.

You can reach the meeting place from JR East Exit in about 5 to 6 minutes on foot, but if it is your first time, you may want to give yourself some extra time.

Departing from Hotels in Sapporo City
Other than the JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo we introduced, the bus departs from various hotels in the city, which is convenient for people staying in Sapporo.

List of Hotels The Busses Depart From
Hotel Clubby Sapporo / Hotel Monterey Sapporo / JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo / Hotel Mystays Sapporo Aspen / Century Royal Hotel / Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo / Mercure Hotel Sapporo / ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino / ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo / Sapporo Grand Hotel / Royton Sapporo / HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Sapporo Park / Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyo / Sapporo Tokyo REI Hotel / Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo / Sapporo View Hotel Oodori Kouen / Sapporo Prince Hotel

Two Areas to Get On and Off at Kiroro Resort
The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
Kiroro Mountain Center

<@Bus Operation Periodb@>
2019 December 2nd - 2020 April 5th, operates daily

Time Required to Reach the Ski Resort
About 1 hour and 25 minutes for The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
About 1 hour and 35 minutes for Kiroro Ski Center Bus Terminal

Reservation Requirements
Reservation required from the official website.
* There are changes such as the period of operation. Please check the official website for the latest information regarding operating periods, times, fees, and the like.

3. Getting to Kiroro Resort from Niseko

There is a reservation-only bus to Kiroro Resort from the world-famous winter resort Niseko for a limited time. At Niseko, there are few large scale slopes at the foot of Mt. Niseko Annupuri.

A bus to Kiroro Resort departs near “Niseko Mt. Resort Grand HIRAFU,” with the largest-scale slope in the area. It takes about 1 hour to reach Kiroro Resort. It is a convenient bus to navigate through the winter resort areas.

Since many buses depart to various areas, there are many bus stops (Photo by Akira Tsujino)
Since many buses depart to various areas, there are many bus stops (Photo by Akira Tsujino)

Niseko’s bus stop is in front of the “Hirafu Welcome Center,” which is next to the first parking lot of “Niseko Mt. Resort Grand HIRAFU.”
Instead of directly boarding the bus, head over to the “Hokkaido Resort Liner Desk” on the first floor of “Hirafu Welcome Center.”
After you finished with the reception, follow the instructions of the guide to board the bus. When boarding the bus, it requires a prior reservation, so head to the meeting place first.

4 Areas to Board at Kiroro Resort
・The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
・YU KIRORO
・Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort
・Kiroro Mountain Center

*Please note that depending on the bus, the boarding area may vary.

<@Bus Operation Periodb@>
2019 December 20th - 2020 March 6th

Time Required to Reach the Ski Resort
・About 1 hour for The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
・About 1 hour and 5 minutes for Kiroro Mountain Center

Reservation Requirements
Requires reservation from the official website
*There are changes such as the period of operation. Please check the official website for the latest information regarding operating periods, times, fees, and the like.

4. Access to Kiroro Resort from Otaru-Chikko

JR Otaru-Chikko Station is two stops away from JR Otaru Station toward Sapporo Station, and rapid trains from New Chitose Airport Station and Sapporo Station stops here. It is a convenient station for shopping with the large shopping mall “Wing Bay Otaru” in front of it.

Additionally, out of the busses that head to Kiroro Resort, this line has the longest operation period.

Also, some of the buses from this area (buses departing from Otaru-Chikko Station at 8:40 a.m. And 9:25 a.m.) will go to JR Otaru Station Street and various hotels in Otaru City before connecting to the route, which is convenient.

The bus boarding area is at the “North Square” in front of the station. After exiting the station, you will come across a roofed path that goes to the north and south along the tracks. Take a right here and head towards Wing Bay Otaru for a while.

Take a right past these doors
Take a right past these doors
Head forwards and take a left along the path
Head forwards and take a left along the path

Along the bridge, there are gentle stairs to the left that goes toward the North Square and fixed-route bus stops. Go down these stairs to the first floor, and you will find the fixed-route bus-stops at the North Square. The bus that head to Kiroro Resort is not at the bus stop, and is near the center of the square.

The North Square bus stop. The building in the back is “Wing Bay Otaru”
The North Square bus stop. The building in the back is “Wing Bay Otaru”
The bus to Kiroro Resort is parked in the center of the square
The bus to Kiroro Resort is parked in the center of the square

The bus will depart from hotels in Otaru City and then stop by JR Otaru-Chikko Station before heading to Kiroro Resort. It requires a reservation and takes about 45-50 minutes.

Areas to Get On and Off at Kiroro Resort
・The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
・Kiroro Mountain Center or Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort (will stop at one of the locations depending on the bus)

Bus Operation Period
2019 November 23rd - 2020 May 6th

Time Required to Reach the Ski Resort
・About 45 - 50 minutes to reach The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido
・About 45 - 50 minutes to reach Kiroro Mountain Center or Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort

Reservation Requirements
Requires reservation on the official website
* There are changes such as the period of operation. Please check the official website for the latest information regarding operating periods, times, fees, and the like.

  • JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
    JRタワーホテル日航札幌
    • Address 5 Nishi 2, Kita 5, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, 060-0005
    • Phone Number 011-251-2222

    Vacancy search, reservation

    Check with our partner site as the latest rates, rate details, and guest room requirements may vary.

  • Niseko Mt. Resort Grand HIRAFU
    ニセコマウンテンリゾート グラン・ヒラフ
    • Address 204 Yamada, Kutchan, Abuta -gun, Hokkaido, 04-0081
    • Phone Number 0136-22-0109
  • JR Otaru-Chikko Station
    JR小樽築港駅
    • Address 1-5 Chikko- Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0008
*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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