Getting to Sapporo Dome

Sapporo Dome is located in the south-eastern part of Sapporo City, Hokkaido. Sapporo City is about 830km north-east of Tokyo.

We have prepared the following advice to help you plan your travel. The hints and tips below should be read in conjunction with the information on each travel option that follows. Please download our Official Travel Guide for Sapporo (Sapporo Dome) here. Make sure to print it off and bring with you as access to WiFi is not guaranteed in every stadium.

Plan and book ahead: Arrange your travel and accommodation as soon as possible. If you are an international visitor and intend travelling by train, we strongly recommend you purchase a Japan Rail Pass before you arrive.
Travel the right way: Roads are expected to be busy on match days so please use public transport or walk or cycle where possible. Remember there is no parking at the venue except for wheelchair ticket holders that have reserved a parking space. There are also no drop-off or pick-up facilities near the venue except for taxis.
Transport expected to be very busy: Public transport is expected to be busy, particularly immediately after each match. If you do have to queue please listen to announcements and follow directions from staff.
Travelling from further away: If you are travelling longer distances, flying to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport and staying close to Sapporo is likely to be the best option. Alternatively travelling by train on the days before or after the match and staying local is also a recommended option. However, trains into and out of the area on match day are expected to be very busy. The nearest Shinkansen (bullet train) station for mainland Japan is three hours away from Sapporo Dome so please take this into account if you plan on heading back to the mainland. Please click on the ‘train’ icon below for a list of closer, local train stations.
Travelling by train: Sapporo Dome is accessible via five stations, the closest being Fukuzumi Station (10- minute walk). Additionally, shuttle buses run between Sapporo Dome and Makomanai Station, Hiragishi Station, Nango Juhatchome Station and JR Shiroishi Station. Fukuzumi Station is expected to be extremely busy after the match so please consider using one of the other stations or a shuttle bus.
Arrive early: Arrive into Sapporo City with enough time to soak up the atmosphere. Don’t leave it too late to get to Sapporo Dome. Gates open two and a half hours before kick-off. We recommend you arrive 90 minutes early, allowing at least 60 minutes to clear security and access your seat. There will be plenty to see and do inside so leave enough time to enjoy it before the match starts.
Stay longer and enjoy the local area: Rather than travel away from the host city after the match, spend some time at Sapporo Dome (gates close 90 minutes after the final whistle) or enjoy the local area before heading to your next destination. Staying on will also help you avoid the anticipated crowds at transport hubs.
Pre-paid travel cards are best: Paying for public transport is easier using a prepaid travel card or IC Card. These cards are available for different regions and can be pre-loaded with credit. Simply tap the card at the ticket gate at the start and end of your journey and the correct fare is deducted.
Pick-up travel tickets in advance: Consider picking up your travel card or other travel tickets before match-day to avoid queues at ticket machines on the day.
Head to the Fanzone: If you’re in Sapporo early on the day of the match why not visit one of the Fanzones at Odori Park or Sapporo Station South Plaza. A free shuttle bus will get you from the Fanzone to Sapporo Dome. The shuttle buses are expected to be busy so leave in good time to get to the match.
Check before you travel: For those travelling out of the area after the match, please be sure to check the time of your chosen transport and don’t leave it until the last service of the day.
Safety and security: When planning your trip, remember there are restrictions on what you can take into the venue. Please refer to our match venue page for more information on restricted items.
Transport arrangements different to usual: If you are a regular visitor to the area, please note some transport arrangements will be different to usual during the tournament so please check before you travel.
New to Japan? If you are not familiar with the area, please refer to the additional tips for international visitors.
Stay up to date: Follow us on Twitter at @Japan2019_ENG (English) or @Japan2019_JP (Japanese) for the latest travel and ticket information, weather reports, venue guides, seating information and more.

Please see the map which shows the location of the travel options available on match-days.

Which travel option is best?

Find out more about each travel option here.

	Air
	Train
	Bus
	Walk
	Cycle
	Taxi
	Car
	Accessible transport
	Getting to the Fanzone
	Additional travel information

Air

The nearest airport to Sapporo Dome is New Chitose Airport. It is located about 40 minutes by train to the south east of central Sapporo.

Train

The nearest station to Sapporo Dome is Fukuzumi Station (10-minute walk). It is about 13 minutes away from Sapporo Station on the subway.

Sapporo Dome can also be accessed by several other stations via a free shuttle bus. These are Makomanai Station, Hiragishi Station, Nango Juhatchome Chome Station and JR Shiroishi Station. The shuttle buses will start operation from about three hours before kick-off. The journey takes 15-30 minutes.

Bus

Spectator shuttle buses will be running on the day of the match between Sapporo Dome and several locations in the area. These include free spectator shuttle buses:

-between Sapporo Dome and Makomanai Station, Hiragishi Station, Nango Juhatchome Station and JR Shiroishi Station (see train section).

-between the two Fanzones (with stops at Odori Bisse and Kita-3 Jo Plaza (Akapla)) and Sapporo Dome. Services will start three hours and 45 minutes before kick-off and finish one hour 15 minutes before kick-off of each match. Please allow around 45 minutes for the journey. The drop-off point for the return journey will be at Sapporo TV Tower. Spaces are limited so please make sure to arrive at the pick-up point in plenty of time.

See map for the shuttle bus drop-off and pick-up locations. For more additional information about shuttle buses please check here.

Private charter buses: There are no private bus pick-up or drop-off facilities at or near Sapporo Dome for private buses. Please do not drive to the venue unless you have made prior arrangements.

Walk

As shown on the map there is a walking route between Fukuzumi Station and Sapporo Dome. Our friendly staff will be on hand to help you on your way and look out for directional signs too.

Cycle

Cycle parking is available close to Sapporo Dome as shown on the map.

Taxi

There is a taxi drop-off and pick-up area located a 10-minute walk from the stadium as shown on the map.

Car

There is no parking available at the venue. The only exception is for wheelchair ticket holders that have reserved a parking space beforehand (see accessible transport section). There will also be changes to how some roads operate and there are no drop-off or pick-up facilities near the stadium with the exception of taxis as shown on the map.

Accessible Transport

Reserved parking is available for those who possess a wheelchair ticket. Assistance is available from staff to get you between the parking and Sapporo Dome. If you require additional information on travel associated with wheelchair tickets please contact the ticket support centre.

Additional information is available separately for those with restricted mobility. It includes information on accessibility of local stations, location of toilets and other advice to assist you.

Getting to the Fanzone

If you’re in Sapporo early on the day of the match why not visit one of the Fanzones at Odori Park or Sapporo Station South Plaza. A free shuttle bus will get you from the Fanzone to Sapporo Dome. The journey between the Fanzone area and Sapporo Dome takes about 45 minutes. The shuttle buses are expected to be busy so leave in good time to get to the match. Please use the journey planners for information on access to Odori Park Fanzone and Sapporo Station South Plaza Fanzone.

Additional Information

For more information on Sapporo City attractions, please visit the Sapporo City Rugby website here.