New Chitose Airport — Attraction in Chitose

So far the worst airport I've been to, what a frustration!

We arrived there at 8pm after a tiring shopping at Sapporo JR station. Our plan was to overnight at the airport to catch the early flight 9am the next morning. So we went for a short tour around the airport, buying more souvenirs and had the idea to spend all the Yen money we had. Lucky we don't! This is when all the nightmare begins.

Around 10pm, an airport guard approach us and using his translator apps, we found out we can't stay over. He suggests we rent a place at an onsen (hot spring) at level 4. We went there and found out, it was not a room but a relaxation chair and cost us 1500Y (didn't sound bad enough yet right? Well read more to find out the hidden agenda)

So, we thought, let's repack our stuffs since no food allowed, no big luggage allowed inside and we've bought a lot of souvenirs. From our previous info-digging, we found out that if we check in before 12 am, we need to pay 1500Y and if by 1am, we are still in the onsen area, we need to pay another 1500Y. So that would total up 3000Y.

Since money is not our best option, we thought we want to linger outside before check in to the onsen at 1am. It would be a total waste to pay 1500Y for just 2 hours if check in immediately, also to eat our prepared food (some ramen etc). This idea should save us 1500Y (since at that time it was already 10.30pm).

Another nightmare arrives. Another airport guard approach me and sister saying we can't be outside of onsen area or in any area in the airport after 11pm. WHAT??!! That basically just a way to force us to pay 3000Y.

We don't have a choice, that night me and my sister waste 6000Y for a relaxation chair to be used for only 8 hours, to find out the bedrock bath is closed, our prepared food that we don't have sufficient time to eat to be thrown away, the drinking water system in airport area was shut down and we have to wait until next morning for a breakfast which is not even muslim friendly (end up having plain rice with seaweed and shredded cabbage).

While I was checking in, there's a group of 4 Americans (judging by their ascents) asked his friend 'where was their 5th friend?'. One of them said "he can't afford the night here. He's staying outside". What a shocking! Poor that guy, the weather forecast that night is -9 oC.

Chitose Airport Management really at the point of craving their customers money. Not at all to imagine this coming from a country I look so high up. Changi being one of the BEST in the world because of their hospitalities. I've traveled around the world, but even Dhaka airport or Kathmandu coming from a third world country was not as money-cravers as Chitose. What sad first impressions...

I owe the deepest gratitude to one of its staffs and her effort to help the travelers reflects on the quality of the New Chitose Airport and the hospitality of the Japanese.

I have indulged myself in some tax free shoppings; among them there were two bottles of skin care products and both of them were over 100ml. The store staffs put all shoppings in a sealed clear plastic bag and asked me to carry them in my handbag in case the custom wished to check the receipts with the items.

However when I arrived at the x ray exam point in the airport, its staff did not allow me to carry the bottles on board. His explanation was that according to the Japanese aviation regulations, only containers less than 100ml were allowed. Even though I totally understood where he came from, I felt I should not have to pay for the tax refund procedure design error and let my shopping be confiscated. After all I also followed the rules.

Then there came this sweet looking Japanese staff. At first we had communication problems as she kept explaining in Japanese. My Japanese could only handle the day to day conversation and what she said was beyond my comprehension! Yet to my surprise, she all of the sudden grabbed the bottles and started to run the opposite direction towards outside of the border control. Before she became out of my sight, she stopped, turn around, looked at me and waved her hand indicating me to pass the passport check point.

I thought she decided not to communicate with me and just confiscated the items anyway. I thought it was totally absurd but told myself to calm down. "I can live without these two products and I need to board soon, so Lucy, just let it go and move on," I told myself.

However this story had another twist. When I was about to board, one of the flight attendants approached and gave me a luggage check in tag. She told me I could pick up the bottles along with my suitcase. It was then I realised the Japanese lady probably had run so hard to make this late luggage check-in!!! Especially after I rationalise with myself that there were just two bottles I could spare in life, there was this kind spoken sweet looking lady willing to make the efforts for me!

When I picked the bottles up at the conveying belt, I was so grateful and felt the warmth in my heart!

Lady, I don't know who you are and neither do I know how to show my gratitude to you, so please allow me to post the story and my deepest...

I'm very disappointed with the airport design as this is in japan.

I landed in domestic and I was required to call the rental car company for pick up. As an overseas traveller, i can't make phone call on my phone. When I came to sapporo first time over 5 years ago, there was a phone provided at a counter to call. The respond of the young lady in concierge wasn't responsive enough as I wasn't sure if she understand. She should be trained more responsive.

Lucky I managed to pick up the car in time.

The domestic airport was designed more centralised and more local food to buy or restaurants/food to select.

Also the JR station was so distanced as it was built next to domestic then I walked from the station all the way passed section A and B then passed the custom gate then walk to Section C. After finishing check in, need to walk back to the centre. Normally can go thru either side of the custom area but the airport didn't open the side next to C then I walked all the way to the side next to B. It's like a u-shape. Why not designed in the middle... need to take my lugguage walked nearly to the end of corridor. May be public holiday under staff but didn't take long to gone thru the custom area.

The lobby at international check in is spacious also walking from domestic to international also spacious as not many airlines there. But once I got in the waiting lobby, it did provide lots seating area but which take up a lots of space. As the terminal is designed as a rectangular, one side is gate access and one side is duty free shops, so walk way I in the middle but too narrow. While I was waiting for filling up my water bottle outside the duty free shop, people queued up for the water also guests walking pass between us and bumped into me.

Then walking in the shops, so many products especially in food and toys sectiosn, very limited space to walk.... and people don't look and standing blocking people's way while not tasting or look for goods.

While upgraded with AI face recognition at the entrance but still need to provide passport and border pass at the flight gate which is wasting time and not make use of the system. No passport or border pass required at other airports at the gate already.... The most satified is the train service, only takes less than 45mins from Sapporo station, and about 10 to...