Can I pay by credit card when using the Sapporo Airport limousine bus? If so, what types of cards are supported?

Yes, credit card payments are accepted on the Sapporo Airport limousine bus. Currently, only Visa cards are supported; Mastercard is not.

To secure a seat comfortably when boarding the limousine bus from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo city center, which stop is best to take it from?

It is better to go to the domestic terminal stop rather than the international terminal stop (No. 84). Domestic terminal stop No. 22 is the bus's first departure point, making it advantageous for securing a seat.

Can multiple people pay their fares together with a single credit card on the Sapporo Airport limousine bus?

Yes, it is possible to pay for multiple passengers with one credit card. Before tapping the card on the machine, simply tell the driver 'Futari desu' (meaning 'two people').

Approximately how long does it take to travel from New Chitose Airport to Minami 3-jo Susukino stop by limousine bus?

It takes approximately 70 minutes from the airport to Minami 3-jo Susukino stop. Most tourists alight at this stop.

Sapporo Airport Bus to Susukino & Station: 2026 Guide

Sapporo Airport Bus to Susukino & Station: 2026 Guide | TRVLOGUE

Usually, when heading from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Sapporo Station, travelers opt for the JR train. But if your destination is the city center, like Susukino or Odori Park, the airport limousine bus is often the more convenient choice.

Unlike the JR Rapid Airport Express train, reliable and up-to-date information on the airport limousine bus can be surprisingly scarce, with travelers often sharing conflicting advice.

You might encounter confusing statements like 'only Chuo Bus accepts credit cards' or 'Suica cards don't work.' Let me set the record straight: **yes, you can absolutely use a credit card on the bus!**

Today, I'll share all the accurate details, from payment methods for the airport limousine bus to insider tips on where to catch it.

✈️Table of Contents✈️

✔️ Boarding Location - Domestic Terminal Stop #22

✔️ Timetable

✔️ Payment Methods

✔️ Credit Card Payment for Multiple Passengers

✔️ My Experience

Boarding Location

New Chitose Airport International Terminal

While the international terminal has bus stop #84, the limousine bus actually makes two stops at the domestic terminal (stops #14 and #22) before heading to the international terminal. To secure a good seat and avoid long waits, it's highly recommended to **head to the domestic terminal bus stops**.

I arrived on an Air Busan flight and found the signs clear enough, but since the international terminal is quite a distance, it took me about 10-15 minutes to walk to the domestic terminal.

Turns out, there's a direct route from the international to the domestic terminal! Don't make the same mistake I did by wandering around. Look for an **escalator with only 'Domestic' signage**, like the one in the photo, and take that.

From there, just follow the yellow 'Domestic' signs. It's quite straightforward.

After taking the final escalator down, you'll reach the domestic terminal bus stops. Check the maps posted around and head to stop #22.

Between stops #14 and #22, **stop #22 is the initial departure point**, so I waited there. After personally boarding, I noticed that by the time the bus reached stop #14 and then international stop #84, there were fewer than 10 seats left. Waiting at the international terminal would have meant a much longer wait for sure!

As you wait in line, a staff member will approach and ask your destination. When we said "Odori Koen" (Odori Park), they initially spoke to us in rapid Japanese, which caught us off guard – they probably assumed we were Japanese because we were at the domestic terminal! When they realized we didn't understand, they switched to fluent English and asked if they could take our luggage early. They'll collect passengers' bags and load them into the bus compartment when it arrives.

Timetable

Here's the bus timetable. The red entries are for Chuo Bus, and the green entries are for Hokuto Kotsu Bus. Both services follow the same routes to Susukino, Odori Park, and Sapporo Station, and the fares are identical.

The main difference lies in IC card support, which I'll explain in more detail below.

Payment Methods

Credit Card, Cash, IC Card

This is a notice from mid-July 2026. To summarize, the **red Chuo Bus accepts credit cards, cash, and IC cards** (like Suica, Pasmo, and other transportation cards).

However, the **green Hokuto Kotsu Bus does NOT accept IC cards**, though it does accept credit cards and cash. Since most international travelers use credit cards, either bus company will work just fine for you.

Important Note: Currently, only Visa cards are supported for tap-to-pay; Mastercard is NOT accepted.

The **bus fare is 1,300 JPY (approximately ~$9)**. You can purchase a ticket from the vending machines at the counter before boarding, or simply board the bus without a ticket and pay when you exit.

While purchasing a round-trip ticket in advance might offer a slight discount, we didn't bother since we planned to take the JR train for our return journey.

I wanted to try paying with my contactless Visa card. I asked the driver, and they pointed to the device shown in the photo. The one above it is for IC cards, so make sure you use the correct reader.

You'll tap your card **once when you board and once when you exit**. Keep in mind that **the reader for exiting is in a different spot!**

When you exit, simply tap your card on the machine located behind the driver.

If you're paying with cash, you don't need to pay when boarding; you pay when you exit. It's a good idea to have the exact fare ready, as drivers might not always have enough change.

Credit Card Payment for Multiple Passengers

We paid for two adults using a single credit card. Before tapping your card, simply tell the driver "Futari desu" (meaning "two people"). The driver will then adjust the fare on the machine and tell you when to tap your card.

The payment isn't processed immediately but usually goes through around noon the next day. For two people, the charge came out to approximately ~$17.

My Experience

When it's time to get off, just press the stop request bell, similar to buses back home.

The upcoming stops are announced in English (and other languages), and you can also easily track your route using Google Maps.

Most tourists typically disembark at Minami 3-jo Susukino. The journey from the airport to this stop took approximately 70 minutes.

I was initially worried that credit cards might not be accepted, but the entire process, from boarding to payment, was surprisingly easy. I used my Naver Pay Money Card (a Visa-affiliated card), but any contactless Visa card should work just as smoothly. Give it a try!

🔻 More on taking the JR Rapid Airport Express from Sapporo Station to the airport 🔻