Traveler Information

ATWS 2023 will be held at the Sapporo Convention Center in Hokkaido, Japan.

Sapporo, the Capital of the North. A metropolis surrounded by incredible nature, Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture. Lush with greenery in summer and a haven of powdery snow in winter, the city is always brimming with new discoveries. From adventures in the great outdoors to myriad culinary delights, shopping, and unique cultural and artistic experiences befitting a major urban center, every visit to this northern capital is an unforgettable experience.

Click here to access useful information about events, food and drink, itinerary ideas and much more on the official Visit Sapporo website.

By Air 
Sapporo can be reached most conveniently by flying into New Chitose Airport (CTS), located approximately 1 hour from Sapporo and connected to the city by rail and express bus lines.

Delegates who are planning to fly to ATWS on Japan Airlines should be sure to check out “Any Wear, Anywhere”, a pilot program studying the environmental impact of flying with less luggage by renting fashionable clothing locally and having it delivered to your hotel in Sapporo.

Airport Transfers

If you need any assistance making the transfer from New Chitose Airport to your hotel, please visit one of the information desks located here.

After arriving at New Chitose Airport, the two easiest ways to get to Sapporo are:

JR Train - Approximately 40 minutes from the airport to downtown Sapporo on the Chitose Line. Cost is ¥1150 (as of Dec 2022).

Express Bus - Departs the airport for Sapporo every 20 minutes. Express buses take approximately 1 hour to get from the airport to downtown Sapporo and are especially convenient because they stop at the hotels listed below, which are very close to other hotels. Cost is ¥1100 (as of Dec 2022).

There are bus counters to buy express bus tickets in both the Domestic and International terminals at New Chitose Airport. Attendants can help you purchase a ticket for the bus that stops at the following hotels:

Premier Hotel Tsubaki

Hotel Monterey Edelhof

ANA Crowne Plaza

Sapporo Grand Hotel

Hotel Resol Trinity

Sapporo View Hotel Odori Koen

Sapporo Prince Hotel

Royton Sapporo

Keio Plaza Hotel

By Train
Japan is well known around the world for their extensive and well-organized rail system including their famous Shinkansen (high-speed bullet trains). 

Some delegates may choose to fly into Tokyo and ride the Shinkansen Hayabusa train from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido. Once in Hakodate, delegates would transfer to the Limited Express train to get from Hakodate to Sapporo. The train journey from Tokyo Station to Sapporo takes approximately 7.5 hours to complete.

If you are interested in traveling to the Summit by train or are planning to extend your stay and explore more of Japan, be sure to visit the website here to learn more about the JR Pass, which offers unlimited rail travel around Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days.

Rental Cars
Rental cars can be picked up at New Chitose Airport (CTS) or at many other locations around Sapporo and Japan. A Japanese driver’s license or International Driving Permit (IDP) is required to rent and drive a car. International Driving Permits cannot be obtained in Japan and must be acquired in your home country. 

Popular rental car companies for travelers to Japan include Toyota Rentacar, Nippon Rentacar, Honda Rentacar, Times Car Rental, Nissan Rentacar, OTS, and JR Rent-A-Car. Link to these companies can be found here.

Complimentary Transportation to the Sapporo Convention Center
To encourage use of the all-electric Sapporo Municipal Subway, our ATWS Hosts will provide all attendees with an IC Tap Card. Delegates will pick up their IC Card along with their conference badge at the official ATWS Registration Desk (see the Conference Agenda for registration times and locations). The card will be pre-loaded with enough money to cover your travel to and from your Day of Adventure starting point and to and from the Sapporo Convention Center each day of the Summit. Feel free to utilize the card for personal travel as well. If your card runs out of funds, it's easy to load additional money onto the card at all major subway stations. Make sure you hold onto your card! We are not able to replace lost IC cards. (Paper tickets or a new IC card can be purchased at ticket machines and ticket counters at all major rail stations.)

Public Transportation
You can get just about anywhere in Sapporo by public transportation. You can find helpful guides on getting around from our friends in Hokkaido and Sapporo.

Subway
The Sapporo Municipal Subway is the most popular form of transportation for getting around Sapporo. It operates three easy-to-navigate lines: Orange, Green and Blue. All 3 lines intersect at Odori Station which links the central part of Sapporo to areas North, South, East, and West. 

Most delegates will stay near Odori Station, Sapporo Station or Susukino Station and ride the subway 10 minutes or less to the Sapporo Convention Center. See the accommodations section below for more details.

Time of operation: Approximately 6:00–24:00

Time required: Approximately two to three minutes between each station

Charges: Approximately ¥210–380 for Adults

JR Trains
The Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) operates regional rail service from Sapporo to countless locations in Hokkaido and Japan. From New Chitose Airport you would ride the Chitose Line to JR Sapporo Station which offers a connection to the Sapporo Municipal Subway system.

Share Cycle
Sapporo's share cycle program "Porocle" is an excellent and environmentally-friendly means of transportation. There are more than 50 bicycle ports around the city, and it is convenient to rent and return a bicycle at any port. All bicycles are equipped with electric power assist and are easy to use! It is recommended to get the 1-day pass, which requires no membership registration.

Taxi
Taxi stands are located all over central Sapporo, and you can also find many taxis running on the major roads. Credit cards are accepted in most of the taxis. In addition, there are sightseeing taxis that visit tourist attractions inside Sapporo City, with a wide range of plans for different courses and schedules. The drivers also serve as guides. More information about taxis in Sapporo and taxi companies with English websites can be found here. 

Approximate charges for regular taxis:

Base fare: ¥670 up to 1,600 meters

Additional fare: ¥80 for each additional 309 meters

* Actual taxi charges may be calculated by converting time to distance.

* A late-night surcharge applies from 22:00 to 5:00.

Taxi Apps
Recommended apps for requesting a taxi include the DiDi Rider and GO apps. Other apps that offer taxi-hailing service include the JapanTaxi and Uber apps.

Various regulations apply for entering Japan depending on the passport that you hold. To find out if you are required to apply for a visa, please visit the website for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) who is the responsible authority in Japan.

Our Hokkaido hosts have put together an impressive list of hotels of various categories and price ranges, with rooms blocked specifically for ATWS delegates until August 1st, 2023. After August 1st, accommodations can be booked directly with the hotels or on your favorite third-party booking site. Check out our Event Sustainability Page to see a list of local hotels that have submitted information about their sustainability practices. 

Where to Stay

For easiest access to the ATWS venue (Sapporo Convention Center) we recommend staying at a hotel near Odori Station, Sapporo Station, or Susukino Station. 

Odori Station - Offers direct access to the orange Tozai subway line which takes you from Odori Station to Higashi Sapporo Station (the closest station to the Sapporo Convention Center) in six minutes. The Odori Station area is a major shopping area of Sapporo and offers easy access to Odori Park, the central park of Sapporo, which will be hosting the Sapporo Autumn Fest every day during ATWS.

Sapporo Station - Most delegates will arrive in Sapporo at Sapporo Station, just two minutes North of Odori Station by subway. The Sapporo Station area is a bit quieter than Odori but offers some of the best food and shopping options in the city. Be sure to check out JR Tower connected to the station for a uniquely Japanese shopping experience. To get to Higashi Sapporo Station (the closest station to the Sapporo Convention Center), you can ride the green Namboku Line two minutes South to Odori Station or walk ten minutes through the underground walkway known as Chi-Ka-Ho, then ride the orange Tozai Line six minutes East to Higashi Sapporo. 

Susukino Station - Delegates who want to stay in the heart of the Sapporo nightlife should stay near Susukino Station. The Susukino district offers countless dining, drinking and entertainment opportunities that stay open late. To get to Higashi Sapporo Station (the closest station to the Sapporo Convention Center), you can ride the green Namboku Line two minutes North to Odori Station or walk ten minutes through the underground walkway known as Pole Town then ride the orange Tozai Line six minutes East to Higashi Sapporo.

For a comprehensive list of useful practical information for visiting Japan, please visit the Japan Travel Planning page, created by our friends at JNTO. It includes helpful topics not covered below such as Customs & Manners, Local Laws and special resources for Muslim Travelers.

Climate
In September, the weather in Sapporo is usually warm. The average temperature is 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F). If your adventures take you further North in Hokkaido, you can expect average temperatures 2°C (or 5°F) lower. Sapporo typically experiences about 15 days with rain in September. 

It is highly recommended for visitors to pack a sweater, good walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a compact umbrella and/or a light rain coat.

Languages
The most widely spoken language in Japan is Japanese. A pocket translator or translation app like VoiceTra or Google Translate will come in handy.

Electricity
In Japan the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 100 V and the frequency is 50 / 60 Hz. Learn more  

Currency
The Yen is the official currency in Japan and foreign currency is not accepted for payments. Learn more  

Money Exchange
A Money Exchange Machine is available at Hokkaido Bank Money Exchange Plaza. During Adventure Travel World Summit, Hokkaido Bank is offering special exchange rates for all available currencies, with a 50% discount applicable to handling fees from Sep. 6 to Sep. 18, 2023. The discount will be given automatically by the machine during this period. Learn more  

Credit Cards
The safest and easiest form of payment in Japan is by credit card. American Express, MasterCard, Visa and JCB cards are accepted widely, as are digital payment platforms such as Apple Pay and PayPay. It is not uncommon however for some small shops and restaurants to only accept cash.

Mobile Phone Service
Free WiFi is widely available around Sapporo and at the New Chitose Airport. The Japan Wifi App can help you find and connect to these hotspots. 

If you would like service for your mobile phone, there are three main methods: a physical SIM card, an eSIM or a mobile Wifi box. Companies such as Ninja WiFi, Mobal, Sakura Mobile, and Japan-Wireless offer pre-paid physical SIM cards or pocket WiFi boxes that can be pre-ordered and delivered to your hotel or picked up at a kiosk at the airport. If your phone supports the use of an eSIM you can download one to your phone through apps such as Ubigi before you arrive in Japan and then activate it as soon as you land.

Ninja WiFi is generously offering ATWS attendees a 20% discount on Mobile WiFi Router rental. Follow this link or use coupon code 'ATWS2023' to redeem the discount.

Medicine & Prescription Drugs
Some medicines and prescription drugs that are legal and/or widely available in your home country may be illegal in Japan. Make sure to check this page from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare to see what procedures you need to follow for certain medications. Narcotics and psychotropics in particular have strict entry requirements.

Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Japan, however a service charge of 10-15% is sometimes added to bills at higher-end hotels and restaurants. Learn more  

Emergency Calls

110–Police

119–Fire

119–Ambulance

More information about who to call in an emergency can be found here.