Ski enthusiasts from California’s Golden State will soon have the opportunity to travel halfway around the globe for their powder fix, thanks to the upcoming launch of direct flights from the Bay Area to the renowned ski haven of Sapporo, Japan.
United Airlines has recently revealed its plan to introduce three direct flights per week from San Francisco International Airport to Sapporo, located on Japan’s Hokkaido island, starting December 2026. This service will be a pioneering nonstop route from the continental United States to this Japanese city.
The flights will be available until March 27, coinciding with the peak winter period. Sapporo, known as a “snow metropolis,” features an array of popular ski resorts, as highlighted on the city’s tourism website.
Remarkably, Sapporo stands as “the only city globally with a population approaching 2 million that receives an astounding five meters of snow annually,” which translates to nearly 200 inches.
The tourism site notes, “From skiing and snow-related activities to stunning winter landscapes and lively events, you can fully immerse yourself in winter’s delights right here in the city.”
Sapporo is home to a variety of ski resorts, including the likes of Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort, Sapporo Teine, Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Area, and Sapporo Bankei Ski Area, among others.
Flights starting in December for the 11-hour trip will cost $1,500, climbing to $1,700 by March, according to the airline.
The airline will also add daily year-round service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita starting in October, noting that it is the “only U.S. airline offering nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita.”
“Whether customers are dreaming of skiing in Sapporo, planning a business trip to Tokyo with some exploration added in, or an even bigger adventure across Asia, United gives travelers more ways to get there than any U.S. airline,” Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances, United Airlines said in the release.
Fro Californians, resorts on the Nevada border in Lake Tahoe and other ski destinations scattered throughout the Sierra Nevadas have struggled in the past with the lack of powder from Mother Nature.
Earlier this year, numerous resorts in the state closed early due to unseasonably warm temperatures.
“Tahoe is kind of the go-to, but we didn’t go this season because it was so expensive and there was no good date for us,” San Ramon resident Scott Yin-who skis in Japan-told KQED. “Compared to Sapporo, where there’s way more choice.”
