🇯🇵 Spending A White Lunar New Year Winter Festival Trip In Hokkaido, Japan, In February 2016 ~ Section 3 🇯🇵

Welcome to the third sub-segment of my white Lunar New Year winter festival trip to Hokkaido, Japan, in February 2016. There will be an additional two core focus topics that shall be covered in this section of the report. They will mainly be undertaking my second regional shopping trip to New Chitose Airport cum family temple respects and afternoon lunch in Sapporo, and the afternoon railway trip to the Air Terminal Hotel New Chitose Airport via a stop in Sapporo for some afternoon tea.

Part 1 ~ New Chitose Airport Cum Family Afternoon In Sapporo

After spending about 25 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 4 and 5, a 6-car 721 series EMU, which would operate as the Rapid Airport train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport, finally entered Otaru Station at 9.18 a.m. on Track No. 5. Once the train doors were opened, I quickly boarded the train via Car No. 4, which was the reserved seating ('u' seat) car, and settled down into my assigned Seat No. 4A for the short and quick early morning journey duration of 1 hour 13 minutes to New Chitose Airport located to the southeast of downtown Sapporo.

Once the clock struck exactly 9.34 a.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Rapid Airport train No. 100 finally pulled out of Otaru Station for its short and quick early morning journey duration of 1 hour 13 minutes to New Chitose Airport situated in the outskirts of the suburban city of Chitose located to the southeast of downtown Sapporo. I was then on my way for a short morning trip of 1 hour 13 minutes to New Chitose Airport in the suburban city of Chitose located to the southeast of downtown Sapporo.

721系 快速エアポート100号 新千歳空港行き 小樽駅に入線シーン

The front view of the reserved seating ('u' seat) car on board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

The rear view of the reserved seating ('u' seat) car on board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

The LED destination panel of the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

Getting ready to board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

Another front view of the reserved seating ("u" seat) car on board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

Another rear view of the reserved seating ("u" seat) car on board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

A view of my seat, 4A, during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

The view of the reserved seating ('u' seat) car on board the 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid "Airport" train No. 100 bound for New Chitose Airport via Sapporo, from my seat during the boarding process on Track No. 5 at Otaru Station

Awaiting departure from Otaru Station

721系 快速エアポート100号 新千歳空港行き 小樽駅から小樽築港駅間

721系 快速エアポート100号 新千歳空港行き 小樽築港駅から手稲駅間

721系 快速エアポート100号 新千歳空港行き 札幌駅から新札幌駅間

721系 快速エアポート100号 新千歳空港行き 恵庭駅から終着新千歳空港駅間

1) EVA Airways Airbus A330-302 "Hello Kitty With Magic Stars" Hogan Scale 1:500 (HG9970)

EVA Airways Airbus A330-302 "Hello Kitty With Magic Stars" Hogan Scale 1:500 (HG9970)

2) EVA Airways Boeing 777-36N/ER "Hello Kitty Sanrio Characters" Hogan Scale 1:500 (HG50020)

EVA Airways Boeing 777-35E/ER "Hello Kitty Sanrio Characters" Hogan Scale 1:500 (HG50020)

3) Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777-FBT "Olá Brazil" Herpa Scale 1:500 (524292-002)

After spending about 15 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 1 and 2, a 6-car 733 series EMU finally arrived at New Chitose Airport Station at 1.17 p.m. on Track No. 1. The train had just arrived from Otaru via Sapporo as the Rapid Airport train No. 124 bound for New Chitose Airport, and was to become the Rapid Airport train No. 135 bound for Otaru via Sapporo. Once the train doors were opened, I promptly boarded the train via Car No. 4, which was the reserved seating ("u" seat) car, and settled into my assigned Seat No. 11A for the mid-afternoon trip of 37 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Sapporo.

Once the clock struck exactly 1.33 p.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Rapid Airport train No. 135 finally pulled out of New Chitose Airport Station for its routine early afternoon trip of 1 hour 13 minutes to the mid-sized suburban port city of Otaru. I was then on my way for an early afternoon trip of just 37 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Sapporo. However, due to icy rails causing some delays, the train had to slow down, resulting im the whole train service being delayed by approximately three minutes.

After spending almost 1 hour 10 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 3 and 4, a 6-car 721 series EMU, operating as the Rapid Airport train No. 181 bound for Otaru, ultimately arrived at Sapporo Station at 6.40 p.m. on Track No. 3. Once the train doors were opened, I quickly boarded the train via Car No. 4, which was the reserved seating ('u' seat) car, and settled down into my assigned Seat No. 11A for the short and quick evening return trip of 33 minutes back to the mid-sized suburban port city of Otaru.

Once the clock struck precisely 6.44 p.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Rapid Airport train No. 181 finally pulled out of Sapporo Station for its remaining half of its short and routine early evening trip of 1 hour 14 minutes between New Chitose Airport and Otaru. I was then on my way for a short and quick early evening return trip duration of 33 minutes back to the mid-sized suburban port city of Otaru located across the coast of the Sea of Japan northwest of Sapporo.

Part 2 ~ The Journey To The Air Terminal Hotel New Chitose Airport

After spending five days of railways, shopping and winter festival observations in the suburban port city of Otaru by the Sea of Japan, it was time to head to New Chitose Airport. On the morning of Sunday (7 February), I woke up at around 8.15 a.m. after having a well-earned good night's rest.

After spending about five minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 1 and 2, a 3-car 731 series EMU, operating as the 12.47 p.m. Ishikari Liner Semi-Rapid Service bound for Ebetsu via Sapporo, finally arrived at Otaru-chikko Station at 12.47 p.m. on Track No. 2. Once the train doors were opened, I quickly boarded the train via Car No. 1, and took a good seating area facing the Sea of Japan for the short and snowy early afternoon trip of 33 minutes to the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Sapporo.

Soon enough, within less than a few seconds, all the train doors were closed, and the Ishikari Liner Semi-Rapid Service train finally pulled out of Otaru-chikko Station for the remaining half of its early afternoon commuter trip of 1 hour 07 minutes from Otaru to Ebetsu via Sapporo. I was then on my way for an short and quick snowy afternoon trip of just 33 minutes to the busy and lively hustle and bustle of downtown Sapporo, travelling parallel to the coast of the Sea of Japan en route.

After a short and snowy early afternoon journey duration of just 33 minutes from the mid-sized suburban port city of Otaru, I finally arrived at Sapporo Station at 1.20 p.m. on Track No. 7. Checking to see that I had left nothing behind, I quickly alighted the train and took the escalators to the station concourse before proceeding over to the staffed ticketing gate. Showing my Hokkaido Rail Pass at the staffed ticketing gate, I headed to the JR Ticket Office to try and make a seat reservation for the trip to New Chitose Airport.

After spending about 25 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 5 and 6, a 5-car 785 series EMU finally arrived at Sapporo Station at 2.25 p.m. on Track No. 5, which was approximately five minutes behind schedule. The train had initially arrived from Asahikawa as the Limited Express Super Kamui No. 22 bound for Sapporo earlier, and was to become the Rapid Airport train No. 142 bound for New Chitose Airport. Once the train doors were opened, I promptly boarded the train via Car No. 1, and secured Seat No. 2A for the mid-afternoon trip of 37 minutes to New Chitose Airport.

The train was very crowded with departing passengers throughout the entire journey. Once the clock struck around 2.30 p.m., all the train doors were closed, and the Rapid Airport train No. 142 finally pulled out of Sapporo Station for its early afternoon trip of 37 minutes to New Chitose Airport located in the outskirts of the suburban city of Chitose. I was then on my way for a short routine afternoon trip of just 37 minutes to New Chitose Airport located in the outskirts of the suburban city of Chitose.

After a short and quick routine afternoon trip of just 37 minutes from the lively hustle and bustle of downtown Sapporo, I finally arrived at the New Chitose Airport terminal station at 3.07 p.m. on Track No. 2, approximately five minutes behind schedule. Being sure to check that I had left nothing behind on board, I quickly alighted the train and took the escalators back up to the station concourse, where I quickly showed my 5-Day Hokkaido Rail Pass to the ticketing officer at the staffed ticketing gate.