United Expands Japan Service With New Sapporo & Tokyo Flights
United Airlines announced today that it is expanding its Japan network this winter with two new routes, including the first-ever nonstop flight between the continental U.S. and Sapporo. The carrier will also add new daily service between Chicago O’Hare and Tokyo-Narita, giving travelers even more options for reaching Japan.
Starting December 11, United will launch seasonal three-times-weekly service between San Francisco (SFO) and Sapporo (CTS). The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The destination is especially popular during the winter thanks to its world-class skiing, famous seafood, ramen and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival.
United says the new route will allow passengers from nearly 80 U.S. cities to connect through San Francisco to reach northern Japan more easily. Sapporo has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers looking for powder skiing and a different side of Japan beyond Tokyo and Osaka.
The airline is also adding new daily year-round service between Chicago O’Hare and Tokyo-Narita beginning October 24. United will become the only U.S. airline flying nonstop between Chicago and Narita Airport, complementing its existing Chicago to Tokyo-Haneda service. The route is expected to operate using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
United highlights in it’s press release that the new Narita service will improve connectivity to destinations across Asia-Pacific through both United and ANA. Travelers will be able to connect onward to places such as Cebu, Palau, Saipan, Guam and Ulaanbaatar, along with additional ANA-served cities throughout Southeast Asia.
The carrier says it flew more than 1.8 million passengers between the U.S. and Japan in 2025, more than all other U.S. airlines combined. This winter, United plans to operate up to 13 daily flights between the continental U.S. and Japan, serving Sapporo, Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda and Osaka.
