Heads Up: Cebu Pacific Will Soon Start Flights to Sapporo, Japan

(SPOT.ph) You might want to read on before you finalize your 2025 travel plans, especially if you can't get enough of traveling to Japan. Heads up, another famous Japanese city is getting a tad closer to the Philippines—this time, one up north.

It's confirmed, Spotters: Cebu Pacific is launching direct flights to Sapporo in 2025. 

Also read: Sapporo Guide: The Best Things to See and Do for Two Days

Here's what we know about Cebu Pacific's new Sapporo direct flights:

Many eagle-eyed Spotters have seen a new destination on Cebu Pacific's booking website when booking from Manila.

Noticeably, under the country of Japan, flights to Sapporo's New Chitose Airport are now an option— a first for the budget airline.

Although Cebu Pacific Air hasn't made any formal announcements on the matter, representatives from the airline have confirmed that these direct flights in their booking system are real and are slated for early next year. 

Based on our search, flights from Manila to Sapporo will begin on January 16, 2025—just in time for the peak Japanese winter season, the best time to see Sapporo in its full glory.

Currently, flights on the MNL-CTS route will operate three times a week aboard a 188-seater Airbus A320. 

Here's the current schedule of Manila to Sapporo direct flights via Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 5128

• Manila to Sapporo
• Flies every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• ETD Manila: 11:15 a.m. (GMT+8)
• ETA Sapporo: 05:25 p.m. (GMT+9)

Here's the current schedule of Sapporo to Manila direct flights via Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 5129

•  Sapporo to Manila
• Flies every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• ETD Sapporo: 06:25 p.m. (GMT+9)
• ETA Manila: 11:25 p.m. (GMT+8)

If you search for these flights on the booking website today, you will see that flights to these locations cost at least P7,549 one-way, which is already a reduced rate. If you include baggage, surcharges, and fees, a roundtrip Manila to Sapporo flight booking can set you back roughly P18,200. 

Things to do in Sapporo, Japan

Sapporo is the northernmost city in Japan. It is the capital of Hokkaido island and is famously known as a winter wonderland for most of the year. That being said, winter activities like snowboarding and skiing are some of the top things to do in this area. Moreover, tourists often flock here every February during the much-anticipated Sapporo Winter Festival, one of Japan's biggest winter events.

But it's not only snow that keeps people coming back for more. Sapporo is also known for having a mix of natural, historical, and culinary wonders. Make sure to check out the Jozankei Onsen, the Historic Village of Hokkaido, and the Sapporo Beer Museum when in the area.

In Filipino pop culture, Sapporo gained popularity after the 2017 romantic comedy Kita-Kita, starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez, took Pinoy viewers on a whirlwind tour of the icy city.

For more information, visit Cebu Pacific's website.

Also read: 
The SPOT.ph Guide to Applying for a Japanese Visa
New Japanese Multiple-Entry Visa Requirements Start This June

Hey, Spotters! Check us out on Viber to join our Community and subscribe to our Chatbot.