How I’d Book My Dream Japan Ski Trip Using Points and Miles

There is so much more to Japan than the classic Golden Route that takes in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. A great year-round destination is the northernmost island and prefecture of Hokkaido. In warmer months, its mountains and valleys provide stunning scenery for hikes and adventure, but it’s in winter when this region really comes alive.

Niseko, a mountain town around 56 miles from Sapporo, is Japan’s largest and most popular ski resort, and you can book an entire trip there using points.

Thanks to some exciting new routes from United Airlines and great World of Hyatt redemptions, it doesn’t have to break the bank, either.

Fly New Nonstop Flights to Sapporo, Hokkaido

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to flights between the U.S. and Japan. However, getting to Japan’s main ski area in its northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido usually requires a connection in Tokyo or another Japanese city.

That’s why all eyes are on United’s new flights to Japan, including a nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) to Sapporo (CTS), launching this winter. The new route will launch on December 11 and run 3x weekly until the end of the winter season.

While 55,000 miles isn’t too bad, considering this is a niche nonstop flight, 250,000 miles is on the higher end for a one-way in business class.

United’s new service from SFO will be the only nonstop flight to Sapporo from the U.S. However, fellow Star Alliance member Air Canada had a similar idea. It will launch its first and only nonstop service to Sapporo from Vancouver (YVR) on December 17, also for the winter season.

The cheapest Air Canada Aeroplan redemptions were 48,900 points in economy, 96,000 points in premium, and 185,600 points in business one-way. Granted, that’s not exactly cheap, but it’s common to pay more when only 1 airline flies a route.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card earns Ultimate Rewards points that transfer instantly at a 1:1 rate to both United and Aeroplan. With the welcome offer, you can earn enough points to offset flight costs or save them for hotels, as you’ll see below.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Using Points To Book Flights to Other Cities in Japan

If nonstop to Sapporo doesn’t work for you, there are plenty of award flights to get you to Tokyo on American, Delta, and United. Osaka (KIX) is also an option for nonstop flights, thanks to United’s flight from San Francisco and Japan Airlines‘ flight from Los Angeles (LAX).

United will also debut a second new Japan-bound service this winter season, this time nonstop from Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo (NRT). Starting October 24, it will operate daily year-round.

There are also excellent redemptions with Japanese carriers ANA and Japan Airlines. For example, Japan Airlines business class awards via American AAdvantage start at 60,000 miles.

The reward programs that consistently offer the best value redemptions for flights to Japan are Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA’s Mileage Club, and Etihad Guest.

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazano Would Be My First Choice

The area around Niseko offers the widest variety and best selection of hotels, from a budget Moxy to midrange Hiltons and 5-star properties like the Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Park Hyatt.

If you’re looking for something on the more luxurious side, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazano consistently offers the best redemption value. Nightly rates start at 35,000 Hyatt points, and there’s a ski lift right in front of the hotel.

I recently checked this hotel out and can confirm that 35,000 points is a steal. Measuring 65 square meters (700 square feet), the standard room is huge. I felt like I had my own private ski chalet, albeit in the middle of summer.

There are 2 ski lifts accessible directly from the hotel’s ski room. And the complimentary use of the luxurious onsen is perfect for relaxing after a hard day on the slopes.

The views of Mount Yotei from the hotel are quite spectacular, even in summer. You can see it from almost all of the hotel’s 11 dining outlets.

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Views from the Lounge bar and restaurant. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

The hotel is a little remote, but that’s very normal given it’s a ski resort. Even so, the hotel is still really easy to get to. If, like me, you like the adventure of taking local transportation, Japan’s extensive and reliable rail network is a great opportunity to put your wayfinding skills to the test.

In Sapporo, there’s a frequent train service from the airport to the small, coastal town of Otaru. From there, you can catch a local stopping service to Kutchan, the nearest station to Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazano. The hotel also offers complimentary transfers to and from the station.

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Welcome to Kutchan. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

You saw it here first: An extension of Japan’s famous bullet train, the Shinkansen, is currently in the works.

When it’s complete, you’ll be able to speed from Tokyo all the way to Niseko rather than having to take slow regional trains for the last stretch.

To unlock 1:1 point transfers to Hyatt, you’ll need the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. As of June 15, 2026, new Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can only transfer points to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio. Existing Preferred cardholders who opened their account before that date will retain 1:1 transfers until October 1, 2026.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking for great nonstops to Sapporo thanks to the new flights or want to route your trip through Tokyo, there are redemptions to suit everyone. As for hotels, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono genuinely stole my heart — I’m definitely planning to stay there when I return for my first Japow experience.