[Part 1] Report from an Airport Staff Member! A 4-Day, 3-Night Trip from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport to Korea (Seoul & Cheongju)

• This content has been partially modified and republished from articles originally published on the Tokachi Obihiro Airport Official Note starting in December 2024.
• The information presented is current as of April 2025 and may differ from the latest updates.

Hello everyone! Let’s start with a quick question—do you know which destinations you can fly to from Tokachi Obihiro Airport?

There are 14 daily flights (7 round-trips) operating year-round between Obihiro and Haneda Airport. In addition, seasonal flights connect Obihiro with several other airports, including Chubu Centrair International Airport (Aichi), Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport (Shizuoka), and Nanki–Shirahama Airport (Wakayama).

In September and October of 2024, Tokachi Obihiro Airport saw the return of international flights for the first time in four years—and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The destinations? Incheon Airport and Cheongju Airport in South Korea!

You might be thinking, “I know Incheon, but where is Cheongju?”—you’re not alone (I thought the same!).
To help introduce you to this lesser-known gem, I took an early trip aboard Aero-K’s Cheongju route, which began operation in October. I’m excited to share what I discovered!

It was also my first overseas trip in four years. I hope this article sparks your interest in visiting Cheongju—or South Korea in general!

Departing from Tokachi Obihiro Airport!

Aero-K is a South Korean LCC established in 2017. This was my first time using them, and I was immediately surprised by the stylish, casual uniforms of the cabin crew! While there are no in-flight meals or seat monitors, you can purchase snacks, drinks, and light meals through in-flight sales.

The payment options included Japanese yen, Korean won, and US dollars.

Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages were available, too

Aero-K original merchandise! Some are only available online.

We arrived at Cheongju Airport around 20:20. It took about 20 minutes from disembarking the plane to completing immigration and retrieving our luggage. Everything went very smoothly. The first thing we did after exiting the arrivals gate was to exchange money. We exchanged 5,000 yen at the currency exchange right in front of the gate. (I forgot the exact rate, but it was about 46,000 Korean won. This was the only time we exchanged money during the trip.)

* Information as of boarding in October 2024
* Aero-K Online Shop

Cheongju Airport

Around 21:00, we left Cheongju Airport. I used my mobile carrier’s international roaming service and with a single tap, the phone switched to overseas connectivity. Since I was staying in central Seoul that night, I immediately began my journey into the city. Using the pre-downloaded NAVER Map, I searched for the route from my current location to my destination. It supports Japanese, so I felt at ease.
(I’ll report more about Cheongju Airport in the second part!)

NAVER Map search screen. The steps are similar to Google Maps.

＜memo＞
Using a transportation IC card like T-MONEY in Korea is very convenient for buses and subways. You can only recharge it with cash. Please note that T-MONEY cannot be used for express buses or high-speed trains.
(I couldn’t find where to purchase one, so I paid in cash this time.)
☆We’ll be posting a separate article about Korea’s transportation system soon!

It shows the direction you’re facing with an arrow

You’ll need to reserve and pay in advance for the express bus. (T-MONEY card is not accepted.)

There are ticket counters and vending machines in front of the express bus terminal stop. The vending machines support Japanese. Since I wasn’t confident about which stop to get off at, I used the counter this time. By showing the NEVER Map screen, the staff secured the earliest bus and a seat for me. Cash is not accepted; only credit cards can be used.
Other than using the counter, you can also book online here.

Inside the express bus

Show your ticket to the driver and board the bus. You’ll need to load and unload your suitcase in the bus cargo hold yourself. Assigned seating ensures peace of mind, and the 3-row independent seats are spacious and comfortable!

It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to central Seoul smoothly.

Express Bus Terminal

Arriving at Express Bus Terminal Station! The signage is plentiful and easy to follow. From here, we transfer to the subway to reach our hotel near Sinsa Station.

Listed as “Gosok Terminal” in Japanese

Around 11:40 PM, we arrived at Sinsa Station. I met up with a friend who had traveled from New Chitose Airport via Incheon. There were still plenty of restaurants open around the hotel, so we popped into a local Korean pub crowded with young people and enjoyed some chimaek (chicken and beer).

Exterior of the restaurant

Touch panel menu – the translation app was very helpful

Fried chicken and fries (a little spicy on the tongue…)

Hotel entrance

1st floor lobby

We stayed at “THE RIVERSIDE HOTEL,” booked through the hotel subscription service “Hafh.” It’s a 4-minute walk from Exit 5 of Sinsa Station on Subway Line 3. Our room was similar to a Japanese business hotel and even had a bathtub. The hotel faces a wide road, so we felt safe even at night, and there were other Japanese guests staying as well.

✓THE RIVERSIDE HOTEL

Day 2 in Korea: From Seoul to Cheongju

LOWIDE COFEE BAKERY 2nd Branch

After checking out of the hotel and leaving our luggage at the front desk, we headed out for a stroll!

We walked about 20 minutes to a café we had our eyes on for breakfast. Korea has a vibrant café culture, and there are many stylish spots. We chose a place known for its homemade bread. The coffee and bread were so delicious that we bought some drip bags as souvenirs.

A wide variety of breads and even soup available

Avocado croissant sandwich and fig bread

✓LOWIDE COFFEE BAKERY 2nd Branch

After breakfast, we went shopping in Garosu-gil. There are many Korean fashion brands and lifestyle shops, but also stores not yet in Hokkaido—like the candle boutique DIPTYQUE, the Ralph Lauren shop café, and the flagship store of the popular Korean fragrance brand TAMBURINS.

DIPTYQUE

RALPH LAUREN

Couldn’t resist snapping a photo of this chic exterior

KARYMARKET (Our favorite!)

Located at the north end of Garosu-gil, KARYMARKET is a 6-story select shop. Each floor is divided into categories—fashion, home goods, toys, and more. The children’s clothes, with their uniquely Korean colors and designs, made us squeal with delight. There were so many tempting shops, we could hardly move forward.

TIM HORTONS

French Vanilla

We found a branch of Tim Hortons—a Canadian café chain not yet in Japan! The shop was nearly full of Korean customers. We took a break here, enjoying their signature French Vanilla before heading to our next stop.

Day Beau Clinic, Gangnam Branch

Next up was the highlight of the day—trying out a beauty treatment we’d been curious about!

Express Bus Terminal Station

We went back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and headed for Cheongju from Express Bus Terminal Station. Although it was a weekday evening, it was quite crowded, so we took a bus 30 minutes later. While waiting, we explored the station a bit—it was so clean, large, and luxurious! We grabbed some gimbap for dinner and boarded the bus.

After transferring buses at Cheongju’s Express Bus Terminal Station, we headed to the area where we would be staying. We were exhausted from walking around all day, so we grabbed some Korean food from a nearby convenience store and checked in.

Hotel Exterior

Guest Room

We stayed at “Aank Hotel Cheongju II” for two nights. We made our reservation via HOTELS.COM. The hotel had a guesthouse-like atmosphere with only a shower and no bathtub. While towels were provided, there were no pajamas, so we brought our own. The TV didn’t show regular broadcasts, but we could watch Netflix and YouTube.

Tokachi Obihiro Airport Official Note Staff N