Many major cities fly direct to Tokyo, including London, Paris, Helsinki, Frankfurt and several North American hubs. From cities without a direct route — or when you are after more schedules and often a better price — you fly with one layover. The fastest direct flights from Europe are around 11–14 hours, and with the right option the ticket can be reasonable if you know when to buy and which airlines to look at.
Airlines that fly to Japan
These are the most common airlines flying to Tokyo (NRT/HND) or Osaka (KIX), whether direct or with a single layover at a major hub:
- Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA (All Nippon Airways): the Japanese flag carriers, with direct flights from major European, North American and Asian cities, and excellent on-board service. They also code-share with oneworld and Star Alliance partners.
- Finnair: connects via Helsinki, one of the shortest layovers from Europe. The Helsinki–Tokyo leg is about 9.5–13 h depending on routing.
- Turkish Airlines: via Istanbul. Good value and wide frequency. The layover lengthens the trip (16–18 h total from Europe), but prices are usually competitive.
- Qatar Airways: via Doha. A 5-star airline, with a layover at one of the best airports in the world. Total time is usually 16–17 h from Europe.
- Lufthansa / Swiss: via Frankfurt or Zurich. A solid option, with frequent connections to Tokyo and Osaka.
- Emirates: via Dubai. Frequent and well-priced in low season, although it lengthens the total time.
- British Airways: direct from London and via London in code-share with JAL.
- Air France / KLM: direct from Paris and Amsterdam, plus connections from across Europe.
From cities with a direct intercontinental route, the non-stop flight is the most comfortable. From everywhere else, connecting through a European hub (Helsinki, Frankfurt, Zurich, London, Paris) or a Middle Eastern one (Istanbul, Doha, Dubai) often opens up more schedules and sometimes better prices.
Are there direct flights to Tokyo?
Yes. Many major cities have non-stop flights to Tokyo, including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Amsterdam and several North American hubs (such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Vancouver), as well as the main Asian capitals. From Europe the non-stop flight to Tokyo takes roughly 11 to 14 hours; routes that avoid Russian airspace run a little longer than the theoretical great-circle time.
Frequencies vary by route: some are daily, while others (often the newer or seasonal routes) operate only a few times a week and add capacity during the cherry blossom season (March–April). Where a direct flight runs only a few days a week, seats sell out early, so it is worth booking several months ahead.
From cities without a non-stop route, or if you want more schedules and often a better price, you fly with one layover at a European or Middle Eastern hub. Interestingly, some layover options — such as Helsinki with Finnair — can be almost as fast as a direct flight. Compare schedules and fares for all routes in our flights to Japan comparator.
How long is the flight to Japan
The total door-to-door time depends on the layover you choose. This table compares the main layover routes from Europe; as a reference, a non-stop flight from Western Europe to Tokyo is around 11–14 h.
| Airline | Layover | Total duration | Indicative price (return) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finnair | Helsinki | 13 – 14 h | 620 – 950 € | The fastest layover route from Europe |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt | 14 – 16 h | 650 – 1,000 € | Good frequency across Europe |
| Swiss | Zurich | 14 – 16 h | 650 – 1,000 € | Convenient from central and southern Europe |
| British Airways + JAL | London | 14 – 16 h | 700 – 1,050 € | Code-share; good on-board service |
| Qatar Airways | Doha | 16 – 17 h | 700 – 1,100 € | Doha airport among the best in the world |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul | 16 – 18 h | 580 – 900 € | Competitive price, longer layover |
| Emirates | Dubai | 17 – 19 h | 650 – 1,000 € | Frequent, though it lengthens the trip |
On layover routes, the long hub–Tokyo leg lasts between 9 and 11 hours, and the Europe–hub leg adds 2–3 hours plus the layover time on the ground.
Average price of flights to Japan
Prices vary by season and how far ahead you buy. This table shows the indicative range in economy class (return from Western Europe). From North America and other regions, prices vary but the seasonal pattern is the same:
| Season | Months | Return price | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low season | January – February, June | 500 – 750 € | Low — the year's best prices |
| Mid season | May, September – October | 700 – 1,000 € | Medium — good price/weather balance |
| High season | Late March – April (sakura) | 900 – 1,400 € | Very high — book 5–6 months ahead |
| High season | Late April – early May (Golden Week) | 950 – 1,500 € | Very high — the most expensive of the year |
| Medium-high season | November (momiji) | 800 – 1,100 € | High — flights fill up fast |
As a reference, in our guide to how much it costs to travel to Japan we use an average flight of around 700–800 € return with a layover, which is what a ticket bought in advance outside high season costs from Europe. Non-stop flights tend to start higher. Business class multiplies the price by 3–4. Open-jaw flights (in via Tokyo, out via Osaka) usually carry no surcharge and save a Shinkansen leg (~110–140 €).
Open-jaw and domestic flights: in via Tokyo, out via Osaka
One of the decisions that most optimises a trip to Japan is the open-jaw (or "multi-city") ticket: arriving at one airport and leaving from another. The usual choice is to arrive in Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) and leave from Osaka (Kansai), or the other way round. That way you cross the country in a straight line without having to return to your starting point.
The advantages are clear:
- You do not repeat any leg. You save going back to Tokyo at the end of the trip, which usually equals a long-distance Shinkansen ticket (~110–140 €) or a full day of travel.
- It usually costs the same. On most airlines the open-jaw carries no surcharge over a classic return; just search for it as "multi-city" in the engine.
- It fits the itinerary better. The classic route between the best cities in Japan — Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka — ends naturally in Kansai, with no backtracking.
Domestic flights within Japan
For long distances within the country (for example to Hokkaido, Okinawa or Kyushu), the plane can be cheaper and faster than the Shinkansen. The Japanese low-cost airlines (Peach, Jetstar Japan, Skymark) offer domestic routes at competitive prices. In addition, ANA and JAL have special domestic fares for foreign tourists that are booked together with the international flight and make internal legs much cheaper. It is worth comparing them with the cost of the train and the JR Pass before deciding.
When to buy your ticket to pay less
The general rule for flights to Japan is to buy 4 to 6 months ahead. From about 8 weeks before the flight, prices rise significantly, except for unreliable last-minute deals that are no basis for organising a full trip.
Practical tips:
- Avoid the major Japanese holidays, when flights fill up and prices rise: Golden Week (holidays from 29 April to 5 May), Obon (mid-August, with the travel peak around 8–16 August) and the first week of January (New Year).
- The sakura season (late March and the first half of April) has high demand; if you want to see the blossoms, book your flights 5–6 months ahead and check when to visit Kyoto to fine-tune your dates around peak bloom.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have slightly lower prices than weekends.
- Compare the route in our flights to Japan comparator and set price alerts too. A drop of 80–100 € from the price you have been tracking is usually a good sign to buy.
- Buying the flight and accommodation separately usually works out cheaper than tour-operator packages to Japan.
- Before fixing your dates, review when to travel to Japan to match the weather and season with your budget.
Narita or Haneda: which airport to fly into
Tokyo has two international airports:
- Narita (NRT): the larger one, 60–80 km from central Tokyo. It has very good train connections (Narita Express: ~60 min to Tokyo Station and ~80 min to Shinjuku, from 3,070 ¥ each way). Most international flights with a layover land here.
- Haneda (HND): 20 km from the centre, with a much faster connection (monorail or Keikyu, ~30 min). Many airlines, such as ANA and JAL, have direct international flights here.
If your flight arrives at Narita and you leave from Haneda (or vice versa), allow at least 3 hours for the transfer between airports. See the dedicated Narita vs. Haneda guide to choose the most convenient one for your itinerary, and check how many days to spend in Tokyo before continuing on to Kyoto or Osaka.