Ultra cheap flights to Japan can seem tempting, but you should consider a few things before getting out your credit card and booking your air travel to Japan. Sometimes saving 100 dollars isn’t worth the agony of a long layover, extreme jet lag, or an uncomfortable seat for 14 hours.
5 Tips for Booking International Air Travel to Japan
1. Total Travel Time
When you are looking at flights, it is best to start with total travel time. This includes all layovers and connections.
From the United States, flying to Japan takes approximately 14 hours from the east coast and 10 hours from the west coast. Every connection and layover adds to this time.
For example, if you’re traveling from Los Angeles to Tokyo, the direct flight of 10 hours is a breeze. However, travel 14 hours from Los Angeles to Shanghai, spend 6 hours waiting in the airport, and then fly 3 hours to Tokyo, and you will arrive in Japan feeling completely exhausted.
2. Time of Arrival
It is best to arrive in Japan in the afternoon or early evening. Most hotels do not allow you to check-in until 3:00 pm, so if you arrive early in the morning, you will not be able to shower or rest after your long flight.
Arriving in the afternoon or early evening allows you to check-in to your hotel, eat dinner, and have a restful sleep. You will feel refreshed and ready to start sightseeing bright and early the next morning.
3. In-flight Comforts
The flight to Japan is very long, so you want to be as comfortable as possible. Not all planes or airlines are created equal. Every flight has a different seat configuration and entertainment options.
Before booking air travel to Japan, research the flight number to get an idea of the seat map. A 2-4-3 configuration can feel less claustrophobic than a 3-3-3 configuration.
Also, check the airline website to research seat pitch (amount of legroom in front of you) and seat width (from armrest to armrest). This can make a big difference in comfort.
Nearly all international flights have personal monitors for entertainment, but you may want to check monitor size and entertainment selection.
4. Complimentary Alcohol
If you’d like to have a complimentary drink during your 14-hour flight; beer, wine, and spirits are free and limitless in all classes on most international carriers.
However, you may want to check the latest information from the particular airline. For example, Delta Airlines offers complimentary beer, wine, and spirits to all passengers on flights to and from Japan.
5. Prices
Flights to Japan are generally around USD $1,200 to $1,500 round-trip for an economy class seat. Check airfares daily and check different airports. The best rates are usually into Tokyo (NRT) or Haneda (HND), but you may also want to check Osaka (KIX) and Nagoya (NGO).
There are numerous major airlines flying into Japan from the United States.
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Asiana Airlines
- Korean Air
- Delta Airlines
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Air Canada
Airfares tend to go up at peak times (i.e., Christmas, New Year, Golden Week), so try to avoid travel at these times if possible.
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Becki and Shawn
Japan Travel Specialists
Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.
We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!
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