When is the best time to fly to Tokyo?
Peak season
Japan's capital offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining for visitors who arrive on cheap flights to Tokyo. Culture vultures will adore districts such as Asakusa, while Shinjuku’s high tech skyscrapers are interspersed with shrines, museums and peaceful parks. Peak tourist season for the city is summer (June to August) when, despite the heat and humidity, flights to Tokyo are usually more expensive. July is when many local festivals are held in Tokyo, and the school summer holidays runs from the end of July through August. Peak travel times for flights to Tokyo tend to fall around Japanese holidays when reservations need to be booked far in advance.
Off season
Winter weather is chilly in Japan with coldest months of January and February averaging temperatures below 10C. But you can still get plenty of clear, sunny days and, excepting Christmas and New Year’s, opportunities to find affordable flight tickets to Tokyo during this season.
When is the best time to book a flight to Tokyo?
Spring (March to May) is a sweet spot for booking flights to Tokyo, the cherry blossoms are in bloom and daytime temperatures are comfortable for sightseeing. Autumn (September to November) is also ideal time to visit for witnessing the foliage change colour. Avoid travelling in summer if possible and aim for the first half of March, mid-May to June or September to mid-December to book the cheapest flights to Tokyo. Note that typhoons are widespread in Japan in September so it is advised to monitor the forecast before your flight.
How long is the flight to Tokyo?
Flights from Sydney to Tokyo - 9 hours 20 minutes.
Flights from Melbourne to Tokyo - 9 hours 50 minutes.
Flights from Brisbane to Tokyo - 9 hours 15 minutes.
Flights from Perth to Tokyo - 12 hours 25 minutes.
Which airlines operate flights to Tokyo?
Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar all operate direct flights to Tokyo. If you plan on stopping or booking indirect flights you have a wealth of airlines to choose from including Singapore airlines, Air Asia X and Cathay Pacific. The high level of competition on flight routes between Australia and Tokyo means there should be plenty of opportunity to find cheap flights to Tokyo.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
Tokyo has two major International airports. Flights from Australia to Tokyo will usually land at either Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT). Haneda Airport is the closest airport to Tokyo. Train and bus services connect the two airports.
Haneda Airport is 14km south of Tokyo and Keikyu and Tokyo Monorail services run from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 allowing direct access to the city centre in 15 mins. You can also board Keisei direct suburban trains which can take you to the centre of Tokyo in 55 mins. If you are hiring a car you can drive to the city within 30 mins, traffic permitting, alternatively a bus will get you there in 40 mins. Taxis are also available at the information desk in the airport terminal.
Narita Airport is 60km east of Tokyo and 1 hour 35 mins by train and subway, and 1 hour’s drive by rental car. The train station can be found in Terminal 2. Taxis are also available with fixed rate fares, expressway tolls are a surcharge. If you book in advance before your flight to Tokyo you can use the limousine bus, a door to door service which drops people off at a set list of hotels. Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket counter at the basement level of the airport.