航空券 – Flights to Japan, Planning and Buying Tickets to Japan

When deciding on the right tickets to Japan to buy, or choosing the right flight to Japan, there are several factors. The best time to visit, pricing trends, visa requirements, COVID restrictions, and so on.  Here I am going to cover all that to help you find the right ticket for your trip to Japan. 

Best Time to Visit Japan and Buy Tickets

The best time to go to Japan will depend on your budget and your schedule. When you buy plane tickets to Japan the costs will vary depends on several factors. Such as where you want to go in Japan, when you are planning on traveling, and where you are departing from. Generally speaking, the cheapest time to visit Japan is February.  This is when prices are lowest right after the New Year holiday is over. From February on the price slowly rises until its peak in December. Depending on where you are flying from though the amount of volatility for ticket prices will differ. So you will want to still need to do some research based on where you are departing from.

Generally though the earlier you book the cheaper you can get a ticket. Also, depending on how flexible your schedule is, the day you purchase your plane ticket to Japan may make a difference. 

Watch Pricing Trends

To find trends for ticket prices to Japan, you can regularly check the prices offered by airlines and travel websites. This will give you an idea of the average price range for different dates and times. You can also use price tracking tools, such as Google Flights or Kayak, to monitor prices over time and receive notifications when prices change. I will explain more about the websites you can use below.

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What Airports to Fly from?

If your traveling to Japan then most people will be thinking about flying into Narita Airport (成田国際空港なりたこくさいくうこう). This is the main International Airport in the Kanto（関東かんとう) region of Japan where Tokyo is located. But, there is a second smaller airport, Haneda (羽田国際空港はねだこくさいくうこう) which is located in Tokyo. Depending on different factors it can be cheaper to fly to Haneda compared to Narita. It won’t always be the cheaper option, but if you are planning on visiting the Tokyo region then make sure you check both locations. 

Which City or Airport to Fly into Japan?

If you plan on visiting multiple places in Japan then also it would be a good idea to check other airports around the country. For example, if you plan on going to Tokyo and Kyoto, check out Kansai international airport（関西国際空港かんさいこくさいくうこう) in Osaka. It maybe cheaper to fly there and see Kyoto in the Kansai（関西かんさい) region first, then go to Tokyo.

Direct Flight or Connecting Flight?

Depending on where you are flying out of from your country, it maybe cheaper to take a direct flight, or it maybe cheaper to take a regional flight to a different Airport. For example, it is usually much cheaper to fly directly from Los Angeles to Tokyo instead of somewhere like O’hare in Chicago to Tokyo. So, if you have the extra time for layovers, in total it maybe cheaper to take that extra domestic flight first before leaving to Japan. There is no way to give a definitive answer on what the best choice for you is. Just make sure to keep these points in mind when buying your ticket to Japan

Purchasing Tickets to Japan

You have several different options for purchasing plane tickets to Japan and airlines. I will explain Japan’s main airlines, non-Japanese airlines and where to buy tickets to Japan. 

Japanese Airlines

Japan has two main airlines: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). You can purchase tickets from these website, or use third-party websites which we will discuss later. The best airline for you will depend on your budget, what amenities you are after, or where and when you want to fly. There are too many things to compare here so I will just give a quick overview.

Japan Airlines (JAL) – 日本航空株式会社にほんこうくうかぶしきがいしゃ

Japan Airlines (JAL) is Japan’s largest and flag carrier airline, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. It operates a wide network of international and domestic passenger and cargo services to 220 destinations in 35 countries with a fleet of 279 aircraft. JAL is part of the JAL group, which also includes J-Air, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, Ryukyu Air Commuter, and JAL Cargo. JAL was established in 1951 as a government-owned business and became fully privatized in 1987. The airline is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance network and in 2002 merged with Japan Air System to become the sixth-largest airline in the world. 

It gets good marks overall and an 8.2/10 on Airline Ratings. On TripAdvisor it gets a 4.5/5

 Airline Ratings Review of JAL
Japan Airlines (TripAdvisor)

Also, you can check out their destinations they offer from their official website below.

Japan Airlines destination guide

All Nippon Airways (ANA) – 全日本空輸株式会社ぜんにほんくうゆかぶしきがいしゃ

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is an airline based in Japan with its headquarters located in Tokyo. It operates both domestic and international flights and had over 20,000 employees in March 2016. ANA controls several subsidiary passenger carriers, including its regional airline ANA Wings, Air Nippon, Air Do, and Allex Cargo (ANA Cargo). The airline is also the largest shareholder in Peach, a low-cost carrier in a joint venture with First Eastern Investment Group. ANA became a member of the Star Alliance in 1999 and was named a 5-star airline by Skytrax in 2013. In 2018, ANA announced a joint venture with Sojitz to offer private jet charter flights through ANA Business Jet.

All Nippon Airways gets a 7.1/10 on Airline Ratings. On TripAdvisor it gets a 4/5.

Airline Ratings Review of ANA
All Nippon Airways (TripAdvisor)

For more information on there destinations I also provided a link to their homepage below.

All Nippon Airways destinations

Zipair

Zipair is a low-cost airline which is located in Narita International Airport and owned by Japan Airlines. If you don’t want to go through all the hassle of buying a ticket, this would be the easiest option. There are only a few places you can fly out of, and they all go to Narita International Airport though. So depending on where you are and your plans this may not be the best option. The cities are:

• Honolulu
• Seoul
• Bangkok
• Singapore
• San Jose
• Los Angeles

It is really simple though if this is an option for you. You just select the departing city, choose Tokyo as the destination and then you get a calendar showing costs to fly each day.

Foreign Airlines

JAL, ANA and ZIPAIR are not the only choices. There are several non-Japanese airlines that offer flights to Japan, including:

1. Korean Air
2. Cathay Pacific 
3. United Airlines 
4. Air China – China
5. Singapore Airlines

These are some of the non-Japanese airlines that offer flights to Japan, but there may be others depending on your departure city. It’s a good idea to compare flight schedules, prices, and services before booking to find the best option for your trip.

Traveling to Japan – Tips and Tricks

There are various other tips you can use to find the cheapest or best flight for you. Here is a quick summary though of how to save when purchasing plane tickets to Japan.

1. Book in advance: Again booking early can will generally save you money instead of waiting
2. Be flexible with your travel dates: If you can be flexible then you will be able to choose the cheapest days for flights to Japan
3. Compare prices from multiple airlines: Some airlines maybe cheaper than others but it is always good to check which one is the cheapest at the time you are traveling to Japan
4. Sign up for email alerts: Many airlines and flight search engines offer email alerts for price changes. make sure to sign up to get the best deals.
5. Take advantage of layovers, and connecting flights: If you’re flying to Japan from abroad, consider taking advantage of a layover to break up the journey and explore another city. If you have the time and energy, choosing to fly to certain cities first, explore a bit then get on your next flight maybe an option for you. Or, just consider that it maybe cheaper to fly into one airport than another and plan your trip accordingly. 
6. Join frequent flyer programs: Joining frequent flyer programs can help you accumulate points and miles, which can be redeemed for discounts or upgrades on future flights.
7. Pack smart: Pack smart to minimize baggage fees and make the most of your limited space. Only bring what you need, and consider using packing cubes or a compression bag to maximize space.
8. Take advantage of credit card rewards: If you use a credit card that offers rewards or points, consider using it to book your flight to Japan to earn points or miles that can be redeemed for future flights or other travel-related expenses.
9. Look for package deals: Booking a package deal that includes your flight, accommodation, and activities can often result in a lower overall price compared to booking each component separately.

By following these travel tips, you can save money on purchasing plane tickets to Japan and make the most of your travel budget.

Choosing Flights to Japan

You can buy directly from airlines, or there are third-party search engines for flights to Japan and other destinations. Below are all popular travel search engines that offer tools to help people plan and book their trips to Japan. All websites are similar but offer different user experiences and different tools. 

Momondo

Momondo is a comprehensive travel search engine that offers a range of tools to help people plan their trips to Japan. Basically like all search engines you enter your travel details and get a list of flights. The website also offers flight insights which tells you some handy details. 

1. Cheapest month to fly with a chart to show price history
2. Cheapest Airline flying from your Airport to Japan
3. Tells you the cheapest route to take from your departure location to Japan
4. How far out before your flight you should purchase to save the most

If we choose Los Angeles to Narita we get the following details.

1. August
2. Juneyao
3. Direct Flight from LAX to NRT
4. 60 days before

I found this tool to see the cheapest month particularly useful. Since depending on your location even in the same country that will differ. For example, from Chicago O’hare International the cheapest month is February while from Los Angeles it is August.  

Other than that Momondo also offers you price alerts if you sign up to make sure you get the best deal.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is similar to Momondo, offering a range of tools for traveling to Japan. They also have an everywhere search feature that allows people to find the cheapest flights to anywhere. So, if you are planning a trip to Japan, you can choose this, then choose Japan out of the list of countries to see a list of the different cost to different cities in Japan. You can also select “everywhere”, or your country as the departure location to see if you may have some cheaper cities to fly out of. 

Kayak

Kayak is another website for buying plane tickets to Japan. like the other websites you can search flights to Japan, along with hotels, and rental cars, and compare prices. If you are a visual person, you can use there Explore tool. This lets you see a map of Japan with prices for flights from your departure airport. This can make it easy to decide which airport to fly into if you have the flexibility. 

Hopper

Hopper is a travel website and app that uses data and AI to predict future flight prices and help people find the best deals on their trips. It has the whole process gamified and there are things that pop-up left and right when using the app telling you to save money and so on. It does have some interesting tools though, like the ability to freeze a flight. So, if you are not ready to book but like the price they will cover up to $300 if the price goes up. 

Google Flights

Google also offers tools for searching flights to Japan. It works the same as the other websites but also has several other tools. 

• Data grid and price graphs to compare prices for different dates
• showing percent emissions for environmentally conscious travelers
• Amenities available on flight like Wi-Fi, In-seat power and even how much legroom

Other than that, Google Flights really does seem to have many if not all the other options, or equivalent tools as most other sites.

And many more

Some other well known websites you can use to plan your flights to Japan, or for purchasing plane tickets to japan are below. 

1. Expedia: A well-known travel website that offers a range of tools for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities.
2. Booking.com: A leading online booking website that specializes in hotels, but also offers flights, rental cars, and activities.
3. Orbitz: A travel website that offers a range of tools for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.
4. CheapOair: A budget-friendly travel website that specializes in finding cheap flights, but also offers hotel and car rental booking options.
5. Travelocity: A travel website that offers a range of tools for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities, as well as vacation packages.
6. TripAdvisor: A well-known travel website that offers a range of tools for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities, as well as user-generated reviews and recommendations.

Visa and Passport

If you have a valid passport then that will allow you to stay for 90 days in Japan for most countries. That is as long as it is not for remunerative purposes or basically if you are coming for work or to make money. Business purposes or pleasure is ok though. 

There are a few countries that do require a Visa however, which are listed below:

• China
• Russia
• CIS countries, Georgia
• Phillipines
• Viet Nam
• Other Nationalities (see official website for details)

For more details on the Visa and Passport requirements check out Japan’s official Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website. 

VISA | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Covid in Japan and Restrictions

Though the situation of COVID in Japan and the world is dynamic, It is important to note that all travelers to Japan must comply with local health regulations.  

As of now, Japan is still requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID test results. I have provided a few links to Japan’s government website regarding COVID.

Entry From Overseas (Immigrations Services Agency)

COVID-19 Negative Test Result Certificate before departure / Valid COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Visit Japan Web

Visit Japan Web is a website created by the Japanese government which you can register with and submit your test results or vaccination proof to. This is not a requirement but can make the process easier to do it online instead of when you get to Japan. 

Visit Japan Web

Finally, though a mask is not mandatory it is still highly encouraged. Regardless of their COVID status most people in Japan are still wearing masks. If you want to do as they do in Rome, or in this case Japan make sure to have a mask available. 

Getting around and Staying in Japan

Once you actually get your ticket and flight into Japan it is time to stay somewhere and travel in Japan. Many of the websites I provided earlier for booking your flight also allows you to book accommodations, and travel through Japan. You can also check online to different websites like TripAdvisor for reviews. There are several options you have for staying in Japan. You could stay at a normal hotel, Ryokan, AirBNB, or if you are really going cheap a business or even capsule hotel. 

Also, you will want to get around Japan. Japan has an extensive and efficient public transportation system, including trains, buses, and taxis, which make it easy for travelers to get around the country. You can purchase the Japan Rail Pass, or other options depending on what you prefer.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck on your trip in Japan. I will be writing more about traveling to and through Japan so make sure to stop by Japanese Universe again. Or if you are learning Japanese, I have hundreds of articles on the Japanese language and Japanese culture in general . Have a wonderful trip!

Resources

• Japan Airlines
• All Nippon Airways
• Zipair
• Momondo
• Skyscanner
• Kayak