Searching for ways on how to get to Japan? I’ve travelled to the land of the rising sun from Australia and Europe, but reaching Nippon is easy, no matter where you are coming from.
That is why I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate your journey and share all the best ways to travel to Japan.
BEST PLACES TO STAY in JAPAN:
• Be like a bee for Nine hours (my favourite capsule hotel)
• Yiyi Tokyo Disney minpaku (house close to Tokyo Disneyland)
• Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Konanso (onsen and Mt. Fuji view!)
• Kiraku Kyoto Honmachi (the best Ryokan in Kyoto with a private onsen)
• Miyajima guest house (perfect place to stay close to Itsukushima shrine)
• Guest house Pongyi (sleep in old kimono shop!)
• Yudanaka Yasuragi (small traditional Japanese ryokan)
TOP EXPERIENCES in and around JAPAN:
• Drive a Go-Cart on Tokyo streets (super fun Super Mario for a day!)
• The ABSOLUTE BEST museum ever (TeamLab is MUST VISIT!)
• Rent a Kimono (… when in Rome Kyoto …)
• Fushimi Inari Walking Tour (Nice way to learn about Torii Gates)
• Hiroshima and Miyajima (perfect day tour!)
• Food tasting in little Kyoto (come hungry!)
• Shirakawa go Village (see traditional Japan)
• Tea ceremony (experience the art of drinking tea)
Looking for the best way to GET TO JAPAN:
• Find best flight fares to Japan
• Having a Japan Rail Pass is the best way to travel around Japan
Despite being an island nation in East Asia, Japan is well-connected with major international flights and has extremely efficient transport options.
I’ll outline how to get to Japan from the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and beyond. I’ll also share a few tips to make your travel planning as smooth as possible. (Spoiler: It’s absolutely worth it!).
So if you want to know how to get to Japan?
Keep reading to learn the best routes, flight durations, and other essential travel details for visiting the land of shrines, sushi, samurais, and geishas.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
How to travel to Japan
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● The easiest and most common way to reach Japan is by plane, with major international airports in Tokyo (Narita & Haneda), Osaka (Kansai), and other cities.
● Honshu, Japan’s largest island, is the primary entry point for most visitors. It is home to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
● To explore Japan’s other islands, you can travel by domestic flights, bullet trains (Shinkansen), ferries, or rental cars depending on the destination.
● Direct flights to Japan are available from many cities in Asia, Australia, North America, and Europe. If traveling from smaller locations, you may need a layover in hubs like Singapore, Dubai, or Hong Kong.
How to get to Japan
Despite being an island country, Japan is well-connected with the rest of the world and easy to get to.
The best way to get to Japan is by plane or cruise ship.
Main entry points to Japan are Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo and Kansai International Airport (KIX) Osaka. If you are planning a trip to Japan with an international cruise line, your itinerary might include major ports in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Direct flights to Japan
Direct flights to Japan are available from 45 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The most popular arrival airports are Tokyo (Narita and Haneda) and Osaka (Kansai), followed by Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, and Kagoshima.
You can get to Japan with the world best airlines like Qatar Airways, or choose low-cost airlines like Jetstar.
From the United States, direct flights are available from cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Honolulu. Major airlines operating these routes include Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and Hawaiian Airlines.
From Canada, Air Canada and ANA offer direct flights from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
From United Kingdom you have a direct flight from London. From mainland Europe, you can find non-stop flights from cities like Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki.
From Australia, Qantas, Jetstar, and Japan Airlines provide direct connections from major cities. You can also fly directly from Auckland, New Zealand, and other locations in Oceania like Fiji and French Polynesia.
Airlines flying directly to Bridgetown (BGI) include British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, TUI, interCaribbean Airways, and others.
At the time of writing, there are no direct flights from Africa, and flights to Japan will require a layover in major hubs in the Middle East, such as Dubai or Doha. There are also no direct flights from South America.
Cruises to Japan
In addition to flights, cruise ships regularly arrive in Japan at major ports such as Tokyo (Yokohama), Osaka, Kobe, Nagasaki, and Fukuoka. Yokohama, Japan’s busiest cruise port, is only 30 minutes from central Tokyo, making it a key gateway for travelers arriving by sea on a cruise to Japan.
Cruises to Japan depart from several international ports.
In Asia, major departure points include Shanghai (China), Hong Kong, Singapore, Keelung (Taiwan), and Busan (South Korea), with itineraries that often include multiple Japanese destinations. Cruise lines leaving from these ports include Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Dream Cruises.
From the United States, transpacific cruises set sail from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, typically as part of repositioning or extended voyages. These routes are offered by Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard.
In Australia, cruises to Japan depart from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, usually including other stops in Asia in their cruise itinerary before reaching Nippon. Popular cruise lines on these routes include Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean.
How to get to Japan from the US and Canada
Getting from Canada and the United States to Japan is easy, with many direct flight options and a few cruise routes.
If you’re traveling from the US, you can fly directly to Japan from 18 major airports in cities like New York, Atlanta, San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), or Honolulu. You can fly with with major airlines such as Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and Hawaiian Airlines.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly options, consider low-cost airlines like ZIPAIR.
Flights from the East Coast take just over 14 hours, while flights from the West Coast average around 12 hours, depending on the departure city. The shortest flight time is from Honolulu, Hawaii, at approximately 9.5 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a cruise to Japan, with routes departing from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. These journeys typically last around two weeks.
For Canadian travelers, direct flights are available from 4 airports, including Toronto and Vancouver, operated by Air Canada and ANA. Nonstop flights take approximately 11 hours from Vancouver (4677 mi / 7527 km) and 14 hours from Toronto (6354 mi / 10,227 km).
How to get to Japan from the UK and Europe
If you’re traveling from the UK or Europe to Japan, you have several direct and one-stop flight options.
Direct flights are available from major cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Rome, operated by airlines such as Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines. Flights from Western Europe typically take between 12 to 14 hours.
If you’re departing from a smaller European city (like myself), you’ll likely need at least one stopover. Turkish Airlines connects travelers through Istanbul, while airlines like Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Emirates offer amazing layovers in Doha, Abu Dhabi, or Dubai.
How to get to Japan from Middle East and Africa
At the moment, there are no direct flights from Africa to Japan, so you will need to make at least one stopover.
The most convenient option is to connect through major hubs in the Middle East, such as Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). Alternatively, depending on your departure city, you may also find connections through major European hubs like Paris, London, or Frankfurt.
Total travel time varies by location but typically starts at around 18 hours and can exceed 24 hours. If you are connecting through the Middle East, expect an additional 9 to 11 hours of flying time after your layover.
Be sure to check layover durations and visa requirements for your stopover city to plan your journey efficiently.
How to get to Japan from Australia and Oceania
Getting to Japan from Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of Oceania is easy, with multiple direct flights available from major cities.
From Australia, you can fly nonstop from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, and the Gold Coast. Airlines operating direct routes include Qantas, Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), Jetstar, and Virgin Australia.
Flight times vary, with Sydney and Melbourne averaging around 9–10 hours, while flights from Brisbane and Cairns can be as short as 7–8 hours.
From New Zealand, direct flights are available from Auckland to Tokyo Narita (NRT) with Air New Zealand and Jetstar, taking around 11 hours. If you travel from Wellington or Christchurch you will need to connect in Auckland or transit through Australia.
You can also fly directly to Japan from Nadi (Fiji) and Tahiti (French Polynesia). If you’re traveling from smaller Pacific islands, you’ll likely connect through Australia, New Zealand, or a hub like Fiji.
Tips for booking your flight to Japan
I was flying to Japan from Australia, Asia and Europe.
That is 4 different flight itineraries, and 4 different airlines. I flew with Jetstar from Cairns, with ANA from Jakarta and Turkish Airlines and Qatar from Zagreb.
It is hard to compare those flights, since they started on different continents. The shortest ones were the ones from Jakarta and Cairns, both around 7 hours long. But the ones with Turkish Airlines and Qatar were better in the terms of comfort. In my opinion, Turkish Airlines serves the best food on an airplane, and Qatar has the best cutomer service.
It is best to book your flight to Japan in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak seasons like cherry blossom season (March–April) or autumn (September–November). Flights are generally cheaper if booked at least 3–6 months ahead. If you’re flexible with travel dates, flying mid-week can help you find lower prices.
When looking for the fastest route and the best ticket deals to Japan, I always set up price alerts on Google Flights and Skyscanner. Both are great tools for comparing prices across multiple airlines, finding flexible travel dates and ensuring you get the most value for your money.
I share my step-by-step process, of finding the best deals, in my email newsletter.
Final thoughts on how to get to Japan
Japan is an exciting and easy-to-reach destination and the best way to reach Japan is by air or cruise.
Tokyo Narita (NRT), Tokyo Haneda (HND), and Osaka Kansai (KIX) serve as the main international entry points. If you’re traveling from North America, Europe, Asia, or Oceania, you’ll find plenty of direct flight options. If you’re coming from South America or Africa, expect at least one stopover in major hubs in the Middle East or Asia.
For those who prefer traveling by sea, Japan is also a popular cruise destination. Ships from Asia, the United States, and Australia frequently dock at ports in Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, and Fukuoka.
Now that you know how to get to Japan, it’s time to start planning your trip!
Check out my Japan travel guides, including a classic Japan itinerary with insider tips on where to stay, must-visit cities, top attractions, essential travel apps, how to visit Fushimi Inari, things to do in Kyoto and Tokyo, fun facts, packing lists, which souvenirs to buy and other info you might need. Japan promises an unforgettable experience.
➤ Read more Japan travel guides
• How to spend 17 days in Japan Itinerary
• How to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
• Top 5 Ramen tours in Tokyo that are absolutely delicious
• 15+ Best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan (+ Map!)
• Ultimate List of 23 Best Japan travel apps (Tried & Tested)
📌 Like it? Pin it!
