How do I get to Tokyo?

Haneda (HND) sits 15 km south of central Tokyo, right on the edge of Tokyo Bay. This is where you want to land if you can. The monorail to Hamamatsucho takes 13 minutes, and from there you're a quick transfer to wherever you're staying. The terminal feels calm compared to most Asian mega-airports — low ceilings, warm wood paneling, the smell of fresh tonkatsu drifting from the restaurant floors. Narita (NRT) is 65 km east in Chiba Prefecture, and the difference matters: you're looking at 55 minutes minimum on the Narita Express to Tokyo Station, or 90 minutes on the cheaper Access Express to Asakusa. Most US and European carriers have shifted key routes to Haneda since 2020, but budget carriers and some legacy connections still land at Narita. Check your airline carefully — the wrong airport adds two hours to your first day.

From the US West Coast, direct flights run about 11 hours on JAL, ANA, United, and Delta. LAX and SFO have the best frequency — six or seven nonstops daily between them. Fares tend to sit around $800–1,200 round-trip in shoulder season (April–May, October–November), climbing to $1,400–1,800 over New Year and cherry blossom weeks in late March. From the East Coast, JFK and IAD have nonstops at 14 hours on ANA and JAL; connecting via Seattle or San Francisco on Delta or United sometimes shaves $150 off the fare but adds 4–5 hours. One thing worth noting: ANA's Value economy fares from the US often undercut competitors by $100–200, though the baggage allowance drops to one checked bag. JAL tends to cost slightly more but includes two bags and, to be fair, serves better in-flight meals — the katsu curry at 35,000 feet is better than you'd expect.

From London, direct flights take about 12 hours on BA, JAL, and ANA, with round-trips running £650–1,000. Finnair via Helsinki is consistently the cheapest European routing at £500–700, and the 90-minute layover barely registers. From Southeast Asia, Tokyo is a 5–7 hour flight, and low-cost carriers earn their keep here: Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan run Bangkok–Tokyo and Singapore–Tokyo for $150–300 one-way. Seoul to Tokyo on Peach or t'way Air takes just 2.5 hours for $80–150. From Australia, Qantas and ANA fly Sydney–Haneda direct in 9.5 hours for A$1,200–1,800. Jetstar sometimes drops below A$800 on sale routes, though the seat pitch might leave your knees aching by hour six.

Timing matters more than most people realize. The cheapest windows for flying into Tokyo are mid-January through February and late May through June — tourist numbers dip, and the humidity hasn't arrived yet. Cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) and autumn color season (mid-November) push fares up 40–60% from baseline. Golden Week — the string of national holidays from April 29 to May 5 — is when domestic travel floods every train and hotel; international fares stay reasonable but ground-level capacity gets tight. If you're arriving from the US, you'll cross the date line and land tomorrow. Try to book a flight arriving in the afternoon Tokyo time. It gives you the evening to walk Shinjuku's neon-lit alleys, grab yakitori still smoky off the grill at Omoide Yokocho, and let your body clock start adjusting before you sleep.