Cheapo Airlines

Both New York City and its busy Tokyo equivalent are linked by five daily non-stop services and a number of offline choices. The average flying time is about 14 hrs, which makes it a relatively simple trip, regardless of whether you're coming for work or private. Continue reading to find out how best (and cheapest) to travel from New York to Tokyo (and back) and what you can do when you land.

No matter whether you board at JFK International Airport or Newark International (EEA), you're dealing with a sound 14-hour non-stop flight. When you choose to go from New York to Tokyo via a single point of passage, you are saving several hundred bucks on your tickets, but can be expected to increase your journey by 8-24 hrs, depending on where you mingle.

There are also connecting points in Shanghai and Istanbul, but timetables may be too long, especially for the latter. JAL, ANA, United (often run by ANA) and American are your choice when it comes to fly directly from New York to Tokyo. Your main option in this case are to fly with Air Canada, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Air China, China Eastern and Aeromexico.

You will see a number of other airlines on Skyscanner, as well as the already mentioned Turkish Airlines, but please review the running periods thoroughly before booking with any of them. This is great if you're interested in turning your break into a mini-holiday - but if not, we recommend you avoid all shops that have a stay of more than nine or ten on them.

Everything that goes beyond that means that you are on the road for more than a single whole days and are shaken by the period when you enter Tokyo. However, some indirectly operated services provide a short journey, but then demand a lot of waiting on the way back - don't do this. But before we get to the right price, a few words of warning:

Should you for some reasons not make it to your connecting flights, you will be compelled to coughed for a whole new one. Springs and autumn are the most beloved periods to go to Tokyo, when the sun is at its most beautiful and the countryside at its most beautiful. When you can manage with sauna-friendly circumstances, the summers are also wild, and the winters, although cool, can also be a good season for a vacation (reservation below).

Chinese New Year parties in mid-February (or something like that) can also be a less strategical period for cheaperos. Arrival: Narita or Haneda? When you are in a position where you can make a reservation for a plane to Haneda airport at the same fare as Narita, you are definitely choosing the first one.

Not only is Haneda a more contemporary international destination with a brilliant new architectural design and luxurious facilities, it is also much nearer to Tokyo. This is because it is located in Tokyo itself (less than 30 min from the centre). Narita, on the other side, is far away in the neighbouring prefecture of Chiba (think of paddy fields and an artificial Netherlands windmill), which makes the transfer a little more of a quest.

If you want to know more about the route after your stay, read our article about the best routes from Haneda to Tokyo and the best routes from Narita to Tokyo. Although you may not be able to stay long in Tokyo, you can still make the most of a short stay on the way to another location in Asia, Europe or elsewhere.

There are cool and inexpensive outdoor and indoor pursuits (and accommodation) near Haneda and Narita airports as well as near trains and buses. If you have an idea what to do when you are in the city for a few day (or less), read our Haneda Layover Guide and our Tokyo in 24h itinerary.

You can also find our 101 free and inexpensive things you can do in our free downloads. Will you be coming to Tokyo soon? Fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo?