Flying from London to Tokyo: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to start your trip from. Explore your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when planning your flight from London to Tokyo. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other main bases.
Hop off your plane in Tokyo at Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT).
Hop on a direct London to Tokyo flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 13 hours 50 minutes.
The timezone in Tokyo is UTC+9, which is nine hours ahead of London.
With 33 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Haneda Airport (HND) is the most popular route. Hop on the first flight from London to Tokyo with JAL at 08:35. If you'd like to get more out of your day before taking off, the last departure from LHR to HND is with JAL at 19:20.
Leave enough time to get on your London to Tokyo flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling during a peak time such as July? School holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Tokyo
To score cheap London to Tokyo flights, book your journey one month ahead of your planned departure.
The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from London to Tokyo is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
Locking in a cheap flight from London to Tokyo is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as a better deal is available.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' London to Tokyo flights.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Set off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Tokyo. From LHR, you can travel directly to Haneda Airport (HND).
Choose from a variety of airlines that offer direct London to Tokyo plane tickets out of LHR. Reserve your trip with one of these:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and maybe even explore another city. When browsing London to Tokyo flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
LHR is around 26 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour.
Planning to catch an early flight from London to Tokyo? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these stays close to London Heathrow Airport:
Of the flights that depart from London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% touch down on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your London to Tokyo flight. Visit friends or family or cross another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, check out these options between London Gatwick Airport and Tokyo:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
You can get to LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to travel the 40 kilometres or so.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before boarding your flight from London to Tokyo? Unwind in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your adventure officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
69% of flights taking off from London Gatwick Airport arrive according to schedule.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Choosing a ticket from London to Tokyo with one or more stops can give you more departure time choices and access to better fares. When leaving from Stansted Airport (STN), here are a few places you can detour to on your way to Tokyo:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
The trip to STN from the centre of London is around 1 hour 25 minutes on public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay close to Stansted Airport and know you'll be at the terminal with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early London to Tokyo flight:
The on-time performance rating of STN is 64.73%. In other words, that's how often flights from this airport arrive at their final stop as planned.
Arriving in Tokyo
Haneda Airport (HND)
The distance from Haneda Airport (HND) to central Tokyo is approximately 18 kilometres. It'll take you about 15 minutes to get to the centre driving.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from London to Tokyo. Check in to one of these accommodation options near HND instead:
Grab a Haneda Airport rental car and explore Tokyo and beyond with your own set of wheels. Europcar, Nissan Rent a Car and Times are popular providers you can book with here.
For the best deal, book your vehicle from Haneda Airport around three weeks ahead of your London to Tokyo flight.
You'll find HND at 3丁目 Hanedakuko, Ota.
Narita International Airport (NRT)
Narita International Airport (NRT) is around 56 kilometres from the centre of Tokyo. Once you've disembarked your flight from London to Tokyo, it'll take you approximately 1 hour to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
After your flight from London to Tokyo, settle in at a hotel near NRT. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Airport Car Hire, JDM Rent a car and Miki Car Hire make collecting a Narita International Airport rental car quick and easy. These trusted providers are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Get the lowest price by booking your ride from NRT four weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
You can find Narita International Airport at 成田空港第2PTB(バス), Narita.
Best time to go to Tokyo
April is the busiest month for flights from London to Tokyo. To escape the crowds, go to Tokyo in February.
Book a London to Tokyo ticket departing in August if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Tokyo to range from 26ºC (79ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
Look for cheap flights from London to Tokyo in February if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 15ºC (59ºF) and 20ºC (68ºF) on average.
More about Tokyo
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Tokyo right here. Browse these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from London to Tokyo:
Tokyo Tower and Senso-ji Temple Yogodo are a couple of leading attractions to put on your Tokyo itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Mag's Park Rooftop Shibuya Crossing.
Explore more of Japan
You've visited Tokyo, now it's time to explore other corners of Japan. Travel about 31 kilometres south-west to Yokohama to tick off its top attractions. From Teishoin to Seya Christian Church and Banfukuji, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Around 402 kilometres west of Tokyo, Osaka is another essential stop in Japan. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Universal Studios Japan.