Flying from Tokyo to Melbourne: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne. Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT) are Tokyo's main airports.
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is where you'll be arriving in Melbourne.
Book a direct Tokyo to Melbourne flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 10 hours 15 minutes.
Melbourne's timezone is UTC+11, making Melbourne two hours ahead of Tokyo.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Tokyo to Melbourne flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months like June. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Tokyo to Melbourne
Booking in advance is often the key to locking in a cheap Tokyo to Melbourne flight. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, use the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll give you the lowest price across each month when looking for your plane ticket from Tokyo to Melbourne.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Tokyo to Melbourne.
Tailor your flights using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' Tokyo to Melbourne flights.
Flying from Tokyo
Haneda Airport (HND)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Tokyo to Melbourne flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Haneda Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
To reach HND from central Tokyo, it takes around 15 minutes if you're going by car. It's roughly 14 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Catching an early flight from Tokyo to Melbourne? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to Haneda Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Haneda Airport, data shows 73.52% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
You'll find HND at 3丁目 Hanedakuko, Ota.
Narita International Airport (NRT)
You can book a direct flight from Tokyo to Melbourne out of Narita International Airport (NRT). Nonstop services from NRT will get you to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
Qantas offers direct Tokyo to Melbourne plane tickets from NRT. Book your preferred aisle seat and reach your destination in a single hop.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your Tokyo to Melbourne flight. Visit friends or family or cross another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, check out these stops between Narita International Airport and Melbourne:
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Cairns Airport (CNS)
Depending on traffic, you can drive to NRT from the centre of Tokyo in about 1 hour. The airport is roughly 64 kilometres away.
You're going on holiday, so why not spend another night away? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Narita International Airport the day before your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne:
Narita International Airport has an on-time performance of 70%. This figure reflects how frequently flights that depart from this airport arrive at their destination on time.
You'll find NRT at 成田空港第2PTB(バス), Narita.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is approximately 19 kilometres. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It usually takes 40 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Tokyo to Melbourne, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near MEL:
Follow your own route with a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt and see more of Melbourne and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, book your ride from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport around four weeks ahead of your Tokyo to Melbourne flight.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
Once your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne has hit the runway, you can reach the city centre in around 50 minutes by car. Central Melbourne is roughly 48 kilometres from Avalon Airport (AVV).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 2 hours 5 minutes on public transport.
Sixt, Kangaroo Rental and yesaway car hire make collecting an Avalon Airport rental car simple. These companies are located in or around the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Lock in the best price by booking your ride from AVV three weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a bigger selection of vehicles.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Step off your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne and go directly to your hotel or start taking in the sights right away. The centre of Melbourne is around 11 kilometres from Essendon Airport (MEB) and usually takes 25 minutes to reach driving.
If you're using public transport, the journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Put yourself in the driver's seat of the next leg of your trip with an Essendon Airport rental car. East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar are some companies you can book with.
Rental companies sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so secure your vehicle from MEB a few weeks ahead of your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne. A little planning can save you money.
Best time to go to Melbourne
April is the quietest month for flights from Tokyo to Melbourne, while January is the most popular. Figure out the ideal time to visit Melbourne based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Before locking in your Tokyo to Melbourne tickets, consider what kind of weather you prefer. January is the warmest month in Melbourne, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Tokyo to Melbourne in July when temperatures average between 4ºC (39ºF) and 13ºC (55ºF).
More about Melbourne
Start your Melbourne trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Tokyo to Melbourne, explore our range of hotels including:
Federation Square and National Gallery of Victoria are just two of the leading attractions to add to your Melbourne travel itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to Eureka Skydeck 88.
Explore more of Australia
You've visited Melbourne, now it's time to explore other corners of Australia. Journey about 467 kilometres north-east to Canberra to tick off its popular sights. From Australian War Memorial to National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Geelong is another well-known destination in Australia and is around 64 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. No trip is complete without seeing Ford Motor Company, Roraima Nursery and RTC Resource Centre.