Cheap flights to Tokyo

Most popular in	March	High demand for flights, 3% potential price rise
Cheapest in	October	Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
Average price	R14783	Price for this month
Cheapest price	R8951	From Cape Town to Tokyo

Cheapest prices for Tokyo flights by month

January

R12646

February

R12892

March

R14783

April

R13238

May

R12155

June

R13238

July

R13743

August

R13989

September

R13743

October

R11982

November

R12473

December

R13411

Currently, the cheapest month for flights to Tokyo is October. The most expensive month for flights is March. The cheapest prices are shown above but prices will vary according to departure times, airlines, class and how early you book.

When is the best time to fly to Tokyo?

Choose a month below to see average flight price and weather conditions.

+45.0%

+30.0%

+15.0%

Base

Price	10803 - 14669 ZAR
Temperature	50 - 88 °F
Rainfall	44.8 - 235.4 mm

Whilst there are several times of the year to choose from, January is seen as the time to fly to Tokyo, however, it is possible to get good deals throughout the year. If weather is an important factor for you when considering when to fly to Tokyo, the warmest period tends to be August, with the wettest being October.

When is the best time to book flights to Tokyo?

The price you pay for your flight to Tokyo may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 60 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

Days before departure

Which day is cheapest to fly to Tokyo?

The cheapest day to fly to Tokyo is usually Sunday. At the moment, Friday is the most expensive.

What time of day is cheapest to fly?

At the moment, flights at midday are likely to offer the best value for money for your Tokyo trip. A flight in the morning will more often than not be of higher cost.

When is the best time to book cheap flights to Tokyo?

Tokyo is a futuristic and technologically advanced megacity, visitors flying to Tokyo can experience a city that retains traces of an ancient, more contemplative approach to life that sits comfortably alongside a tech savvy lifestyle giving the city a great architectural and cultural juxtaposition.

Peak Season:

Spring and autumn are the most temperate seasons. Despite the heat and humidity of the summer, rates in the summer are going up. Many local festivals are celebrated in Tokyo in July, and the school summer holiday runs from the end of July through August. Peak travel times for flights to Tokyo tend to fall around Japanese holidays when reservations need to be booked far in advance.

Off Season:

The New Year’s celebration is January 1 through 3, which is a busy travel time, but the rest of January, February, and March are quiet so cheap flights to Tokyo are easier to find and sightseeing attractions are not nearly as busy. Plus, skies tend to be clear and sunny and the weather is chilly but dry. One of world’s biggest animation events, Tokyo International Anime Fair takes place in March and draws anime enthusiasts from around the world.

Why visit?

Tokyo is located on Honshu, Japan’s largest island. This neon-bathed city is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, home to the Imperial Family and Imperial Palace, seat of government and home to over 13 million people, making it one of the most densely populated cities on the planet.

To get a feel for the bustling metropolis, visit the Tsujiki market, one of the busiest wholesale fish markets in the world, where you can see fresh produce from the highly skilled and dedicated Japanese fishing industry. Or, visit the kimono shop at the Daimaru department store, where the prices will leave you scraping your jaw off the floor. For a bird’s eye view, whizz up to the observatory of the Tokyo Tower, from where you can even see Mount Fuji and Mount Tsukuba. And for a bargain, head to the colourful Akihabara (or Electric Town), the best place for electronic, computer and anime and otaku items.

For moments of calm, stroll through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace or visit Meiji Jingu, the Shinto shrine just behind Harajuku station.

Tokyo climate

Winter is cold in Tokyo and the temperature occasionally drops below freezing. Spring has pleasant warm days. Summer is hot and muggy. It gets cool again in the autumn, with temperatures in the teens to 20s Celsius. August is the warmest month with high humidity and temperatures in the mid-20s, and January is the coldest with temperatures below zero. The monsoon season lasts about a month starting around mid-June. Typhoons are widespread in Japan in September.

Getting around Tokyo

Tokyo is known internationally for having great public transport. It’s clean, safe and efficient. Tourists usually stick to the subway or Japan Railways (JR). The subway has 13 different lines that run from early morning to late evening. Avoid the rush hours if possible as they can get extremely crowded. You can buy a Tokyo Combination Ticket which offers unlimited rides on the Tokyo trains, subway and bus lines for one day. Taxis are safe, clean and comfortable, but among the highest-priced in the world. Drivers might not speak English, so it’s a good idea to have your destinations written in Japanese before boarding.

Getting from the airport to the city

Tokyo has two major international airports, Tokyo Haneda airport (HND) and Narita International airport (NRT). The whizziest way of getting from the airport to the city is on the Keisei Skyliner, which takes 36 minutes to reach Nippori and 41 minutes to get to Ueno. It’s twice as expensive as the Express train, which takes 75 minutes to reach Keisei Ueno Station. Regular bus services operate from the airport but tend to be a slower (if less expensive) option than the trains.There are taxis available at the airport but are the most expensive option.