Flights to Japan From the UK: London to Tokyo Flight Time, Airlines and Fares

Whichever route you pick, set up a HelloRoam Japan eSIM before you leave the UK and you land with data for maps, train times and messages, plus 24/7 support if anything needs sorting.

How we checked: flight times and fares come from the airlines' own pages, Heathrow's terminal list and Kayak's route data, read on 2 October 2026. Fares change daily, so use them as a guide, not a quote.

The Non-Stop London to Tokyo Flight Takes About 14 Hours

British Airways lists its London to Tokyo flight at about 13 hours 50 minutes. Kayak's average across all three non-stop airlines is 13 hours 49 minutes on the way out and 14 hours 28 minutes on the way back to London. If you see 11 or 12 hours quoted for this route, that figure is out of date.

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Source: Kayak's route pages, showing average non-stop times and the fastest one-stop trips found. One-stop times vary a lot with the length of the layover.

Tokyo runs on GMT+9 all year, so Japan is 9 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 8 hours ahead during British Summer Time. GOV.UK lists the next UK clock changes as 28 March 2027 (forward) and 31 October 2027 (back), so a winter departure means a 9-hour jump.

Jet Lag Is Likely With an 8 or 9 Hour Time Change

Plan for jet lag in Japan, because the clock moves 8 or 9 hours. The NHS describes jet lag as a disturbed sleep pattern after a long flight, and says it usually improves within a few days as your body adjusts.

The NHS jet lag page (read in October 2026) suggests these steps:

• Before you go: get plenty of rest, and start going to bed and getting up earlier than usual, closer to Japan time.
• On the plane: drink plenty of water, walk around the cabin, and try to sleep if it is night in Japan.
• Caffeine and alcohol: go easy on both, as the NHS says they can make jet lag worse.
• After you land: switch to the new sleep schedule straight away, get outside in daylight, and avoid sleeping during the day.

Check the full NHS jet lag page before you travel, as it is the official source for this advice.

BA, JAL and ANA Fly Non-Stop From Heathrow to Haneda

Direct flights to Tokyo from the UK leave from London Heathrow, and Kayak shows non-stop departures every day. ANA's own timetable, which runs to 27 March 2027, lists its London to Haneda flight as daily.

Each airline uses a different Heathrow terminal, so check yours before you set off. BA and JAL are both oneworld members and ANA is in Star Alliance, which matters if you collect points with one alliance.

Bags depend on the fare, not just the airline. BA sells hand-baggage-only economy fares, and its Economy Standard fare adds one 23kg checked bag. ANA's economy fares include between 0 and 2 checked bags of up to 23kg each, depending on the fare rules. Check what your ticket includes before you compare prices.

From Other UK Airports You Change Planes at Least Once

Kayak lists no non-stop flights to Tokyo from Manchester or Edinburgh, so you need at least one connection. Its fastest one-stop trips take 15 hours 40 minutes from Manchester and 16 hours 2 minutes from Edinburgh.

You can fly to Heathrow and take a non-stop flight, or connect through a hub abroad:

• Helsinki: Finnair sells Manchester, Edinburgh and London to Tokyo trips, and its Helsinki to Haneda flight alone takes 13 hours 30 minutes.
• Dubai: Emirates flies to Dubai from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle as well as London, with onward flights to Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka.
• Doha: Kayak names Doha, on Qatar Airways, as another common stop on the way from Manchester.

Compare the total journey time as well as the fare, because the layover decides how long the trip really takes.

Economy Fares Depend on Stops and Season

Kayak's cheapest London to Tokyo return was £568, with one stop in China or India. Its cheapest non-stop return was £590, but typical non-stop fares ran from £916 to £1,173.

The cheapest fares come with long journeys. The £568 returns on Kayak took between 18 and 43 hours each way, against about 14 hours non-stop. ANA's figures are fares its own site had seen in the past 48 hours, so they can sell out.

January Is the Cheapest Month to Fly to Tokyo

Kayak's 12-month data puts January as the cheapest month from London to Tokyo, at a median of £642 return. July and August are the dearest, at about £1,130. On the Heathrow to Haneda airport pair alone, January is also the cheapest month, at a median of £888.

Japan's own holidays make transport busier too. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) says domestic travel peaks at New Year (late December to early January), Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August). Japan's Cabinet Office lists Golden Week's 2027 holidays on 29 April and 3 to 5 May.

British Airways names spring and autumn as the best times to see Tokyo, when the weather is mild. JNTO says cherry blossoms open between March and May, moving from south to north, and autumn leaves turn between late September and early December. British Airways calls April a very popular time because of the blossom, and suggests travelling outside it for better deals. JNTO also warns that August and September can bring typhoons.

For the lowest price, Kayak's data points to booking about 22 weeks ahead, leaving on a Tuesday and flying home on a Wednesday. Saturday departures and Sunday returns were the dearest.

Every Non-Stop Flight Lands at Haneda, the Closer Tokyo Airport

Heathrow's terminal list shows all three Japan routes going to Tokyo Haneda (HND). That helps, because Haneda is the closer of Tokyo's two big airports. British Airways says the Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu trains take about 15 to 20 minutes from Haneda, and a taxi about 30 minutes.

Some one-stop tickets land at Narita (NRT) instead, which is further out. Narita Airport's own site lists the Skyliner to Nippori and Ueno, and the Narita Express to Tokyo, Shibuya and Shinjuku.

Starting in Kyoto or Osaka? Kayak lists no non-stop flights from London to Kansai (KIX), but you can fly there with one stop and skip Tokyo. Emirates flies to Osaka via Dubai, and ANA's London to Osaka fares connect through Tokyo, because ANA's only London route is to Haneda.

Heathrow has no flights to Sapporo's New Chitose (CTS) or Fukuoka (FUK), so those need a connection too. When we checked, ANA's UK site was offering free domestic flights beyond Tokyo if you book them on the same ticket as its international flight, though taxes and fees may still apply. Check the offer's terms on ANA's site before you book.

Once you are in the city, our guide to things to do in Tokyo is a good place to start.

Get Mobile Data Sorted Before You Fly

You will want data from the moment you land, for maps, train routes, translation and messages home. Check what your UK network charges to use data in Japan, and see how eSIM and roaming costs compare before you decide.

A travel eSIM is a digital SIM that adds a data plan for your trip, while your UK SIM keeps your number. If you have not used one, here is how an eSIM works.

You can buy and install a HelloRoam eSIM at home before you fly. First check whether your phone works with eSIM, then follow the steps on how to install an eSIM while you are still on home Wi-Fi.

Not sure how big a plan to buy for a fortnight in Japan? Work out how much data your trip needs before you choose.