Thinking about traveling to Japan? Well, unless you’re taking a ferry from Korea or China, one of the most important things travelers ask is: how long is the flight to Tokyo?
The answer depends on where you are flying from, which Tokyo airport you land in — Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) — and whether you have a direct flight or a layover. On average, nonstop flights from the United States take 10 to 14 hours, while flights from nearby Asian countries can be as short as 2 to 3 hours.
Flight Time to Tokyo Comparison Chart
| Departure City / Country | Average Nonstop Flight Time to Tokyo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | 11–12 hours | Multiple daily nonstops to both HND and NRT by ANA, JAL, United, Delta, and ZIPAIR. |
| San Francisco (SFO) | ~11 hours | Frequent nonstops to both HND and NRT by United, ANA, JAL, and ZIPAIR. |
| Seattle (SEA) | 10–11 hours | Nonstops to HND by Delta and ANA; nonstops to NRT by JAL and Hawaiian. |
| Honolulu (HNL) | 8–9 hours | Nonstops to both HND and NRT by ANA, JAL, Delta, Hawaiian, United, ZIPAIR. FlyTeam(フライチーム)+1 |
| New York (JFK) | 14–15 hours | Nonstops to HND by ANA, JAL, and American. United flies from nearby Newark, not JFK. |
| Chicago (ORD) | ~13 hours | Nonstops to both HND and NRT by ANA, JAL, and United. |
| Dallas (DFW) | 13–14 hours | Daily to HND by American and JAL; daily to NRT by American. FlightsFrom+1 |
| Atlanta (ATL) | ~14 hours | Daily nonstop to HND by Delta. |
| Boston (BOS) | ~14 hours | Daily nonstop to NRT by JAL. No current ANA nonstop to HND. |
| Denver (DEN) | ~12 hours | Daily nonstop to NRT by United. |
| Houston (IAH) | 13–14 hours | Nonstops to HND by ANA; nonstops to NRT by United, with ZIPAIR seasonal service. |
| Miami (MIA) | 15–20 hours | No nonstop at this time; expect at least one connection. |
| Toronto (YYZ) | ~13 hours | Nonstops by Air Canada to HND and NRT. |
| Vancouver (YVR) | 9–10 hours | Nonstops to HND by ANA; to NRT by Air Canada, JAL, and ZIPAIR. |
| London (LHR) | 11–12 hours | Daily nonstops to HND by British Airways, JAL, and ANA. |
| Sydney (SYD) | 9–10 hours | Nonstops by Qantas, ANA, and JAL. |
| Singapore (SIN) | ~7 hours | Frequent nonstops by Singapore Airlines, ANA, and JAL. |
| Bangkok (BKK) | 6–7 hours | Nonstops by Thai Airways, ANA, and JAL. |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | 4–5 hours | Nonstops by Cathay Pacific, ANA, and JAL. |
| Seoul (ICN) | 2–3 hours | Many daily nonstops by Korean Air, Asiana, ANA, JAL. |
| Okinawa (OKA) | ~2.5 hours | Dense domestic corridor to HND and NRT by ANA, JAL, Skymark, Peach and others. |
Los Angeles to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
Nonstop flights from Los Angeles take about 11 to 12 hours to either airport. You have many daily choices on ANA, JAL, United, Delta and ZIPAIR to HND or NRT. West coast connections usually add several hours. Eastbound returns are often around 10 to 11 hours.
Los Angeles to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket Pricing
Economy: Often around $600.
Business: Often around $4,000.
New York to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
From JFK, nonstop flights to Haneda average 14 to 15 hours on ANA, JAL and American. United’s nonstops operate from Newark to both NRT and HND, not from JFK. Returns to New York are typically 12 to 13 hours.
New York to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket Pricing
Economy: Often around $1,100.
Business: Often around $5,000.
Chicago to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
Chicago O’Hare has nonstops to both HND and NRT operated by ANA, JAL and United. Typical flight time is around 13 hours westbound and about 12 hours eastbound.
Chicago to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket Pricing
Economy: Often around $1,100 – $2,000.
Business: Often around $5,000 – $7,000.
San Francisco to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
From SFO, plan on about 11 hours nonstop. United, ANA and JAL serve Haneda; NRT also has nonstop options including ZIPAIR. Eastbound returns average around 10 hours.
San Francisco to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket pricing
Economy: Often around $800.
Business: Often around $4,600.
Seattle to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
Seattle to Tokyo is about 10 to 11 hours nonstop. Delta and ANA fly to Haneda; JAL and Hawaiian fly to Narita. Returns are usually just under 10 hours.
Seattle to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket Pricing:
Economy: Often around $700.
Business: Often around $4,300 – $5,000.
Honolulu to Tokyo Flight Time and Cost
Honolulu is the shortest United States gateway, with flight times of 8 to 9 hours to Tokyo. Multiple airlines fly nonstop to both HND and NRT; typical HNL to HND schedules show about 8 hours. Eastbound returns can be 7 to 8 hours.
Honolulu to Tokyo: ANA Airline Ticket Pricing
Economy: Often around $550 – $650.
Business: Often around $2,500 – $4,500.
Flight Times From Other Popular Countries
London to Tokyo: 11 to 12 hours nonstop to Haneda, operated daily by British Airways, JAL, and ANA.
Sydney to Tokyo: 9 to 10 hours nonstop on Qantas, ANA, JAL.
Toronto to Tokyo: about 13 hours with Air Canada operating nonstops to Haneda and Narita.
Vancouver to Tokyo: 9 to 10 hours with ANA to Haneda and Air Canada, JAL, ZIPAIR to Narita.
Singapore to Tokyo: around 7 hours with Singapore Airlines, ANA, JAL.
Bangkok to Tokyo: 6 to 7 hours with Thai, ANA, JAL.
Hong Kong to Tokyo: 4 to 5 hours with Cathay Pacific, ANA, JAL.
Seoul to Tokyo: 2 to 3 hours with abundant daily service.
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Why Return Flights Are Often Faster
Flights from Japan back to North America are usually 30 to 60 minutes shorter thanks to the jet stream, a fast moving band of winds at cruising altitude that generally flows west to east. Pilots plan routes to use these tailwinds eastbound and to avoid headwinds westbound.
Airlines Flying Between the United States and Japan
Major carriers operating direct routes include:
- Japan Airlines (JAL)
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- United Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- American Airlines
Additional options and codeshares are available, and ZIPAIR operates several popular low cost nonstop routes to and from Narita. Availability varies by airport and season, so always check current schedules when booking.
