Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from Europe to Japan

Direct flight routes to Japan

Several European cities offer non-stop flights to Tokyo Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airports.

• London Heathrow – Tokyo Haneda: Japan Airlines/British Airways, 11h 30m


• Paris CDG – Tokyo Haneda: Air France/JAL, 11h 45m


• Frankfurt – Tokyo Haneda: Lufthansa/ANA, 11h 10m


• Amsterdam – Tokyo Narita: KLM, 11h 20m


• Helsinki – Tokyo Narita: Finnair, 9h 30m

Layover/stopover options

Dubai (DXB): Emirates hub with efficient 2-3 hour connections. Modern airport with excellent shopping. Free city tours available for longer layovers.

Istanbul (IST): Turkish Airlines hub offering competitive prices. Average connection time 3 hours. Free city tour for 6+ hour layovers.

Helsinki (HEL): Finnair’s hub specializing in Europe-Asia routes. Quick 35-minute minimum connection time. Compact, easy-to-navigate airport.

Seoul Incheon (ICN): Korean Air and Asiana hub. Modern facilities with cultural activities. Free transit tours for 2+ hour layovers.

Time vs money

Direct flights typically command premium prices but save 4-8 hours of total travel time. Flights with layovers often cost 20-40% less than non-stop options, with Middle Eastern carriers usually offering the most competitive rates.

Tips and recommendations

• Book mixed carriers for better deals: outbound with one airline, return with another


• Consider Helsinki as departure point – often cheaper than other European hubs with shorter flight times


• Middle Eastern carriers frequently offer free hotel stays for layovers over 8 hours


• Far Eastern layovers (Seoul, Hong Kong) often price similarly to direct flights but allow free stopovers


• Most competitive fares appear 3-4 months before departure

• **Air France** operates a Paris-Tokyo route using modern A350-900s, offering significantly more legroom (34″ pitch) in economy than competitors, while maintaining prices around 15% below market average. Their connecting flights from other European cities through Paris are well-timed with short layovers. The airline recently added a third daily frequency to Tokyo Haneda, increasing seat availability and keeping fares competitive.
• **Turkish Airlines** routes through Istanbul provide remarkable value when departing from secondary European cities like Budapest or Bucharest, with prices up to 25% lower than direct flights. Their economy class on Boeing 787s features comfortable 33″ pitch seats and high-quality catering. Multiple daily frequencies to both Tokyo airports allow flexible scheduling and reliable connections.
• **Finnair** offers the quickest routes from Northern Europe to Japan by flying over the Arctic, with Helsinki-Tokyo flights taking just 9 hours and 30 minutes. Their A350 economy class provides 31-32″ pitch but compensates with wider 18″ seats and excellent sleep comfort. Connecting through Helsinki is particularly cost-effective from UK, Benelux, and German cities.
• **LOT Polish Airlines** operates Warsaw-Tokyo routes with competitive fares averaging 20% below major carriers, using modern Boeing 787s with comfortable 32″ pitch in economy. The airline’s extensive European network makes it an excellent choice for travelers from Eastern and Central Europe. Their late evening departures from Warsaw allow convenient same-day connections from most European cities.
• **KLM** recently expanded their Japan network with additional frequencies to Tokyo and Osaka, offering attractive pricing from secondary European airports through Amsterdam. Their Boeing 787-10 features improved air quality and larger windows, making the long-haul journey more comfortable. The airline’s flexible booking conditions and reliability make it particularly suitable for leisure travelers seeking value.

1. Booking the cheapest flight without checking connections Long layovers in places like Istanbul or Dubai can add unnecessary travel time and fatigue when direct flights or shorter routes via Helsinki or Moscow are available.
2. Flying into Narita instead of Haneda While both airports serve Tokyo, Haneda is much closer to the city center and offers better domestic connections, potentially saving hours in transfer time and transportation costs.
3. Missing the cherry blossom season due to late booking Flights during late March to early April need to be booked 6-8 months in advance as prices can triple and availability becomes extremely limited during this peak season.
4. Not accounting for time zones when booking connections The significant time difference between Europe and Japan can result in missing connections or losing a full day if travelers don’t carefully check arrival dates and times.
5. Overlooking alliance partnerships for mileage accrual Many European travelers book with non-alliance airlines or fail to register their frequent flyer numbers, missing out on valuable miles that could be earned through JAL’s oneworld or ANA’s Star Alliance partnerships.

ANA – All Nippon Airways

Best for: consistently highest-rated service quality and comfort among all airlines flying Europe-Japan routes.

Operates from 6 European cities (London, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Munich) to Tokyo. Economy class features generous 34″ seat pitch, high-quality meals with both Japanese and Western options, and personal entertainment systems with extensive content. Excellent on-time performance and efficient connections at Tokyo Haneda. Passenger satisfaction scores consistently above 4.5/5.

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Best for: most spacious economy seats on Europe-Japan routes with 33-34″ pitch and wider seat design.

Serves 5 European destinations (London, Paris, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Moscow) to Tokyo. Known for exceptional Japanese hospitality, award-winning meals, and Sky Wider seats in economy. Their connections through Tokyo Narita are well-organized with average layover times of 2 hours. Customer ratings average 4.4/5.

Lufthansa

Best for: largest European network to Japan with most frequent connections through Frankfurt hub.

Offers flights from 15 European cities with main routes from Frankfurt, Munich, and Vienna to both Tokyo airports and Osaka. Economy provides 31″ seat pitch, reliable service, and good German efficiency in connections. While seat comfort is average, their extensive route network and frequency of flights make them a practical choice. Passenger ratings average 4/5.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Best for: best value for money with competitive pricing and reliable service quality.

Connects from 12 European cities primarily through Amsterdam, Paris, and London to Tokyo and Osaka. Economy class offers 31-32″ seat pitch, good Dutch-style service, and consistently fresh meals. Their partnership with Air France provides flexible routing options. Customer satisfaction scores average 4.1/5.

Strategic booking with Asian carriers

When planning travel from Europe to Japan, leveraging regional Asian airlines can significantly reduce costs while offering unique routing opportunities. This strategy requires breaking down your journey into strategic segments.

Key money-saving tactics

1. Split ticketing – Book separate tickets: one from Europe to a major Asian hub (like Bangkok, Singapore, or Seoul), and another onwards to Japan using regional carriers like AirAsia, Scoot, or Peach Aviation.
2. Hub exploitation – Bangkok and Singapore typically offer the cheapest regional connections. Consider spending a day exploring these cities while saving on airfare.
3. Timing advantages – Regional Asian carriers often release seats 3-4 months before departure, with best prices available during this initial period.
4. Low-cost terminal usage – Many Asian budget airlines operate from secondary terminals. While less convenient, these routes often cost 40-60% less than major carriers.

Remember to factor in baggage fees and terminal transfer times when calculating total costs. This approach works best when booking at least 4 months ahead and maintaining flexible travel dates. The savings can often exceed €300 compared to direct routes.