Flights to Japan from the UK start from around £499 return, with British Airways, Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA all operating direct services from London Heathrow to Tokyo. Direct flight time to Tokyo is approximately 13–14 hours. UK citizens currently travel to Japan visa-free for stays up to 90 days. The 2026 Asian Games (Aichi–Nagoya) run from 19 September to 4 October 2026, hosted mainly around Nagoya with venues also in Tokyo, Osaka, Shizuoka and Gifu — there are no direct UK flights to Nagoya, so most visitors fly into Tokyo or Osaka and connect onward by Shinkansen bullet train. Fares rise sharply during the Games window, so booking early is strongly recommended. Compare all airlines and routes below, or call +44 7478 061159 for a live quote.
Enter your travel details — our Japan & Asian Games 2026 specialists find you the best available fare across all airlines
From ringside seats at the 2026 Asian Games to temple-hopping in Kyoto — cheap flights to Japan from UK make it all possible
19 September – 4 October 2026. Athletics, cricket, football, judo and more across Aichi Prefecture.
Flights from £579
Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa and the world's best food scene. Direct from Heathrow.
Flights from £499
Fushimi Inari's torii gates, Nara's deer park and Osaka's legendary street food.
Flights from £549
India, Pakistan & more at Kōrogi Sports Park — 17 Sept to 3 Oct 2026.
See full scheduleBased on historical fare data from UK airports to Japan — indicative economy return prices. Expect a spike around the Asian Games (mid-Sept to early Oct)
Direct and connecting flights from London and other UK airports to Tokyo, Osaka and onward to the Asian Games 2026 host region
Compare best airlines UK to Japan.
The only UK carrier flying direct to both of Tokyo's airports — Haneda (close to the city centre) and Narita — from London Heathrow Terminal 5.
Consistently rated one of the world's best airlines, with a generous two-checked-bag economy allowance and an excellent domestic network for onward travel to Nagoya, Osaka or Sapporo.
A Star Alliance member with a highly-rated cabin crew and business class, offering easy onward connections across Japan's domestic network once you land at Haneda.
Finnair's short Arctic routing via Helsinki is one of the fastest ways to reach Osaka Kansai from the UK on a connecting itinerary, useful for Asian Games spectators basing themselves in the Kansai region.
Frequently one of the cheapest ways to reach Japan from UK regional airports via Istanbul, with connections onward to both Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai.
A strong option for travellers outside London, with departures from Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle connecting via Dubai to Tokyo and Osaka, plus a generous baggage allowance.
Japan has only one UK direct route (to Tokyo) — here's how to plan the rest of your journey, including onward travel to Nagoya for the Asian Games
| Route | Approx. Journey Time | Typical Routing |
|---|---|---|
| London → Tokyo (direct) | ~13h 40m–14h 15m | LHR → HND / NRT |
| London → Osaka (connecting) | ~15–18h total | Via Helsinki, Istanbul, Doha or Dubai |
| Tokyo → Nagoya (Shinkansen) | ~1h 40m | Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi) |
| Osaka (Shin-Osaka) → Nagoya (Shinkansen) | ~50–55 min | Tokaido Shinkansen |
| London → Nagoya (via Tokyo, door-to-door) | ~15h 30m total | LHR → HND, then Shinkansen |
| Manchester → Tokyo (connecting) | ~16–18h total | Via London Heathrow or a European hub |
Actual flight and train times vary by carrier, connection and season. There is no Shinkansen or major airport directly serving Nagoya from London — connecting via Tokyo or Osaka is the standard route for Asian Games travel.
The cheapest time to fly to Japan depends on your plans — and 2026 has one major exception: the Asian Games window, which pushes fares and hotel rates up sharply
Outside cherry blossom season and summer holidays, these months consistently offer the lowest UK to Japan fares of the year.
The Asian Games window sees sharp fare and hotel rate increases across Aichi, Tokyo and Osaka due to exceptionally high demand.
Because the Games overlap with Japan's already-busy autumn season, early booking matters more here than for a typical Japan trip.
Cherry blossom season (typically late March to early April) is Japan's most popular and most expensive time to visit — book well ahead if this is your priority.
Higher faresHot and humid, but June often brings lower fares before the July–August peak, which coincides with UK school holidays and Japanese festivals.
June is good valueBeautiful autumn foliage from mid-October, but 19 September to 4 October 2026 is the Asian Games window — expect the year's highest demand around Nagoya and Tokyo.
Games premiumBest for skiing in Hokkaido and Nagano, and generally good value for city breaks once the New Year holidays end — January and February are typically the cheapest months.
Cheap after New YearPractical, proven tips for cutting the cost of your UK to Japan flight — see our cheap flights to Japan guide for the full breakdown
The Asian Games (19 September to 4 October 2026) overlaps with Japan's popular autumn season — book flights and accommodation 3 to 6 months ahead for the best availability and price.
Tokyo has the only direct UK flights, but Osaka Kansai is often cheaper on connecting itineraries and is actually closer to Nagoya by Shinkansen than Tokyo is.
A connecting flight via Helsinki, Istanbul, Doha or Dubai can sometimes undercut a direct London Heathrow departure — always compare both before booking.
Check the official Asian Games schedule first, since venues are spread across Aichi, Tokyo, Shizuoka, Gifu and Osaka — this decides which city makes the best travel base for your trip.
If you'll be moving between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka to follow multiple sports, a Japan Rail Pass can work out cheaper than buying individual Shinkansen tickets.
Late March to early April (cherry blossom) is Japan's most expensive travel window outside the Games — travelling in January–March or June instead can mean significant savings.
The 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026) run from 19 September to 4 October 2026 — here's what's happening and where, to help you plan flights and accommodation around the sessions you want to see
The Games officially open at 18:00 Japan time at Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium), themed "Harmonic Heart Beat", directed by Nagoya-born filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Some sports, including cricket, begin preliminary matches before this date.
Eight teams including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and hosts Japan compete in T20I format, going straight to a quarter-final knockout. See our full cricket schedule guide.
Track and field, road running and racewalking, with 50 medal events across the week at the Games' newly renovated flagship 30,000-seat stadium.
Ten teams including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh compete, with a preliminary group stage followed by knockouts through to the gold medal match on 3 October.
A brand-new 17,000-seat arena beside Nagoya Castle, connected via the Meijo Subway Line, hosting some of the busiest ticketed sessions of the Games.
Home ground of J.League side Nagoya Grampus, hosting Asian Games football matches within easy rail reach of central Nagoya.
Relocated from Nagoya after venue compliance issues, aquatics events are held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Koto City — worth noting if you're basing your trip around swimming sessions rather than Nagoya's other venues.
A large exhibition-centre venue hosting a cluster of newer and action-sports events alongside traditional disciplines.
The 20th Asian Games close at the same venue that hosted the opening ceremony, marking the end of 16 days of competition across Aichi, Tokyo, Shizuoka, Gifu and Osaka.
Schedules and venue assignments can shift closer to the day — always confirm session times on the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games website before booking non-refundable flights or transport. For help planning a trip around specific sessions, call +44 7478 061159 or message us on WhatsApp.
Which UK airport should you fly from? Compare departure airports, airlines and Japan routes
| UK Airport | Code | Japan Destinations | Airlines | Route Type | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | LHR | Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita | British Airways, Japan Airlines, ANA | Direct | 13h 40m–14h 15m |
| London Gatwick | LGW | Osaka Kansai, Tokyo (connecting) | Turkish Airlines, China Southern, Qatar Airways | Connecting | 15–19h |
| Manchester | MAN | Tokyo, Osaka (connecting) | Via London Heathrow, Doha, Istanbul or Dubai | Connecting | 16–18h |
| Birmingham | BHX | Tokyo, Osaka (connecting) | Emirates (via DXB), Qatar Airways (via DOH) | Connecting | 17–19h |
| Edinburgh | EDI | Tokyo, Osaka (connecting) | Via London Heathrow or Doha | Connecting | 17–20h |
| Glasgow | GLA | Tokyo, Osaka (connecting) | Via London Heathrow, Amsterdam or Dubai | Connecting | 17–20h |
| Newcastle | NCL | Tokyo, Osaka (connecting) | Via London Heathrow or Amsterdam | Connecting | 17–20h |
There is no airport directly serving Nagoya from the UK — travellers heading to the Asian Games connect via Tokyo or Osaka and continue by Shinkansen. Call +44 7478 061159 for the latest schedule and fare information for your preferred UK airport.
Flying to Japan for the Games or a holiday? Here’s what each major airline allows in economy and business class
Japan's entry rules are currently straightforward for UK citizens, but a new travel authorization system is on the way
Entry requirements can change. Always verify the latest requirements at gov.uk and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website before booking. TripNext does not provide immigration advice — this is general guidance only.
The most searched questions about flying to Japan and attending the 2026 Asian Games — answered for UK travellers
Discover more Asian Games 2026 coverage from TripNext
Call, WhatsApp or fill in the form — our UK-based Japan and Asian Games 2026 specialists find you the best available fare, including cheap flights to Tokyo, Osaka and onward travel to Nagoya.
