Great value direct flights to Tokyo on JAL with 2x23kg checked bags. FYI flights from Melbourne fly into Narita, while flights from Sydney will arrive at Haneda.
Dates for Melbourne are June to November 2023 & February/March 2024. From Sydney, dates in August & October 2023, and March 2024.
Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) - $1140
Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita) $1134
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@v2: I think the latest flight I could see was mid-March at the $1.1k mark. School holidays and Easter being early next year has already increased the prices late March
@xT22: Correct
Easter is late March and school holidays don’t start until 2 weeks until after that (mid April). That’s when the prices go ⬆️
@Heybargain: VIC school holidays start on Good Friday so prices already high in that last week of March for flights from Melbourne.
I’ll go against the grain here and say Japanese summers aren’t THAT bad if you grew up here. I only go to Japan during July and August and I swear people warn you like as if you’re stepping into hell lol. It’s about as hot QLD and NSW in summer but nothing like Darwin levels of humidity. It’s quite enjoyable particularly if you’re looking to escape Melbourne winter.
FYI guys the trip is the same cost going from Melbourne to Osaka, just has a short stopover in Tokyo first. It's also possible to fly to Osaka and leave from Tokyo for essentially the same price, which is what I will be doing.
It means I can fly to Osaka and spend 7 days or so in Osaka / Kyoto and THEN activate a 7 day JR pass to take me to other areas (Kobe, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island etc) and use the JR pass to get back to Tokyo. This means the trip is less rushed than if you land in Tokyo, activate the JR pass to go to Osaka, kyoto and all the other areas and back to Tokyo within only 7 days.
@Elision Are you stopping at Kansai? It's showing for me 28hrs travel time which is a 20hr stopover
Nope, Narita! I found there is much more availability booking direct with Japan airlines, the flights to Osaka which have a stopover in Narita seem to all be during October which is when i'm going. For instance there is one on the 11th of Oct which is to Narita, leaving 8:20am. You want the flights that land in Itami airport in Osaka and not Kansai.
Flight there
8:20am leave Melbourne, 4:20pm Arrive at Narrita. 2 hour layover then 6:25pm from Narita to Osaka landing at 7:55pm. (Total 13 hours 35 minutes)
Flight back
10:50am leave Narita, direct to Melbourne landing at 11pm. (Total 10 hours 10 minutes)
Nice same here - have been playing around with November but less options to Osaka. I think October is warmer anyway with Typhoons just over.
@RockyK9: Yeah I have found that. I went to Japan in Late september - mid October last time and whilst we did catch a bit of rain early on the temperature was PERFECT. I'm going Mid Oct - early Nov so should have some slight colour changing on the leaves, but the temperature is between 15-25 degrees so very comfortable.
do you just book with multi-city booking on JAL website? That doesn't seem all that better, as it is always few hundred more when you add Osaka as a destination :-/ (Eg. MEL to NRT return would be $1,200 but flying to Osaka and returning from NRT is like $1,450)
Is there a better way to do that?
Yes I just used multi-city booking. I only paid $50 extra to land and fly out from 2 different areas. Was like $1199 vs $1149 return to Tokyo. When I tried booking the day prior it was over $3500 for the same flights! checked some other dates and was getting $1650+
My refund ticket from 2020 not settled yet with this travel agent !!!
Please avoid at any cost!!!!
With Aunty Betty?
Yes, bought malaysian airlines with them
So many people screwed over by Skroo during Covid. I'm with you. Never again.
I'd recommend booking direct for those reading. I paid 1198 booking direct with japan airlines landing in osaka and leaving from tokyo.
When I changed the date by one day the price was $2750!
none of you mentioned that, the best thing about JAL is its 8 abreast economy seats in its 787, way better than ANA.
Yep, ive flown with Japan airlines and it was one of the most comfortable flights I've ever had. Not to mention both my flights are during the day, no red eyes and 2 x 23kg bags per person not including 10kg of carry on. Service also great.
I'm the opposite. I prefer red eye flights as it means more day hours for me to explore.
That's fair! I am one of those people who cannot sleep a wink on an overnight flight, so for me it's torture and I end up spending the entire first day sleeping and ruining my sleep schedule haha. Also always hated arriving at like 6am and being forced to kill hours waiting for hotel check-in time.
@Elision: I generally leave my bags at the hotel, go walk around until ~3pm and then check in at the hotel.
Someone mentioned it right near the start of the thread lol
Flew in May 2019 return with JAL to Tokyo. It was only $714. Will we ever see such low price again?
Great deal OP. Just booked direct with JAL for $1180 per adult
The option to fly out of another city for no charge is amazing. Flying into Tokyo and out of Fukuoka (1 hr transition in Tokyo)
Took the opportunity being so close to South Korea to sneak in a 3 day trip to Busan, dirt cheap at $200 return from Fukuoka
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Expect a line up, and you have to order all at once so order more then you think you need.
Nice one! Busan is a lot of fun :D
how do you do this? -> The option to fly out of another city for no charge is amazing.
I went on to the official website and selected multi-city and put Melbourne - Osaka as the first leg and Tokyo to Melbourne as the second one, and it only cost me $50 more than Tokyo return!
It does appear that the price I got ($1199) isn't available anymore but maybe you can from other cities.
Thanks OP!
Booked direct with JAL for 4 adults in March.
Great price for these times, I'm cursing the early morning departure from MEL tho!
Elision, thanks for hint about going via Yokohama and return via NRT. Wanting to go late October to mid Nov and JALsite is saying $1948.74 and tried other dates and they were dearer. Maybe I will try others on link although have preferred direct with airlines in past.
That's okay! hrm the cheapest I could find was $1616 (Leaving Wed 25 Oct Melb - Osaka, then Tokyo - Melb on Nov 14th.
Looks like the Nov flights have gone up a bit since I booked mine unfortunately :( Most good deals now are Melb to Tokyo return in Aug - October
Noice! I was trying end of March to mid April but they all are ~$1.5k