Compare flights from Tokyo via Haneda or Narita for smarter route planning.
Narita (NRT) sits 60km east of central Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture - the Narita Express train takes 53 minutes to Tokyo Station and costs JPY 3,250. Haneda (HND) is 14km south of central Tokyo with monorail and Keikyu Line connections reaching Shinagawa in 13 minutes. Haneda has grown its international slot count rapidly since 2020, but Narita still handles most long-haul traffic and nearly all budget carrier operations.
ANA and JAL are codeshare rivals across virtually every route from Tokyo. ANA is Star Alliance; JAL is oneworld. On popular corridors like Tokyo-Seoul and Tokyo-Taipei, they compete directly with budget subsidiaries Peach (ANA) and ZIPAIR (JAL). These budget offshoots fly from Narita and offer bare-bones fares starting around JPY 5,000-8,000 one-way to Seoul, dramatically undercutting their parent airlines.
Cherry blossom season (late March through mid-April) sends outbound fares from Tokyo plummeting as everyone is trying to come IN, not leave. It is paradoxically one of the cheapest windows to fly out of Tokyo. Golden Week (late April to early May) is the opposite - virtually all outbound fares spike as Japanese travellers take their longest holiday of the year. February and November sit between seasonal peaks and offer the most consistent value for outbound travel.
Haneda is far closer to central Tokyo (13 minutes to Shinagawa vs 53 minutes to Tokyo Station from Narita) and more convenient. But Narita has more international carriers, all budget airlines, and often lower fares. If price matters most, check Narita first. If time and convenience matter, target Haneda.
For short-haul Asian routes, absolutely. Peach (ANA's budget arm) and ZIPAIR (JAL's budget long-haul brand) fly from Narita at a fraction of full-service prices. ZIPAIR even operates to Los Angeles and Honolulu at surprisingly low fares. Both charge for checked bags and meals, so compare total cost including add-ons.
February and November are the two most reliable value windows. Cherry blossom season (late March-April) is paradoxically cheap for outbound flights since demand is inbound. Avoid Golden Week (late April-early May), Obon (mid-August), and New Year (late December-early January) — these are Japan's three peak domestic travel periods.
