The Travelling Wee

Japan is a captivating destination that seamlessly blends ancient traditions with modern innovations. Whether you’re planning a cherry blossom tour, exploring historic temples, or indulging in mouth watering sushi, finding affordable flights can significantly impact your overall travel budget. In this blog, we’ll share our top tips for saving on flights to Japan.

Set a Budget and Plan Ahead

Before diving into flight options, set a realistic budget for your Japan trip. Consider factors like accommodation, food, transportation, and activities. Once you have a clear budget in mind, follow these steps:

1. Check Our Blog on How to Plan for a Japan Trip: We’ve covered essential planning tips, including visa requirements, cultural etiquette, and must-visit destinations. Familiarise yourself with these details to make informed decisions.
2. Decide on the Date: Japan experiences distinct seasons, each offering unique experiences. Whether you want to witness cherry blossoms in spring, vibrant foliage in autumn, or snow-covered landscapes in winter, choose your travel dates wisely.

Start Tracking Flight Prices Early

Start monitoring flight prices well in advance – ideally almost a year before your trip. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Direct vs. Indirect Flights:
  • Direct flights are convenient but are more expensive. Indirect flights (with layovers) often offer better deals.
  • Use flight search engines to compare both options.
• Open Jaw Flights:
  • An open jaw itinerary lets you fly into one city and leave from another.
  • Create a separate tracker specifically for open jaw flights. Read our blog on the pros and cons of open jaw travel.

Due to the recent availability of open jaw flight tracking in Google Flights, we didn’t set up tracking for open jaw flights.

Itinerary Planning for Open Jaw Flights

When booking open jaw flights, consider your travel itinerary:

• Example Scenario:
  • Fly into Osaka, explore the vibrant city and nearby attractions.
  • Take a scenic train ride to Kyoto, immersing yourself in its rich history.
  • Continue by train to Tokyo, where modern skyscrapers meet ancient temples.
  • Finally, fly home from Tokyo.
  • By avoiding backtracking, you save time and money.

Although the example scenario can be reversed, we opted to visit Tokyo last because we expect to spend the most time there and accumulate more luggage due to souvenirs.

Benefits of Open Jaw Flights

• Flexibility: Open jaw flights allow you to explore different cities without retracing your steps.
• Indirect Flights: These work well with open jaw itineraries, as direct flights between different Japanese cities are rare.

Check our blog on the differences between In Direct Flights, Direct Flights and Open Jaw Flights

Be Flexible with Dates

• Track Price Fluctuations: Use flight tracking tools to check fare changes. When prices drop, consider adjusting your travel dates by a few days to secure a better deal.
• 3 to 6 Months Before: The sweet spot for booking flights is typically 3 to 6 months in advance. We purchased ours 4 months before our actual flight.

These screenshots show our flight price tracker for Japan.

Initially, we budgeted £4000 for our flight, but ultimately, we purchased our tickets for just under £3400, resulting in a savings of £600!

Conclusion

Saving on flights to Japan involves strategic planning, flexibility, and a dash of adventure. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable Japanese experience without breaking the bank.

Happy travels!