Japan sits around 9,500 km from the UK, so it's a proper long-haul trip. Direct services have made it far more convenient in recent years.
Direct flight times
- London to Tokyo (Haneda / Narita): around 13 hours 30 minutes to 14 hours 30 minutes direct.
- Return to the UK: often a little quicker, around 12.5–13.5 hours with favourable winds.
Connecting flights
Connecting via the Middle East, Europe or other Asian hubs typically pushes total travel time to 16–20 hours depending on the layover, but can be cheaper than direct.
The time difference
Japan is 9 hours ahead of UK time in winter and 8 hours ahead in summer. Flying out, you'll lose a day; coming home, you effectively gain time. Give yourself a day to adjust on arrival.
Land connected
Pocket Wi-Fi rentals mean queues and deposits. A Simfiy Japan eSIM installs before you fly and connects automatically when you touch down — perfect for navigating the trains, translating menus and sharing the trip from minute one.
Published by Simfiy Editorial Team. Travelling soon? Find an eSIM for your destination.