Compare Cheap Flights from Auckland to Tokyo
If you’re hoping to take a holiday that combines tradition and modernity, Tokyo is the destination for you. Japan has a fascinating history that dates back thousands of years. While Tokyo loves to embrace its history, it has also risen to prestige as one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. Throughout the city centre, you’ll find an interesting blend of skyscrapers, neon lights, and traditional Japanese architecture. Tokyo is abundant in culture and tourist attractions, so you will always have something new and exciting to experience. The city is teeming with museums, shopping, temples, parks, restaurants, and nightlife, offering something that will appeal to all different types of travellers. Outside of the city, you can witness some famous Japanese landscapes, including the iconic Mount Fuji volcano. Booking cheap airfares from Auckland to Tokyo is a great way to introduce you to the vast history, culture, and beauty of Japan.
Start planning your big Japanese adventure with Webjet’s cheap airfares from Auckland to Tokyo.
The best time to visit Tokyo
Tokyo experiences a couple of high seasons throughout the year. The official high season occurs in the summer months from June to August. Weather is hot and humid during the summer with average temperatures of about 29°C. Because Tokyo is so busy during this season, hotels often increase their rates. Another busy time to book cheap flights from Auckland to Tokyo is during the famous cherry blossom season that occurs between March and April. During this time, the city and surrounding countryside come to life with vibrant pink blooms. People flock to Tokyo from all over the world during this time, which causes hotel rates to go up. However, it is a truly magical time in the city, so it is worth braving the crowds to experience it.
For a great deal, consider booking return flights from Auckland to Tokyo in the autumn or winter. Autumn is shoulder season in Tokyo with smaller crowds compared to the summer and spring cherry blossom seasons. Temperatures are comfortable at about 20°C with plenty of sunshine. Similar to the cherry blossom season, Tokyo’s parks and surrounding countryside burst with colour during the autumn; however, this season it is due to the vibrant foliage in the trees.
Winter in Tokyo is cold with daytime temperatures of about 10°C and nighttime temperatures often dropping as low as 1°C. Some of the parks in the city are closed during this time, but it is the ideal time to visit Tokyo if you are an avid skier or snowboarder. Mount Fuji is within easy reach of Tokyo and has some great ski resorts during the winter months. Since winter is less crowded than the other seasons, you can often find some great deals on hotels within Tokyo.
Departing From Auckland
There is one major airport in Auckland, which is where all flights to Tokyo depart from. Auckland Airport (AKL) is located about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the CBD and is the busiest airport in New Zealand.
Several airlines offer cheap airfares from Auckland to Tokyo. They include Qantas, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Aircalin, Air China, and Cathay Pacific. You can catch return flights from Auckland to Tokyo without any stopovers, which will get you to Japan in about 11 hours. Each week, there are about 700 cheap flights from Auckland to Tokyo available, so you’ll have no trouble flying to Tokyo Airport for your next holiday.
Getting to Auckland Airport
The official transport option between Auckland Airport and the CBD is the city’s SkyBus. The SkyBus is available to catch from several locations throughout central Auckland, including Customs Street East, Queen Street, Dominion Road, Symonds Street, and Mount Eden Road. The SkyBus will get you to the airport in about 40 to 60 minutes, depending which stop you get on at. The bus departs every 10 minutes during peak times, and operates 24 hours a day, making it fast and easy to reach Auckland Airport. Tickets on the SkyBus cost $18 NZD one-way and $32 NZD return.
If you would prefer to catch a taxi or an Uber, you can reach the airport in less than a half hour from the CBD. Taxis and Ubers are available from addresses all over the Auckland region. Taxi fare to the airport from the CBD and inner suburbs costs about $60 NZD.
Parking at Auckland Airport
To secure the best rates for your trip to Tokyo, pre-book your parking space at Auckland Airport. Several car parks are available within easy access of the International Terminal.
Where to Park at Auckland Airport
• For the cheapest parking, reserve a spot in Car Park A. Spots are uncovered, and the International Terminal is a 3-minute walk away. Weekly rates start at $75 NZD.
• For the most convenient park, valet parking is available. Pull up to the terminal, and an attendant will park your car. Weekly rates in the valet car park start at $130 NZD for an uncovered spot, and $139 NZD for a covered spot.
Arriving in Tokyo
Tokyo has two large international airports that receive flights from New Zealand. Narita Airport (NRT) is the city’s main airport and receives about half of all international flights into Japan. It is located 60 kilometres (37 miles) east the Tokyo city centre. Haneda Airport (HND) is smaller but is only 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) from the centre of Tokyo. It handles mainly domestic flights from other Japanese cities, but also receives some international flights. Each airport offers great transport links to get you into central Tokyo in no time.
How to Get from Narita Airport (NRT) to Your Tokyo Hotel or Accommodation
If your flight arrives into Narita Airport (NRT), you can catch the Narita Express into the city. This train is comfortable with plenty of luggage space and airplane-style seats. The Narita Express makes several stops through central Tokyo, including Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, and Ikebukuro Station. The train departs from Narita Airport (NRT) every half hour. If you are travelling to Tokyo Station, tickets on the Narita Express cost ¥3,020 (about $40.85 NZD) for standard class and ¥4,560 ($61.65 NZD) for first class. Tickets to other stations around central Tokyo cost ¥3,190 ($43.15 NZD) for standard class and ¥4,730 ($64 NZD) for first class.
For a more affordable journey, you can catch the JR Narita Line Rapid Train into Tokyo Station. The train departs from Narita Airport (NRT) every hour and arrives into Tokyo Station in an hour and a half. Tickets to ride this train cost ¥1,320 ($17.85 NZD).
Another transport option from Narita Airport (NRT) is the Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner. This is a great option if your hotel is in the eastern neighbourhoods of Tokyo. It’s one of the fastest trains in Tokyo and almost reaches the speeds of Japan’s famous bullet trains. The Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner makes stops at Nippori and Ueno stations in eastern Tokyo. The journey takes about 45 minutes, and tickets to ride the train cost ¥2,470 ($33.40 NZD).
Since Narita Airport (NRT) is located quite far from the centre of Tokyo, taxis are pricey and actually take longer than the Narita Express train. Without any traffic, the ride from Narita Airport (NRT) into central Tokyo takes about an hour. But since Tokyo is one of the most populated cities in the world, there is often heavy traffic going into the city. If you would like to catch a taxi, taxis with fixed rate fares are available from stands 15, 29, 30, and 31A. Fixed rates are based on which zone of Tokyo you are travelling to. The majority of central Tokyo falls into zones C and D. A taxi from the airport to Zone C costs ¥20,000 ($270.45 NZD), and a taxi to Zone D costs ¥22,000 ($297.50 NZD).
How to Get from Haneda Airport (HND) to Your Tokyo Hotel or Accommodation
If your flight arrives into Haneda Airport (HND), the Keikyu Line train is a quick and affordable option. You can catch this train to Shinagawa Station, which is 15 minutes from the airport. Once you’ve arrived to Shinagawa Station, transfer to the JR Yamanote Line, which you can ride into the centre of Tokyo in about 10 minutes. This train stops at many major stations, including Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, and Shibuya Station. This journey costs between ¥580 and ¥610 ($7.85 and $8.25 NZD) depending which station in Tokyo you are travelling to.
For a journey taking a similar amount of time, you can also catch the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport (HND). The monorail will take you to Hamamatsucho Station in about 15 minutes where you can change to the JR Yamanote Line into the city. From there, you are only 6 minutes from Tokyo Station and 25 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the train. Tickets between Haneda Airport (HND) and central Tokyo cost between ¥650 and ¥690 (between $8.90 and $9.35 NZD). However, pre-book your ticket and you can get a cheaper rate of ¥500 ($6.75 NZD).
Since Haneda Airport (HND) isn’t too far from the centre of Tokyo, a taxi is a practical option. Without traffic, the journey into the city takes about 30 minutes. Fixed rates are available between Haneda Airport (HND) and 19 different areas of the city. A taxi to Shinjuku costs ¥7,100 ($96 NZD); a taxi to Shibuya costs ¥6,600 ($89.25 NZD); and a taxi to Chiyoda (where Tokyo Station is located) costs ¥5,900 ($79.80 NZD). If you are taking a taxi from Haneda Airport (HND) to the city between the hours of 10pm and 5am, a late-night surcharge of ¥1,200 ($16.25 NZD) will also be added to your fare.
Things to do in Tokyo
The Imperial Palace
Right in the heart of bustling Tokyo, you’ll find the peaceful park of Chiyoda. Within this park, you can pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, which is home to the Emperor of Japan. Since the emperor’s family lives in the palace, it is only open to the public two days a year. However, the rest of the year, you can take part in a guided tour of the palace grounds. Tours are held every day apart from Sunday and Monday. While touring the grounds, you’ll learn some interesting history about the Imperial Palace and get to see some beautiful gardens. If you are visiting Tokyo during the cherry blossom season in the spring, Chiyoda Park is one of the best spots in the city to see the vibrant pink blooms.
Asakusa District - Old Tokyo
While much of Tokyo is shiny and new, the city loves to embrace its rich history. To get a taste of old Tokyo, head to the city’s Asakusa District. Within this part of Tokyo, you’ll find lots of traditional architecture and Japanese temples. The most popular temple to visit is called Senso-ji and was built in 628 AD. This temple is a great representation of the Japanese architectural style during that era. Senso-ji Temple consists of a large red gate, a pagoda with five tiers, and several smaller buildings built in the same style.
Shibuya District
The Shibuya District is one of the business hubs of Tokyo. Within this neighbourhood, there are lots of shops, restaurants, and nightlife. The Shibuya District is particularly popular among the younger crowd. Some of the attractions to visit within the Shibuya District are the Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. However, what the district is particularly known for is the famous Shibuya Crossing. This large crossing is rumoured to be the busiest in the world, with thousands of people crossing through it at a time.
Shinjuku District
This neighbourhood is considered to be Tokyo’s entertainment centre, particularly for its vibrant nightlife scene. The perfect place to visit for a night out in Shinjuku is the Golden Gai. This area is made up of a series of narrow laneways that are lined with more than 200 bars. Most of the bars are tiny, and some of them only have enough space for a few customers at a time. It is a unique Tokyo experience that shouldn’t be missed! After a bit of bar-hopping, grab a bite to eat at one of the neighbourhood’s many late-night restaurants.
Tokyo Skytree
If you are looking for an incredible view over the Tokyo cityscape, head to the top of the Tokyo Skytree. As the second largest structure in the world, this building offers unparalleled views of Tokyo. In addition to the city, you can also see mountain ranges off in the distance. For an especially memorable view, visit the Skytree for sunrise or sunset.
Day Trip to Mount Fuji
One of the most popular places to visit within Japan is Mount Fuji. Although it is located outside of Tokyo, it is a popular day trip from the city. Mount Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707. Surrounding the volcano, there are a number of hiking trails and national parks where you can appreciate the natural beauty of the area. If you book cheap flights from Auckland to Tokyo in the winter, Mount Fuji is a popular destination for skiing. For the most remarkable views around Mount Fuji, plan your visit for the cherry blossom season in the spring. During this time, the entire region around Mount Fuji blooms in bright shades of pink.