Clear winter skies, Mount Fuji on the horizon and a hot bowl of ramen for €6.
Air China flies from Barcelona to Tokyo from €554 return in January 2027, with one short stop in Shanghai each way and two checked bags included. Osaka is also on sale, from €584.
✈️ The Deal
- From: Barcelona, Spain
- To: Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai, Japan
- Airline: Air China
- Stops: 1 stop each way (Shanghai)
- Price: €554 - €584 return
- When: January 2027
Example dates:
Tokyo:
13/01/2027 - 27/01/2027
15/01/2027 - 26/01/2027
16/01/2027 - 26/01/2027
Osaka:
Claim up to €600 for your delayed or cancelled flight →
To Tokyo, the stops are short: 3h45 in Shanghai Pudong on the way out and 2h20 on the way back. The flight leaves Barcelona at 10:40 and lands at Narita at 13:40 the next day, and the return leaves Tokyo at 19:30 and lands in Barcelona at 07:25 the next morning. The fare includes two checked bags. To Osaka, the stops in Shanghai are longer, 5h35 out and 6h15 back.
💰 How far does your money go?
A caña on a Barcelona terrace now costs about €3.50, and a menú del día €15. In Tokyo, a bowl of ramen costs about €6, an onigiri from a konbini €1.10 and a draught beer in an izakaya €4. A day pass on the Tokyo Metro is about €4, the same as two single rides on the Barcelona metro.
☀️ The Weather
January is cold, dry and sunny in Tokyo and Osaka. Expect highs of 10°C, nights around 2°C and very little rain. The air is so clear that Mount Fuji is often visible from Tokyo, and winter is the quietest time to visit Kyoto's temples.
🏨 Where to Stay
In Tokyo, stay near a JR Yamanote Line station to get around easily.
Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge · 9.0/10 · From €36/night
A hostel in a converted warehouse by the Sumida River, with a lively café-bar on the ground floor.
Hotel Niwa Tokyo · 9.6/10 · From €120/night
A calm hotel with a Japanese garden, near Tokyo Dome and the Imperial Palace.
Park Hyatt Tokyo · 9.0/10 · From €760/night
The Shinjuku tower from Lost in Translation, with the New York Bar on the 52nd floor.
⏱️ Making the most of your layover in Shanghai
Only the Osaka return has a longer stop: 6h15 at Shanghai Pudong. That is too short to leave the airport comfortably, so it is better used to rest.
If you'd rather rest:
Aerotel Shanghai Pudong Airport Hotel · 8.3/10 · From €134/night
About 600 m from the terminal, for a few hours of sleep between flights.
Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Pudong Airport · 8.5/10 · From €53/night
A cheaper option about 2.4 km from the airport.
🎯 What to Do
Tokyo is neon, temples and the best food city in the world.
Asakusa and Senso-ji: Tokyo's oldest temple and the old streets around it, with a local guide.
Mount Fuji day trip: The Chureito Pagoda, Lake Kawaguchi and Oshino Hakkai, with the clearest views of the year in winter.
Sumo show: A sumo show in Shinjuku, with a chance to meet the wrestlers and take photos.
Tea ceremony in a kimono: A traditional tea ceremony with matcha and Japanese sweets.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka, or link them by train.
Kyoto: Temples, gardens and geisha districts, about 2h15 from Tokyo by Shinkansen and 15 minutes from Osaka.
Osaka: Street food in Dotonbori and Osaka Castle, about 2h30 from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
Sapporo: Snow, ski slopes and the start of the Snow Festival season, about 1h35 by air. Search flights
Okinawa: Subtropical beaches and 20°C in winter, about 2h40 by air. Search flights
€554 return from Barcelona to Tokyo, with short connections and two bags. Winter is the best time to see Fuji, so do not wait.
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