London in October means grey skies, a £7 pint, and the same commute you have done 200 times. Tokyo means autumn foliage turning Shinjuku Gyoen into a painting, ramen for £4, and the kind of chaos that makes you feel genuinely alive. Air China flies you there and back from £430.
✈️ The deal
- From: London (LHR)
- To: Tokyo (NRT)
- Airline: Air China
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: £430–£499 return
- When: September–October 2026
Example dates:
- 14/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
- 15/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
- 16/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
- 17/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
- 17/09/2026 – 14/10/2026
- 17/09/2026 – 15/10/2026
Flying with a connection? It is worth tracking your luggage — a cheap tracker can save a lot of stress if your bag takes a detour through Beijing.
💰 How far does your money go?
A bowl of ramen costs £4. A beer at an izakaya is £2. A full day eating: street food for lunch, a sit-down dinner, a few drinks. About £25 total. You spend more than that on a Friday evening in Zone 1.
☀️ The weather
London in September is 18°C on a good day, grey most others. By October it is genuinely cold. Tokyo in late September sits at 24°C. October is arguably the best month to visit: 20°C, clear blue skies, low humidity, and the first autumn foliage beginning to colour the parks. The kind of weather London promises every year and never delivers.
🏨 Where to stay
Book early. September and October are peak season in Tokyo.
Dormy Inn Akihabara, 8.8/10, from £68/night Budget pick with an onsen on the top floor. Excellent base for Akihabara and Ueno.
Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo, 9.0/10, from £130/night Right opposite Tokyo Station. Old-school Japanese hospitality, quietly stylish, and genuinely good value.
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, 9.3/10, from £480/night High above Nihonbashi, with sweeping city views and service that is hard to fault.
🎯 What to do
Tokyo does not slow down. Here is where to start.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing: The most famous pedestrian crossing in the world. Stand on the footbridge, wait for the lights, and watch the organised chaos below. Free.
Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa: Tokyo's oldest temple, surrounded by market stalls selling everything from rice crackers to folding fans. Come early to beat the crowds.
TeamLab Planets: Immersive digital art that turns light and reflection into something genuinely surreal. Book in advance.
Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament: September's tournament runs at Ryogoku Kokugikan, minutes from central Tokyo. One of Japan's most visceral sporting experiences.
🗺️ Where to go from here
Tokyo is a launchpad. The rest of Japan is right there.
Hakone: 90 minutes by train. Hot springs, lake cruises on Lake Ashi, and a direct view of Mount Fuji on a clear day.
Nikko: 2 hours north by train. UNESCO-listed shrines set in forested mountains. In October, the autumn colours here are extraordinary.
Kyoto: 2.5 hours on the Shinkansen. Geisha districts, bamboo groves, and more temples than you will have time for.
Kamakura: 1 hour by train. A giant bronze Buddha by the coast. One of Japan's most iconic sights.
London's grey can wait. Tokyo in autumn costs less than you think.
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