London to Tokyo will drain your bank account slower than a Friday night in Zone 1. Xiamen Air and Air China connect the two from £471 return, and a bowl of ramen on the other end costs less than a pint at your local.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London, UK
- To: Tokyo, Japan
- Airline: Xiamen Air or Air China
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: £471–£550 return
- When: September, November, December, January, February, March, May, June
Example dates:
08/09/2026 – 19/10/2026
08/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
09/09/2026 – 20/10/2026
16/09/2026 – 20/10/2026
04/11/2026 – 24/11/2026
10/11/2026 – 25/11/2026
01/12/2026 – 22/12/2026
07/01/2027 – 20/01/2027
14/01/2027 – 25/01/2027
13/02/2027 – 26/02/2027
03/03/2027 – 23/03/2027
06/05/2027 – 20/05/2027
02/06/2027 – 16/06/2027
💰 How Far Does Your Money Go?
A bowl of ramen from a Tokyo backstreet joint costs around £4.50, less than a pint in central London. A gyudon beef bowl at a chain like Yoshinoya runs about £2.50, and a cold beer at an izakaya lands around £3, roughly half what you'd pay at the pub. Vending machine coffee costs under £1. Your pound will stretch a lot further than it does on a night out at home.
☀️ The Weather
September in Tokyo still runs warm, with highs around 28°C. By November it settles into crisp autumn days near 18°C, ideal for walking without a jacket. Winter (December to February) turns properly cold, with highs of 10–13°C and clear, dry skies rather than rain. March brings the first hints of spring at 14°C, while May and June climb back to a comfortable 23–26°C, right before the rainy season sets in.
🏨 Where to Stay
From backpacker hostel to five-star luxury, Tokyo has a bed for every budget.
Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge — 8.3/10 · From £22/night A converted warehouse in Asakusa with its own bar downstairs, popular with solo travellers.
Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo — 8.7/10 · From £140/night Directly across from Tokyo Station, compact but smartly designed rooms with a hard-to-beat location.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo — 9.3/10 · From £480/night High atop a tower in Nihombashi, walking distance from Tokyo Station, widely rated the best hotel in the city.
🎯 What to Do
Tokyo swings between neon chaos and quiet ritual, often on the same block.
Shibuya Sky observation deck — Open-air rooftop 230 metres up, best at sunset over the crossing below. Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa — Get there before 8am to see Tokyo's oldest temple without the tour groups. Shinjuku Golden Gai — Six tiny alleys packed with over 200 miniature bars, each seating five or six people. teamLab Planets Tokyo — Barefoot through knee-deep water with digital koi and mirrored flower rooms, unlike anything else on Earth.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Tokyo is the easiest base in Japan to branch out from.
Hakone — Hot spring resorts and views of Mount Fuji, 90 minutes by train. Nikko — Ornate shrines and mountain waterfalls, a day trip north of the city. Kamakura — Beach town with the Great Buddha, less than an hour away. Kyoto — Japan's former capital, two hours by bullet train.
£471 for a return flight to a city that never quite sleeps. The good dates won't sit there for long.
Get every flight deal we find, on your favourite app.
Pick how you want to hear from us — or all three. Free, no spam.
