Neon streets, steaming ramen and Mount Fuji on a clear winter morning.
London to Tokyo from £481 return, with one stop in China each way. XiamenAir has the cheapest November dates, and Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern keep fares under £550 from December to March, so you can pick the season you want.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London Heathrow, United Kingdom
- To: Tokyo, Japan
- Airline: XiamenAir (November), Shenzhen Airlines or China Southern (December to March)
- Stops: 1 stop each way in China
- Price: £481–£546 return
- When: November 2026 - March 2027
Example dates:
£481: 15/11/2026 - 24/11/2026
£494: 11/11/2026 - 26/11/2026
£536: 02/12/2026 - 16/12/2026
£543: 04/12/2026 - 14/12/2026
£518: 15/01/2027 - 26/01/2027
£522: 14/01/2027 - 26/01/2027
£539: 11/02/2027 - 23/02/2027
£546: 08/03/2027 - 22/03/2027
Claim up to £520 for your delayed or cancelled flight →
In November, XiamenAir flies from Heathrow at 12:30 and lands at Narita at 13:45 the next day, with 1h30 in Xiamen. The return leaves at 14:55, with 6h45 in Xiamen, and lands at Heathrow at 06:25. Cabin and checked bags are included. From December to March the fares stay under £550, but the stops are long: 14 to 19 hours in Shenzhen with Shenzhen Airlines, or 18 to 20 hours in Beijing Daxing with China Southern. See below for how to use them.
💰 How far does your money go?
A pint in a London pub now costs about £7. In Tokyo, a bowl of ramen is about ¥1,000, around £5, a highball in an izakaya about £2.50 and a salmon onigiri from a konbini under £1. A metro ride across the city starts at about £1, less than half a single Tube fare.
☀️ The Weather
Tokyo is dry and sunny from November to March. November is crisp, with highs of 16-18°C and autumn leaves. December to February bring clear blue skies, highs of 9-12°C and cold nights around 1-3°C, the best months to see Mount Fuji. By late March, highs reach 15°C and the first cherry blossoms appear.
🏨 Where to Stay
Stay near a JR Yamanote line station to get around easily.
Hotel Sui Akasaka · 8.4/10 · From £76/night
Compact, modern rooms in Akasaka, close to several metro lines.
Hamacho Hotel Tokyo · 9.1/10 · From £92/night
A calm design hotel in Nihonbashi, near the river and a short walk from the metro.
Conrad Tokyo · 9.2/10 · From £595/night
Luxury rooms with views over Tokyo Bay and the Hamarikyu gardens. The splurge.
⏱️ Making the most of your layover in China
From December to March the stops are long enough to leave the airport. UK passport holders can enter China visa-free for short stays, so a long layover can be a mini city break.
Great Wall or Beijing city layover tour: With China Southern via Beijing Daxing, a private driver takes you to the Great Wall or the city centre and back.
Hutongs of Beijing: A private tour of the old alleys and courtyard houses, with airport pick-up.
Shenzhen old town and skyline: With Shenzhen Airlines, a private tour of the ancient town, the skyline and the tech district.
Shenzhen tech tour: A look at the city of drones, robots and electric cars.
If you'd rather rest:
Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport · 9.1/10 · From £89/night
About 1 km from the Shenzhen terminals, with spacious rooms.
Hilton Garden Inn Beijing Daxing Airport · 9.3/10 · From £49/night
About 2 km from Daxing airport, a good place to sleep before the next flight.
🎯 What to Do
Tokyo mixes ancient temples with the most modern city on earth.
Asakusa and Senso-ji: A walking tour of Tokyo's oldest temple and the shopping street of Nakamise.
Mount Fuji day trip: The Chureito Pagoda, Lake Kawaguchi and Oshino Hakkai, with the classic view of Fuji.
Sumo show: Watch real wrestlers up close in Shinjuku, with an explanation of the rituals.
Tea ceremony in a kimono: A traditional matcha ceremony with Japanese sweets.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
With a rail pass or a cheap domestic flight, Japan opens up fast.
Kyoto: Temples, gardens and geisha streets, about 2h15 by shinkansen.
Hakone: Hot springs and views of Mount Fuji, about 1h30 by train.
Osaka: Street food and nightlife, about 1h10 by air or 2h30 by shinkansen. Search flights
Sapporo: Snow, ramen and the Snow Festival in February, about 1h35 by air. Search flights
Okinawa: Subtropical beaches and 20°C in winter, about 2h30 by air. Search flights
From £481 return, London to Tokyo, with dates all winter. Pick your month and book.
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