Flights to Japan

Flights are not included as part of your package with TIDDLY Travel and we recommend booking at least 3 months in advance. Only book your flights after the trip is confirmed and minimum numbers are met to ensure the trip proceeds. 

Depending on where you’re travelling from, there are a lot of direct flights into Tokyo however those with a stopover may be more cost effective. If you are looking to stop off at different destinations in Japan, it may be worthwhile getting a multi-leg ticket to save some time/hassle. 

Getting the best flight

We recommend looking at site such as SkyScanner to be able to get a good idea of the best day to arrive, flight options and also if a multi-leg trip is more appropriate. Skyscanner aggregates prices from various airlines and travel agencies and allows you to sort by price, duration, and other filters. Here are a few tips from us to maximise your flight search:

Flexible Dates

Use the ‘Flexible Dates’ feature to explore different departure and return date combinations. For most of our trips we recommend adding a few days pre and post the trip in this destination or ones nearby to make the most of your travel time. So if you can, be a be flexible with the dates and see if you can get more of a discount flying in/out on different dates.

Multiple Airports

In Tokyo there are two main airports so make sure to search the city of Tokyo rather than for a specific airport to find the best deals. It will depend on the airline you choose to fly with which airport you’ll fly into so keep your options open.

Multi-Leg

If you’re planning on seeing some other destinations on your trip, or want to add a stopover, we recommend searching for a multi-city trip to see if you can get a better price buying it all at once. Having all your flights on the same ticket also tends to save some hassle, keeping them all together. While you’re searching for flights, if you see some airlines with a stop in a certain destination you’re interested in seeing, add that as a destination in the multi city, add a couple of days in between in the dates and often you can get a stopover in that destination for the same price!

Price Alerts

Once you’ve found what dates and route you want, set up price alerts. You'll receive notifications when prices drop or increase, and get a general idea of how the price is tracking, allowing you to buy at the best time and save some money for the pre-departure airport drinks instead!

Familiarise yourself with unknown airlines

After finding a few potential flight options, we recommend you check out the airlines you're considering to make sure they’re the right fit. Skytrax offers valuable insights into the quality of airlines, allowing you to make an informed decision. Have a look at the overall airline ranking, reviews from passengers, and their safety record. Most low cost carriers may not have the best reputation so make you’re comfortable with the airline you’re choosing before making the purchase.

Add ons and extras

Whatever flight you are choosing, we recommend ensuring the ticket includes at least 20-30kgs of baggage. When packing for the snow, you need a lot of gear and that just isn’t possible to fit all within a carryon bag, even if you’re hiring a lot of it. A lot of low cost carriers don’t include baggage or include carry on only so make sure you’re prepared and add on luggage earlier as it will save you a lot of money rather than having to purchase it at the airport.

Depending on how long your flight is, it may be worthwhile upgrading to either a higher cabin (like premium economy or business class) or paying extra to have extra legroom or a spare seat beside you. A lot of airlines now offer the ability to add these on post purchase or even bid to get a higher cabin closer to. So we recommend you book directly with the airline and sign up to their loyalty program if they have one.

Arrival in Tokyo

If you arrive in late and are planning on just transiting through Tokyo, we recommend you stay in an airport hotel or one close to your station the next morning. This depends on which way you’re planning on getting to Hakuba.