A direct London-to-Tokyo flight on British Airways or JAL could cost £1,350 to £1,650 in late 2025, nearly double what travellers paid a few years earlier, according to the fare-tracking service Air Traveler Club. Fares from Europe to Japan sit near record highs, and three things are behind it.
Three forces, one fare
The first is Russian airspace. The ban means European and Japanese airlines can no longer take the shortest route over Siberia. Planes fly a detour of two to four hours, burning more fuel and needing extra crew, and the bill lands on passengers.
The second is Osaka’s World Expo 2025, which drew millions of visitors. Even after it ended in October, planes stayed full, because airlines cannot simply add flights while they wait on delayed aircraft deliveries.
The third is the weak yen. Hotels and meals cost less once travellers land, so they put up with pricier flights, and more demand lifts fares further. Air Traveler Club does not expect big drops until the airspace reopens or new aircraft arrive, which realistically means elevated prices through 2026 at least.
Cheaper ways round
Chinese carriers such as Air China can still fly over Russia, which keeps their costs down. Air China sells connecting flights via Beijing for £650 to £850.
LOT Polish Airlines through Warsaw often gives the most efficient route that avoids Russian airspace. Its 787 Dreamliners take a southerly path that competes on time with the North Pole detours flown by Finnair and SAS. LOT fares generally run 15 to 20 percent below Lufthansa or ANA, and Warsaw’s compact hub allows minimum connection times of just 30 to 40 minutes, far tighter than Frankfurt or Heathrow.
Starting from Oslo, Stockholm or Budapest often saves €300 to €500 against London, Frankfurt or Paris, because of the UK’s Air Passenger Duty and heavy airport fees at the big hubs. Positioning flights to those cities cost €60 to €100 return. Anyone self-connecting should leave a four-hour buffer or an overnight stop to avoid losing the long-haul ticket.
For a trip centred on Kyoto, flying into Osaka Kansai beats Tokyo. The Haruka express reaches Kyoto Station in 75 minutes. From Narita, a Shinkansen transfer takes nearly three and a half hours.
Before you land
Japan strictly prohibits stimulant-based medicines, including Adderall and Vicks inhalers containing pseudoephedrine. Bringing them can mean arrest and deportation. Codeine is restricted too and may require a “Yunyu Kakunin-sho” import confirmation certificate. Travellers needing prescription drugs should carry a copy of the prescription and a doctor’s letter, with everything in original packaging.
Registering on the Visit Japan Web site before departure produces QR codes for Immigration and Customs and opens dedicated automated lanes at major airports. Screenshot them, since airport Wi-Fi can be slow. Doing so can save 20 to 30 minutes in the arrival hall.
Takkyubin luggage forwarding, available at airport arrival counters, ships bags to a hotel for ¥2,000 to ¥2,500. They typically arrive the next day, so a small backpack covers the first night.
