Flights from Cairns to Tokyo

Compare Cheap Flights from Cairns to Tokyo

Tokyo has an exciting energy and culture that is not like anywhere else. The city perfectly blends the modern with the traditional, with skyscrapers neighbouring historic temples and palaces. As well as its vast history, Tokyo is known around the world for its exciting nightlife, shopping, food, and culture. Tokyo is so diverse, and there is always something new and interesting to experience. From the city, you can easily catch one of Japan’s famous bullet trains to other cities and landmarks around the country. Booking return flights from Cairns to Tokyo is the perfect way to start and end your holiday around Japan.

Start planning your next international holiday, and book cheap flights from Cairns to Tokyo with Webjet.

The best time to visit Tokyo

A popular time to book cheap airfares from Cairns to Tokyo is during the country’s famous cherry blossom season between March and April. During these months, Tokyo and the surrounding areas come to life with vibrant pink blooms that herald the end of the cold Japanese winter. Cherry blossom season is a peak time to visit Tokyo, and the city is exceptionally busy. For some travellers however, braving the crowds is made worth it to capture the beauty of the blossoms. Autumn (September to November) is another perfect time of year in Tokyo when the city is full of bright-coloured foliage. You can find some good deals on Tokyo flights and hotels for autumn once the summer crowds have left.

Summer is high season in Tokyo. Many tourists visit the city between June and August, and the weather is hot and humid. Due to the large amount of visitors, hotel prices go up in the summer. Winter in Tokyo is cold but not unbearable. Some parks around the city are closed in winter, but if you are a skier or snowboarder, winter is a great time to visit Tokyo. Mount Fuji, which is located near the city, has several ski resorts. Since winter is low season in Japan, this is also the perfect time to find cheap flights from Cairns to Tokyo and hotels.

Departing From Cairns

Cairns Airport is located 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) north of the CBD. Since the airport is so close to the city, it’s quick to reach and there are a variety of transport options available.

Several major airlines offer cheap airfares from Cairns to Tokyo, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Japan Airlines, Jetstar and Cathay Pacific. While most of the flights include a stopover, Jetstar offers a direct flight that will get you to Tokyo Airport in approximately 7 hours 30 minutes. There are between 20 to 25 return flights from Cairns to Tokyo every day, all available to be booked on Webjet.

Getting to Cairns Airport

Cairns has an Airport Shuttle that leaves every 30 minutes and meets all departing flights. There are several departure points throughout the CBD, and passengers can also pre-book to be picked up outside of the city. The more people you travel with, the more affordable your shuttle ride will be. A single passenger can take the shuttle for $15 AUD from the city; two people can catch the shuttle for $17 AUD; and three people hitch a ride for $20 AUD. If you are travelling in a group larger than three, the shuttle rate is only $5 AUD per person.

The Airport Connect Bus offers an affordable ride from the CBD. It picks up passengers from the Sheridan Street bus stop in the city. The bus arrives to the airport in about 10 minutes. Tickets for the bus are $6 AUD for one way and $8 AUD for return.

A taxi is another practical and affordable option given the airport’s proximity to the city. From the CBD, it takes only 10 minutes to arrive at the terminals and the journey runs between $20 to $25 AUD each way.

Parking at Cairns Airport

If you plan on driving to the airport, be sure to book a spot in advance. Doing so can save you up to 40% on your parking space.

Where to Park at Cairns Airport

• The Budget Price Buster Car Park is located just outside of the International Terminal. Parking rates start at $58 AUD for 4 days and $66 AUD for a week when booked online. Spaces are uncovered, and you can walk from your car into the airport in only a couple of minutes.

Arriving in Tokyo

Tokyo has two international airports: Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND). Narita Airport (NRT) is located 60 kilometres (37 miles) east of the city centre and handles about half of all international flights entering and leaving Japan. Haneda Airport (HND) is located much closer to the centre of Tokyo. Haneda handles mostly domestic flights from other Japanese cities, but it also receives some international flights. Both airports offer quick and easy options to get into the city.

How to Get from Narita Airport (NRT) to Your Tokyo Hotel or Accommodation

The Narita Express is a fast and comfortable way to travel from Narita Airport (NRT) into central Tokyo. The train has plenty of luggage space and airplane-style seats. The Narita Express stops at many major stations around central Tokyo, including Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station and Ikebukuro Station. Tickets into Tokyo Station cost ¥3,020 (about $36.75 AUD) for standard class and ¥4,560 ($56 AUD) for first class. Tickets to other central Tokyo stations cost ¥3,190 ($40 AUD) for standard class and ¥4,730 ($59 AUD) for first class. Trains depart Narita Airport (NRT) for Tokyo every 30 minutes.

For a cheaper but slightly longer journey to Tokyo Station, you can catch the JR Narita Line Rapid Train from the airport. The train will get you into central Tokyo in about an hour and a half, with tickets costing ¥1,320 ($16.40 AUD). This train departs from Narita Airport (NRT) every hour.

If you’re staying in the eastern neighbourhoods of Tokyo, the Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner is your best transfer option. It makes stops at Nippori and Ueno stations in eastern Tokyo. It’s one of the fastest trains in Tokyo and almost reaches the speed of Japan’s famous bullet trains. The train journey only takes between 40 and 45 minutes, and tickets cost ¥2,470 ($30 AUD).

Since the airport is located quite a distance from the city centre, a taxi from Narita Airport (NRT) to central Tokyo is pricey. In perfect conditions, the journey from Narita Airport to central Tokyo takes about an hour. However, as one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo often has heavy traffic. If you do decide to go with a taxi, visit taxi stands 15, 29, 30, or 31A for taxis offering fixed rates into the city. Fixed rates are based on which zone of Tokyo you are travelling to. Much of central Tokyo falls into Zones C and D. A taxi to Zone C costs ¥20,000 ($248 AUD), and a taxi to Zone D costs ¥22,000 ($273 AUD).

How to Get from Haneda Airport (HND) to Your Tokyo Hotel or Accommodation

Haneda Airport (HND) is located 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) from Tokyo Station and offers several affordable options to get into the Japanese capital quickly.

From Haneda Airport (HND), you can catch the Keikyu Line train going to Shinagawa Station, which is only 15 minutes away. From there, you can transfer to the JR Yamanote Line, which will take you to the central areas of Tokyo, including Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station and Shibuya Station, in 10 to 20 minutes. Tickets for the journey to these stations cost between ¥580 and ¥610 (about $7 AUD).

The Tokyo Monorail will get you into the city centre in a similar amount of time as the Keikyu Line, but it also offers nice city views during transit. Take the 15-minute journey on the monorail to Hamamatsucho Station where you can transfer to the JR Yamanote Line. The ride from there is only 6 minutes to Tokyo Station and 25 minutes to Shinjuku Station. Tickets are between ¥650 and ¥690 (roughy $8 AUD) from Haneda Airport (HND) to the stations around central Tokyo. However, if you book your ticket in advance you can pay just ¥500 ($6 AUD).

Since Haneda Airport (HND) is located close to the city centre, a taxi is a practical option to reach your hotel. A taxi ride to the city centre takes about 30 minutes without traffic. Taxis travelling from Haneda Airport into Tokyo offer fixed rates to 19 different areas of the city. A taxi to Shinjuku costs ¥7,100 ($88 AUD); a taxi to Shibuya costs ¥6,600 ($82 AUD); and a taxi to Chiyoda (where Tokyo Station is located) costs ¥5,900 ($73 AUD). If you are travelling from the airport between 10pm and 5am, your taxi may add a surcharge of ¥1,200 ($14 AUD) in addition to the base rate.

Things to do in Tokyo

Shibuya District

Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s business hubs. The neighbourhood is made up of shops, restaurants, and nightlife and is especially popular with young adults. Within Shibuya, you can visit the Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park, but what the district is most known for is the Shibuya Crossing. This crossing is rumoured to be the busiest in the world, with thousands of people crossing in all directions as soon as the lights change.

Day Trip to Mount Fuji

One of the most well-known spots to visit on a trip to Tokyo is actually located outside of the city itself. Mount Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707. It has some great hikes and national parks surrounding it, and if you visit in winter, there are some ski resorts catering to snow bunnies too. Mount Fuji is especially beautiful during the cherry blossom season when the whole region blooms in various shades of pink.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Located right in the heart of Tokyo is a surprisingly peaceful park called Chiyoda. Within the park, you’ll find the Imperial Palace, which is home to the Emperor of Japan. While the palace itself is only open to the public twice a year, guided tours of the grounds take place from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The grounds are gorgeous, and Chiyoda is also one of the best spots to see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo if you are visiting during the season in March and April.

Shinjuku District

Shinjuku is considered to be the entertainment epicentre of Tokyo. It is particularly known for its exciting nightlife scene. Within the neighbourhood is the Golden Gai, a series of narrow laneways lined with more than 200 bars. The bars are tiny and some only have seating for a few customers at a time, but squeezing into one of these watering-holes is a Tokyo experience not to be missed. Once you’ve visited a couple bars, the neighbourhood is abundant with top options for late-night eats.

Asakusa District

For a taste of old Tokyo, pay a visit to the Asakusa District. Here, you’ll find some of Tokyo’s beautiful temples and traditional architecture. The most popular temple to visit is Senso-ji. It dates back to 628 AD and is a perfect representation of Japanese architectural style during that time. The temple is made up of a large red gate, a five-tier pagoda, and several smaller buildings.

Tokyo Skytree

For the best view over Tokyo, head up to the top of the Tokyo Skytree. The building is the second largest structure in the world and offers incredible views over the city with the mountains in the background. For an extra special experience, visit the Skytree for sunrise or sunset.