Cheap Flights from Seattle to Tokyo

Seattle's position on the Pacific Rim gives it one of the shortest flights to Tokyo of any city in the lower 48. A nonstop takes roughly ten and a half hours outbound and around nine on the way back, which is noticeably shorter than from most other US cities.

It also has several airlines flying the route, including Delta, which has a major presence in Seattle, and Japanese carriers ANA and Japan Airlines, depending on the season. Competition among them keeps fares more reasonable than you might expect. For a broader look at Japan, see our guide to cheap flights to Japan from the US.

Delta, ANA and Japan Airlines have all flown nonstop between Seattle and Tokyo, though which airports and how many flights depends on the season. Alaska Airlines, based in Seattle, works with partners to offer onward connections, and Korean Air and others connect through Seoul.

Flights usually depart in the afternoon or early evening and land in the late afternoon or evening of the next day. Check the airport you land at, since each airline may use a different one. Our pages on ANA, Japan Airlines and Delta explain what each offers.

Sea-Tac has been rebuilt in stages, with a new international arrivals facility and expanded terminals. The Link light rail connects the airport to downtown Seattle in about 40 minutes, which is the cheapest and most reliable way in.

Security lines can be long in the early morning and on Sunday afternoons, so allow extra time for international flights. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are available. Our Sea-Tac airport guide explains the layout.

The most expensive and crowded times to visit Tokyo are late March to early April, when the cherry blossoms peak, Golden Week from late April to early May, and the Obon holiday in mid-August. Autumn, in November, is also busy for the leaves, and the New Year period is expensive.

The cheapest months are usually January to early March, June, and parts of September, though June has the rainy season and September can bring typhoons. If you want blossoms, book early and be flexible by a week or so, since the timing changes each year.

A weak yen in recent years has made Japan unusually good value for visitors paying in dollars. Hotels, restaurants and shopping cost less than in many US cities, and good meals at small restaurants are very affordable.

That is partly why demand has risen, and why hotels in popular areas can be expensive and booked out in peak seasons. Exchange rates change, so check before you travel. The flight is the larger fixed cost, so it pays to spend time on it.

US citizens can generally visit Japan for up to 90 days as tourists without a visa. Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay. Japan has an online service, Visit Japan Web, for immigration and customs declarations, which speeds up arrival.

Check the Japanese government's website for the latest rules. Japan has strict rules about some medications that are legal in the US, including certain allergy and ADHD medicines, so check before you pack them. Our guide to travelling with prescription medication explains the process.

Flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka, or the reverse, lets you travel through Kyoto and the Japan Alps without backtracking. Open-jaw fares are often the same as a return, and the bullet train connects the main cities.

Add a stopover in Seoul or Taipei if you have time. Our guide to multi-city versus round-trip tickets explains how to compare, and our stopover strategy article explains how to add a city.

Japan's trains are punctual, clean and extensive. The Japan Rail Pass price rose sharply in 2023, so check whether it still pays off for your route, since individual tickets are often cheaper unless you travel a lot.

Domestic flights and night buses are cheap alternatives for long distances. Luggage forwarding services will send bags between hotels for a modest fee, which makes trains easier.

Japan is still a cash-heavy country, though card acceptance has grown. Carry yen for small restaurants, shrines and rural areas, and use convenience store ATMs, which accept foreign cards.

Tipping is not customary and can cause confusion. Many places have vending machines and ticket machines for ordering, which can be a fun part of the experience.

Summer in Tokyo is hot and humid, and typhoon season runs from roughly August to October. Winters are dry and cold but rarely snowy. Check the forecast before your trip, and consider flexible tickets in typhoon season.

Japan is earthquake-prone, though most visitors never notice one. Your hotel will have instructions, and the JNTO app provides alerts in English. Travel insurance with medical cover is sensible.

Spend three or four nights in Tokyo for the neighborhoods, temples and food, then take the bullet train to Kyoto for three nights of temples and gardens, with a day trip to Nara or Osaka. If you have more time, add Hiroshima or the Japan Alps.

Book popular experiences ahead, such as the Ghibli Museum, teamLab and restaurants. Pack comfortable shoes, since you will walk a lot, and a small bag for coins and tickets.

Let us know your dates and how flexible you are, and a specialist can compare nonstops from Seattle, check Haneda and Narita fares, and find the best price. We can also help with open-jaw tickets, hotels and transfers.

Have a play with the live fares below, shifting the dates by a day or two each time. Found a fare you like? A quick call lets us check the baggage terms and change conditions before any money leaves your account.