Compare flight prices from Korean Air, ANA, JAL and more. Direct flights from $120 round trip. The Seoul to Tokyo flight takes 2h 30m direct.
| Route | Seoul (ICN) → Tokyo (NRT) |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1,200 km (745 miles) |
| Flight time | 2h 30m |
| Direct flights | Yes |
| Prices from | $120 round trip |
| Best months to fly | September; low season outside holidays |
The Seoul to Tokyo route is one of the most popular air corridors connecting ICN and NRT. With 7 airlines competing on this route, travelers can find competitive fares starting from $120 for a round trip. Direct flights take approximately 2h 30m, covering a distance of 1,200 km.
Average round-trip prices from Seoul to Tokyo by month. Highlighted months typically offer the best deals.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $146 | $147 | $163 | $171 | $174 | $157 | $133 | $152 | $140 | $151 | $146 | $140 |
Prices are estimates based on historical data and may vary. Use the search widget above for current fares.
The following airlines operate direct flights on this route:
Seoul–Tokyo isn't one route, it's four, and the gap between the best and worst pairing is over an hour of ground transit on each end. The premium play is Gimpo → Haneda: Korean Air, Asiana, JAL and ANA fly it in about 2 hours, Gimpo is 15 km from Gangnam (35 minutes on the Line 9 express), Haneda is 14 km from central Tokyo. The budget lane is Incheon → Narita: Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way, Air Seoul, ZIPAIR and Air Premia keep departures running all day at roughly half the fare — but Incheon is ~48 km from Seoul and Narita ~60 km from Tokyo, which adds close to two hours of trains to the trip. There is no Gimpo→Narita nonstop, so don't hunt for one.
| Gimpo → Haneda | Incheon → Narita | |
|---|---|---|
| Who flies it | Korean Air, Asiana, JAL, ANA | Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way, Air Seoul, ZIPAIR, Air Premia |
| Typical fare | Higher, full-service | ~Half price, unbundled |
| Total ground transit | ~1 hour combined | ~3 hours combined |
| Best for | Short trips, business, central hotels | Tight budgets, luggage-light travel |
With more than 200 flights a week this is one of the world's busiest international corridors, so seats are rarely the problem — total trip cost is. Price the Gimpo–Haneda premium against two extra hours of trains and two extra rail fares before assuming the LCC wins. ZIPAIR and Air Premia are the sweet spot for many: widebody seats at budget prices, just landing at the wrong airport. September is typically the cheapest month; Korean holidays (Chuseok, Lunar New Year) and Japanese Golden Week spike fares in both directions.
For the best prices, we recommend comparing across multiple booking platforms:
Near Seoul: Gimpo (GMP) is the close-in airport — 15 km from Gangnam versus Incheon's ~48 km — but only the four full-service carriers use it for Tokyo. Near Tokyo: Haneda (HND) is 14 km out versus Narita's ~60 km; nearly every budget fare lands at Narita, so add the N'EX or Skyliner cost to any LCC comparison.
Once you've booked your flight from Seoul to Tokyo:
Read more about flights to Tokyo or flights to Seoul.
With 7 airlines competing on Seoul–Tokyo, price wars work in your favor — particularly when low-cost carriers force full-service airlines to match base fares on the same corridor.
Pricing on this route reacts to both leisure and business demand. When conferences and events drive up fares in one direction, flying the reverse — or shifting dates by a few days — can still find reasonable prices.
On a short-haul route like this, 3–6 weeks out is the sweet spot for booking. Fares tend to be stable until about two weeks before departure, then spike sharply. Begin with Google Flights for its calendar view, then run the same search on Skyscanner and the Kiwi.com widget above — different platforms pull different deals.
For Seoul–Tokyo, also check train or bus alternatives. On routes under 4 hours flying time, surface transport can be competitive on both price and total door-to-door time once you factor in airport procedures.
This is a short hop where the airport experience takes almost as long as the flight itself. Priority boarding and carry-on only can shave significant time off your total journey compared to checking bags.
Ground transport from the airport to the city center is worth researching in advance. Pre-booked transfers are often cheaper and more reliable than taxi queues, especially at unfamiliar airports.
The Seoul–Tokyo route is served by Korean Air, ANA, JAL and Asiana, which means genuine competition keeps fares in check. Prices fluctuate significantly by season and day of the week — midweek departures typically cost 15–25% less than Friday or Sunday flights on this corridor.
booking 6–10 weeks ahead tends to hit the pricing sweet spot between early-bird surcharges and last-minute premiums. If your dates are flexible, checking fares across a 3-day window in either direction can reveal substantial savings.
Start with the Kiwi.com widget at the top to see today's best Seoul–Tokyo prices. If you are flexible on dates, try shifting your departure by a day or two — midweek flights on this route are consistently cheaper.
For the complete picture, also check the route on Google Flights and set a price alert there. Google's tracking is reliable and will email you when fares move in either direction.
Flights from Seoul to Tokyo start from $120 round trip on the budget carriers. September is usually the cheapest month; Chuseok, Lunar New Year and Golden Week are the price peaks. Use the search widget above to compare current prices.
A direct flight from Seoul (ICN) to Tokyo (NRT) takes approximately 2h 30m. The distance is 1,200 km (745 miles).
Full-service: Korean Air, Asiana, JAL and ANA (including the Gimpo–Haneda city route). Budget, via Incheon–Narita: Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way, Air Seoul, ZIPAIR and Air Premia. Over 200 nonstops a week in total.
September is typically the cheapest month. Avoid Chuseok, Lunar New Year and Japan's Golden Week, when both business and leisure demand peak. With 200+ weekly flights, last-minute seats exist — but last-minute low fares don't.
For most city-to-city trips, yes. Gimpo–Haneda saves roughly two hours of trains and two rail fares versus Incheon–Narita, and includes checked bags and meals. The Incheon–Narita budget lane wins when the fare gap is large and you're travelling light.
Yes — Haneda (HND), 14 km from central Tokyo versus Narita's ~60 km. The catch is inverted pricing: Haneda flights (from Gimpo) are the premium full-service ones, while the cheap fares land at distant Narita.
Compare prices from 7 airlines and find the best deal.
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