Traveling to Japan is the goal of many jet-setters across the world, thanks to its unique culture. However, traveling to Japan is not always affordable, and is one of the most expensive trips to make.
Those planning on taking flights to Japan will need to be sure that they are not paying too much!
But how long exactly does it take to fly to Japan from California? Does the journey take a long time, and if so, why?
Perhaps you’ve just recently caught yourself pondering these questions, or maybe you’re planning your own trip to Japan soon.
Regardless, you are definitely going to want to read on down below, because we are going to take a deep look at how long it takes to fly from Japan to California!
How Long Is A Flight To Japan From California?
This is actually a surprisingly complex question because we would need to take into account all of the various airports within California that you may depart from, and the airports in Japan that you may land in.
Let’s start by diving right into how long it would take to fly to Japan from each city in California!
Los Angeles (LAX)
LAX is one of the most popular airports in the Los Angeles area. Many flights leave this airport for Japan, and the average flight time from LAX to Japan tends to be around 11 hours, and 28 minutes on average.
This is based on the direct path from LAX to Japan’s Haneda airport, so this time can vary depending on the route taken once the airplane has taken to the sky.
However, the length of this flight will also depend on the airport in Japan that you are flying to. There are numerous airports across Japan, but amongst the most popular are Haneda, Narita, and Kansai International airports.
A non-stop flight from LAX airport to Narita airport is around 11 hours, and 15 minutes, whereas a non-stop flight to Kansai airport, another of Japan’s most popular airports is around 12 hours, and 5 minutes on average.
San Diego (SAN)
On average non-stop flights from SAN airport, the most popular airport in the San Diego area, take around 12 hours to reach Japan’s Haneda airport.
Again, this is assuming a straight flight path, so expect a few extra minutes to be added to the flight time to account for the plane’s flight path.
Non-stop flights from San Diego airport to Narita airport will take around 11 hours, and 37 minutes, whereas a non-stop flight from San Diego airport to Kansai airport will take around 12 hours.
Make sure to keep in mind that these estimates assume a straight path from one airport to the other, so you should expect to add a few minutes to flight times. Flight times will also be affected depending on whether the flight is a direct or connecting flight!
San Jose (SJC)
San Jose international airport fares a little better when it comes to flight times toward Japan. A direct flight from San Jose international airport to Haneda airport takes around 10 hours and 53 minutes.
A direct flight from San Jose international airport to Narita airport takes a little longer than a flight to Haneda airport, at around 11 hours, and 8 minutes.
A direct flight from San Jose international airport to Kansai airport takes around 11 hours and 20 minutes.
Connecting flights to these airports, naturally, take much longer to reach their destinations, with some taking up to 16 hours for a full connecting journey.
San Francisco (SFO)
San Francisco, being one of the most popular cities in California, also has one of the busiest airports in America.
This means that it also caters to flights toward Japan.
The average flight time from San Francisco international airport to Haneda airport is around 10 hours and 48 minutes, assuming it is a direct flight, and that the flight path of the plane is mostly straightforward.
A direct flight from San Francisco international airport to Narita airport is around 10 hours and 45 minutes, while a direct flight from San Francisco international airport to Kansai airport is around 11 hours, and 41 minutes on average.
Connecting flights to either airport will naturally take much longer to reach their destinations.
What Is The Average Length Of A Flight From California To Japan?
Now that we have taken a closer look at the average flight times from some of California’s most important international airports heading to some of Japan’s most important airports, we can finally say that the average flight time for a direct journey from California to Japan is around 11 hours, and 30 minutes.
This average takes into account that some of the longest direct flights take around 12 hours, while some of the very shortest take around 10 hours and 30 minutes. The vast majority of flights, however, take between 11 hours and 11 hours, and 45 minutes.
Of course, connecting flights from any California airport will naturally take much longer than direct flights, as you will need to account for the time between flights.
Connecting flights can take anywhere from around 15 hours to 37 hours to reach their destinations, hence why direct flights are so sought after.
Why Are Flights To Japan So Expensive?
There are actually multiple reasons why flights to Japan are so expensive. The key reason is that the cost of flights to Japan are controlled entirely by Japan itself.
Many put this down to economic protectionism, as a way for Japan to protect the health of its economy.
There is also the cost of fuel that needs to be taken into account. Airline fuels are incredibly expensive, and airlines naturally burn through those fuels very quickly with every single flight.
The highest amount of money you can expect to spend on a flight from California to Japan is around $1,000 per person, which is very significant! Thus, you should make sure to look out for good deals that can help you to save a lot of money on your flights.
To Wrap Up
As you can now see, the average flight from a Californian airport to some of Japan’s most popular international airports is around 11 hours and 30 minutes.
This is the case for direct flights, however, connecting flights are liable to take much longer depending on the number of connections and the time between said connections.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
