Flights hackSet price alerts, then wait
Turn on fare alerts for your route instead of checking every day – prices move up and down, alerts catch the dips.
✈️ Cheap flights from San Francisco to Tokyo
Compare San Francisco – Tokyo fares from hundreds of airlines and travel sites. The trip is about 8,285 km and takes around 10 h 40 min nonstop.
📏 Distance8,285 km (5,148 miles)
⏱️ Flight timeabout 10 h 40 min nonstop
🕒 Time differenceTokyo is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco
🛫 AirportsSFO → HND, NRT
💸 Cheapest monthOct 2026 – from $589
📅 Cheapest months to fly San Francisco → Tokyo
- $589Oct 26
- $672Nov 26
- $863Dec 26
- $813Mar 27
- $939May 27
Lowest fares our Fare agent saw for each month. Prices change daily.
🌞 Best time to visit Japan
Best: Late March to May and October to November – cherry blossoms in spring and crimson maples in autumn, with comfortable temperatures.
Shoulder season: Early March, June and December – fewer crowds, though June brings the rainy season and December is crisp but clear.
Weather by month in Tokyo
- 10°Jan⛅
- 11°Feb⛅
- 14°Mar⛅
- 19°Apr⛅
- 23°May⛅
- 26°Jun🌧
- 30°Jul🌧
- 31°Aug🌧
- 27°Sep🌧
- 22°Oct🌧
- 17°Nov⛅
- 12°Dec⛅
Average daytime highs (°C) and how rainy each month is.
📍 Things to do when you land
- Ride the shinkansen – Speed between cities on the famously punctual bullet train, with Mount Fuji sometimes visible along the way.
- Explore Kyoto's temples – Walk through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari and the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji.
- Stay in a ryokan – Sleep on tatami mats, soak in an onsen and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner at a traditional inn.
- Eat your way through Osaka – Graze on takoyaki, okonomiyaki and street snacks under the neon of Dotonbori.
💡 Tips for a cheaper ticket
Flights hackBe flexible by a few days
Use a fare calendar view and move your trip by one or two days – mid-week departures are usually the cheapest.
Money hackEat your big meal at lunch
Many restaurants serve a cheaper set lunch menu – the same food as dinner for a fraction of the price.
San Francisco to Tokyo flights: questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Tokyo?
A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Tokyo takes about 10 h 40 min for the 8,285 km (5,148 miles) trip. Flights with a connection take longer – usually 2 to 5 hours more.
How far is Tokyo from San Francisco?
Tokyo is about 8,285 km (5,148 miles) from San Francisco as the plane flies.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Tokyo?
Right now Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of San Francisco. Daylight saving changes can shift this by an hour during the year.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Tokyo?
Recently the lowest fares were in Oct 2026, from about $589. Prices change daily.
Which airports serve San Francisco and Tokyo?
From San Francisco: San Francisco Intl (SFO). In Tokyo: Tokyo Haneda Intl (HND), Narita Intl (NRT).
Do I need a visa for Japan?
It depends on your passport – see our Japan visa & entry guide.
More flights from San Francisco
More flights to Tokyo
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