Can you fly nonstop from SFO to Tokyo?
Yes. You can fly nonstop from SFO to both Tokyo airports, and you get more choice than on most US routes to Japan. ANA, Japan Airlines and United fly nonstop to Haneda (HND), and those three plus ZIPAIR fly nonstop to Narita (NRT), according to SFO's own route list.
ANA and United are both Star Alliance members, so you'll often see a United flight sold with an ANA flight code, or the other way round. Japan Airlines belongs to oneworld, and ZIPAIR is the low-cost airline Japan Airlines owns. Check the "operated by" line before you pay, because the airline flying the plane sets your seat, meals and bag rules.
With this many nonstops, take a connection only if the fare gap pays for the extra hours.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Tokyo?
Plan on roughly 10.5 to 11.5 hours flying west to Tokyo, based on recent schedules. The trip back is shorter, usually around 9.5 to 10 hours, because you ride the jet stream instead of fighting it. The distance is a little over 5,100 miles.
Haneda and Narita flights spend about the same time in the air. The difference starts after you land.
Haneda or Narita: which Tokyo airport should you pick?
Haneda is the easier arrival for most trips because it sits about 15 km from central Tokyo. Narita is roughly 60 to 80 km east of the city, in Chiba, so you'll spend longer on the ground.
From Haneda, the Keikyu Line reaches Shinagawa in about 15 minutes and the Tokyo Monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in about 13 to 20 minutes. Both connect to the JR Yamanote Line, which loops around the center.
From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner reaches Nippori in about 36 minutes and Ueno in about 41. The JR Narita Express takes around 50 to 60 minutes to Tokyo Station, and limousine buses take about 100 minutes, depending on traffic.
Narita still wins sometimes. If your hotel is near Ueno or Asakusa, the Skyliner makes the extra distance matter much less, and ZIPAIR only flies there.
What time is it in Tokyo when you land?
Tokyo is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco from early November to mid-March, and 16 hours ahead the rest of the year. Japan doesn't change its clocks, so the gap only shifts when California does.
You cross the International Date Line on the way, so you land the calendar day after you leave SFO. Flying home, you often land in San Francisco on the same date you left Tokyo, sometimes earlier in the day than you took off.
For jet lag, the westbound trip is the harder one for most people. Check your landing time before you board. If you arrive in the afternoon or evening, stay awake on the second half of the flight and go to bed at a normal Tokyo bedtime. If you arrive earlier in the day, sleep as much as you can on board and get outside in daylight once you land.
Leaving from SFO: terminal and getting to the airport
Tokyo flights leave from SFO's International Terminal, which has two boarding areas, A and G. Your boarding pass tells you which one, so check it before you clear security.
BART stops inside the International Terminal, the simplest way in from San Francisco or the East Bay without a car. Japan Airlines opens check-in at SFO three hours before departure, so arriving much earlier than that won't get your bags dropped sooner.
If you're connecting at SFO from a domestic United flight, give yourself extra time. Domestic flights usually use Terminal 3, and you'll walk or take the AirTrain to the International Terminal.
Entry rules for US travelers
On a US passport, you can usually visit Japan without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days for tourism, family visits or business meetings. Work, study or longer stays need a visa arranged before you go. Rules change, so confirm with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan or the Japanese embassy before you fly.
Visit Japan Web is Japan's official site for filling in your immigration and customs details before arrival. It gives you QR codes to show on arrival. Fill it in at home, while you still have a reliable connection.
When to fly from San Francisco to Tokyo
Cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn leaf season are the most popular times to visit Tokyo, and flights and hotels fill early for both. Japan's own holiday peaks matter as much as American ones. Golden Week in late April and early May, the Obon holidays in mid-August and the New Year period are when many Japanese travelers are on the move too.
Late May and June, and the stretch of early December before the holidays, are usually calmer. Tokyo summers are hot and humid, and late summer into early autumn can bring typhoons that delay flights. If your dates are fixed, book the busy seasons early.
What travelers get wrong on this route
The most common mistake is comparing a ZIPAIR fare with an ANA, Japan Airlines or United fare as if they include the same things. ZIPAIR's base fare covers carry-on bags up to 7 kg in total and no checked bag, while ANA and Japan Airlines economy fares on US routes normally include checked bags. Add the bags you need before you compare. Baggage rules depend on fare class and ticket type; verify exact terms with your operating carrier.
The second mistake is treating Narita as if it's in Tokyo. If you land late, the fast trains from Narita stop earlier in the evening than Haneda's trains, which can leave you with a long bus ride or an expensive taxi.
The third is the date. Because you lose a calendar day flying west, a hotel booked for the day you leave SFO is a night you won't use.
Baggage on San Francisco to Tokyo flights
- ANA: carry-on: One carry-on bag plus a personal item; size and weight limits apply. Checked: Economy on US to Japan routes normally includes two checked bags up to 23 kg each; some fares may differ, so check your ticket. Extra bags: Charged per extra bag; varies by route. - Japan Airlines: carry-on: One carry-on bag plus a personal item, with a combined weight limit. Checked: Economy includes two checked bags up to 23 kg each. Extra bags: Charged per extra bag; varies by route. - United: carry-on: One carry-on bag plus a personal item on standard economy. Checked: Standard economy on most transpacific routes includes the first checked bag; basic economy rules differ. Extra bags: Second bag charged; varies by fare and status. - ZIPAIR: carry-on: Up to two carry-on pieces, 7 kg in total, on the Standard fare. Checked: Not included on the Standard fare; buy checked bags as an add-on or in a fare package. Extra bags: Charged per bag; costs more at the airport than online.
Baggage rules depend on fare class and ticket type; verify exact terms with your operating carrier.
Travel tips for SFO to Tokyo
Price Haneda and Narita separately: Search each airport on its own instead of all Tokyo airports at once. Then add the train into town to each total, because Haneda's short ride can make a slightly higher fare the better deal.
Add ZIPAIR's bags before comparing: ZIPAIR's Standard fare has no checked bag, while ANA and Japan Airlines economy fares normally include two. Price the bags you'll actually bring, and buy them online, where they cost less than at the airport.
Watch the date line on hotel bookings: You land in Tokyo the calendar day after you leave SFO. Start your first hotel night on your arrival date, not your departure date.
Avoid a late landing at Narita: Narita's fast trains into Tokyo stop earlier in the evening than Haneda's trains. If your flight lands late, pick Haneda or plan for a bus or a pricey taxi.
Fill in Visit Japan Web at home: Complete Japan's official Visit Japan Web form before you leave for SFO and save the QR codes to your phone. It saves filling in paper forms when you're tired after a long flight.
Use BART to reach SFO's International Terminal: BART stops inside the International Terminal, where Tokyo flights depart. It's an easy way to skip airport parking for a long trip to Japan.