Author:Aura RuggeriPublished: July 29, 2022 (Updated: October 11, 2023)
This article was fact checked and it's 100% helpful.
When you are planning a trip, particularly one that involves an international flight, one of the most important things that you want to know is how long the flight will take and how many stopovers you will need to make.
In this article, we will look at how long it takes to fly from Hawaii to Japan, whether non-stop flights are available, and which airlines fly between Hawaii and Japan.
How Many Hours Does It Take To Fly From Hawaii To Japan?
The actual amount of time spent in the air varies depending on the specific airport that you are departing from as well as the destination airport in Japan. However, on average, the flight time from Hawaii to Japan takes approximately 8 to 10 hours (see also ‘How Long is a Flight from New York to Japan?‘).
It is important to note that this approximate timing only applies to the amount of time spent in the air. It does not include time spent passing through security before your flight or any time spent at stopovers. Some journeys have been known to take up to 36 hours due to the amount and length of stopover breaks.
Which Japanese And Hawaiian Airports Are Closest?
If your priority when booking a flight between Hawaii and Japan (see also, ‘How Long is a Flight to Japan from California?‘) is the length of your flight then you might be interested in which airports are physically closest together in order to find the shortest journey.
In terms of physical proximity to one another, the Haneda International Airport Terminal which is near Tokyo is the closest Japanese international airport to Hawaii.
This means that it provides the closest destination regardless of the Hawaiian airport that you fly out from. However, if you are concerned about the amount of time spent in the air, the closest airport to Japan from Hawaii is the Honolulu international airport.
Although the Lihue airport in Hawaii is closer, it only handles flights to and from North America. Direct flights are available between these two airports and the average flight time is just over 8 hours.
Which Japanese And Hawaiian Airports Are Furthest Apart?
If your journey planning centers more around the airport that is near to where you live, it can be useful to know what the maximum journey is likely to be with your chosen destination.
Kona airport on the main Hawaiian island is the furthest airport from Japan that facilitates international flights. The furthest they fly into Japan is Narita international airport near Tokyo.
It is rare to find a nonstop flight between these two airports and the average flight time, including stopover, is around 10 and a half hours.
Are All Flights From Hawaii To Japan Non-Stop?
As mentioned above, not all flights from Hawaii to Japan are non-stop flights. If you are looking specifically for a direct flight, you will have to fly out from Honolulu international airport.
There is also a lot more scope in terms of Japanese destinations from this airport, all of which are available through non-stop flights. It is possible to fly direct from Honolulu to Narita, Haneda, Osaka, and Nagoya.
However, if you are flying out of Kona airport, your choice of Japanese destinations is significantly reduced to just Narita and Nagoya. Both of these destinations also are not available via direct flights from Kona.
Most flights from Kona to Japan have at least one stopover in Honolulu, therefore, it may be worth traveling to Honolulu on land rather than making a stopover.
Which Airlines Fly From Hawaii To Japan?
There are two airlines that fly from Hawaiian airports to Japanese airports. They are Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines.
Both of these airlines have stellar reputations and are able to provide you with comfort and excellent service on both your outgoing and incoming flights.
It is possible to have both your outbound and inbound flights with the same airline, this is the easiest option. However, if you are flying on a budget, it may occasionally be cheaper to fly out with one airline and home with the other.
Both of these airlines offer different classes of seats on their flights between Hawaii and Japan. The prices for the different classes on both airlines are fairly competitive and similar in terms of perks and benefits that are offered at each level.
Additional Timings
As with any travel that involves flights, there are additional timings that it is important to take into consideration when planning your journey.
The most important timing to plan correctly is the amount of time it will take you to travel from where you are to the airport you are flying from.
The best way to do this is to work out the latest you can arrive at the airport to make your flight and then add an extra hour onto that. This is especially true with international flights.
Another important timing to consider is the amount of time it takes to check your bags and make your way through security at the airport.
If you are flying from Kona airport, the average time it takes to travel through security is only a few minutes due to the small size of the airport. If you are flying from Honolulu airport, the average time to get through security is around half an hour.
Remember that at peak times these timings can be extended and it is still important to leave enough time to allow for any unforeseen delays.
Final Thoughts
The average amount of time that you spend in the air when flying from Hawaii to Japan is between 8 and 10 hours.
However, the actual time spent traveling between the two countries can be up to 36 hours depending on the number of stopovers you have and how long the stopovers are for.
The longer the journey takes the cheaper it is likely to be, although if your budget can stretch to it, it is worth purchasing a direct flight to reduce stress.
Hi, I’m Aura Ruggeri and I want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I did.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
