Tokyo’s vibrant metropolis has a unique lure, no matter how many times you’ve visited. Diversity is at the forefront of Japan’s capital, touted for its dynamic landscape. The city moves quickly – whether it be through technological advancements or an efficient public transport system. And yet a sense of tranquillity can still be felt in the world’s most populated city, dotted with greenery and strong elements of Japan’s rich traditions.
Travellers can delight in Tokyo’s boundless offerings. And by leveraging the power of Qantas Points, Velocity Points or KrisFlyer miles, you can fly from Australia to Tokyo for less.
In this guide, we cover various routes from Australia to Tokyo with different airlines and frequent flyer programs. Plus, we’ve included our top ways to earn rewards on accommodation and our tips for planning the Tokyo trip of a lifetime.
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Flying to Tokyo using Qantas Points
Whether you’re looking for an entryway to start your skiing holiday or simply want to immerse yourself in Japan’s fascinating culture, flying into Tokyo will have you perfectly poised to explore everything this remarkable nation has to offer.
And what’s even better is that it’s easy to use Qantas Points to fly to Tokyo from Australia with your choice of partner airlines. We’ve highlighted some of the best options below.
Flying Qantas to Tokyo using Qantas Points
Qantas operates direct flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Tokyo’s Narita Airport and from Sydney to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
 using  Qantas Points | Economy | Business |
| Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita) | 25,200 | 68,400 |
| Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita) | 31,500 | 82,000 |
| Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) | 31,500 | 82,000 |
| Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart to Tokyo (Haneda) (via Sydney) | 31,500 | 82,000 |
Flying Jetstar to Tokyo using Qantas Points
For less of a points outlay, you can also redeem Qantas Points to fly with Jetstar direct to Tokyo’s Narita Airport from Cairns or Brisbane.
Jetstar flights booked via Qantas include checked baggage allowance but don’t include seat selection.
 using Qantas Points | Economy | Business |
| Cairns, Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita) | 21,500 | 51,300 |
Flying Japan Airlines to Tokyo using Qantas Points
Qantas Frequent Flyer members can also redeem Qantas Points to fly with Japan Airlines to Tokyo. From here, you can fly onwards to other cities with JAL. And here’s a tip – when you use Qantas Points to book a domestic flight with JAL, you won’t pay a single cent in taxes or carrier charges, effectively making your domestic flight ‘free’.
 using Qantas Points | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
| Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita) | 37,800 | 70,800 | 90,000 | – |
| Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) | 37,800 | 70,800 | 90,000 | 129,300 |
Flying Cathay Pacific to Tokyo using Qantas Points
If you can’t find direct flights from Australia to Tokyo using Qantas Points or want to explore Hong Kong en route, consider flying with Cathay Pacific. Note that Cathay Pacific operates flights from Hong Kong to both Narita and Haneda Airports.
 using Qantas Points | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
| Perth to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Hong Kong) | 37,800 | 70,800 | 90,000 |
| Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Hong Kong) | 45,000 | 81,800 | 104,500 |
Flying China Airlines to Tokyo using Qantas Points
Taiwan-based China Airlines flies direct from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to its hub in Taipei’s Taoyuan Airport. From here, you can fly to Tokyo in just three hours. China Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam alliance but partners with Qantas, opening up the ability to redeem Qantas Points for China Airlines flights.
China Airlines operates flights from Taipei to both Narita and Haneda Airports in Tokyo.
 using Qantas Points | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
| Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Taipei) | 37,800 | 70,800 | 90,000 |
| Melbourne, Sydney to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Hong Kong) | 45,000 | 81,800 | 104,500 |
Also read: How to redeem Qantas Points for China Airlines flights
How to earn Qantas Points to fly to Tokyo
Qantas Frequent Flyer is the largest program in Australia, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular for Aussies looking to take to the skies for less. There are many ways to earn Qantas Points on the ground from your daily spend, and fast. Here’s how.
Many credit cards offer generous bonus points when you sign up and meet the minimum spend requirement. And on top of that, you can earn Qantas Points on eligible transactions, plus receive a host of other great benefits like travel insurance or lounge access.
Wine connoisseurs can indulge in a delectable selection of drops via Qantas Wine and pocket bonus points along the way. Eligible cases can net you up to 10,000 bonus Qantas Points, or even more during promotional periods. And when you unlock Qantas Points Club, you’ll receive a voucher to use on Qantas Wine, plus collect triple points on your purchase.
Fancy being rewarded from your regular grocery shop? That’s entirely possible thanks to the Everyday Rewards and Qantas partnership. By linking your Everyday Rewards account to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, you can automatically convert your Everyday Rewards points to Qantas Points so you can take to the skies sooner.
Also read: The top 5 ways to earn Qantas Points without flying
Flying to Tokyo using Velocity Points
Virgin Australia will end its flights between Cairns and Tokyo (Haneda) on 24 February 2025. While it has notably fewer airline partners than Qantas, these partners are solid options for redeeming Velocity Points for flights to Tokyo.
Flying Singapore Airlines to Tokyo using Velocity Points
Singapore Airlines operates flights from Singapore to Narita and Haneda. Since a layover is required in Singapore, it’s the perfect opportunity to check out the famed Jewel at Changi Airport.
Singapore Airlines partners with Virgin Australia, so you can redeem Velocity Points to fly with Singapore’s national carrier, which is consistently ranked among the best airlines in the world.
 using  Velocity Points | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
| Darwin, Perth to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 42,000 | – | 89,500 |
| Adelaide, Cairns to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 50,000 | – | 104,000 |
| Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 56,000 | 115,000 | 119,500 |
Flying ANA to Tokyo using Velocity Points
Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a Virgin Australia partner, and also part of the Star Alliance network. This means you can book ANA flights using Velocity Points or KrisFlyer miles, the latter of which we cover more about below.
 using Velocity Points | Economy | Business |
| Perth, Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) | 45,000 | 82,000 |
Also read: How to book ANA flights using Velocity Points
How to earn Velocity Points to fly to Tokyo
Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program is another major player in Australia’s frequent flyer program landscape. Your day-to-day activities can boost your Velocity Points balance, with the points redeemable on a number of Velocity’s airline partners. It’s a handy points currency to have up your sleeve, particularly if you’re considering flying to Tokyo from Australia.
Why not start your Velocity Points-earning journey on a high note? Many Australian banks offer an exceptional amount of bonus Velocity Points on new credit cards. This may be enough to cover a return trip to Tokyo in Economy, or one-way in Business.
If you’re a serial online shopper, you can pocket Velocity Points simply by clicking through to your favourite online retailer via the Velocity e-Store. That’s it – your purchase is tracked, and the Velocity Points will land in your account. Easy!
Velocity’s partnership with Flybuys makes it simple to earn Velocity Points when you shop at retailers like Coles, Kmart, Bunnings and Officeworks, just to name a few. Scanning your Flybuys card when you shop can also help you earn Velocity Status Credits – handy if you’re aspiring to maintain or move up the program’s tiers.
Also read: The top 5 ways to earn Velocity Points without flying
Flying to Tokyo using KrisFlyer miles
Incidentally, both of Virgin Australia’s airline partners are members of Star Alliance. If you have a stash of KrisFlyer miles, you can redeem these for flights across the Star Alliance network, including routes between Australia and Japan.
Flying Singapore Airlines to Tokyo using KrisFlyer miles
While these flights can be booked using Velocity Points, you’ll find better reward seat availability using KrisFlyer miles. The miles required are also lower, as is the cash co-payment.
| using  KrisFlyer miles | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
| Darwin, Perth to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 38,000 | – | 73,000 |
| Adelaide, Cairns to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 45,500 | – | 100,500 |
| Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney to Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) (via Singapore) | 45,500 | 77,000 | 100,500 |
Flying ANA
As a Star Alliance member, ANA flights are bookable using KrisFlyer miles. ANA operates two routes between Australia and Japan.
| using KrisFlyer miles | Economy | Business |
| Perth to Tokyo (Narita) | 48,500 | 104,000 |
| Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) | 48,500 | 104,000 |
Also read: ANA Boeing 787 Business Class (Perth – Tokyo Narita)
How to earn KrisFlyer miles to fly to Tokyo
It’s relatively easy to earn KrisFlyer miles, even when you’re based in Australia. A number of credit cards offer flexible rewards programs, allowing you to convert your points to KrisFlyer miles. Or you could even fast-track to Star Alliance Gold Status with the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card, which offers excellent benefits across the Star Alliance network, including Singapore Airlines.
If you don’t have KrisFlyer miles on hand to book flights to Tokyo, you can also transfer Velocity Points to KrisFlyer miles. Though the ratio is 1.55 to 1, you’ll find better reward seat availability using Singapore Airlines’ own points currency.
Also read: The fastest ways to earn KrisFlyer miles in Australia
Exploring Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita Airports
Tokyo has two major airports, with both operating international flights to and from Australia. If Tokyo is your final destination, you can learn more about travelling from Haneda or Narita to Tokyo in our comprehensive guide.
But if you’re seeking comfort within the terminal, we’ve highlighted some of the top lounges to check out in Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita Airports.
Airport lounges at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport – officially known as Tokyo International Airport – is Tokyo’s main aviation hub. From here you can connect onwards to other cities in Japan, as well as numerous overseas destinations.
While you’ll likely stumble upon several other lounges at Haneda Airport, note that many are restricted to holders of Japan-issued credit cards only.
But for the majority of Australian passengers flying out of Tokyo International Airport, here’s where you can relax before you take to the skies.
ANA Lounge
Unwind before your flight at the ANA Lounge at Haneda Airport. Note that this lounge differs from the ANA Suite Lounge, which is reserved for First Class passengers on ANA and Star Alliance, as well as ANA’s own Diamond Service Members.
How to access the ANA Lounge in Haneda
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- Business Class and First Class passengers travelling on ANA or a Star Alliance-operated flight.
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- Premium Economy passengers travelling on ANA-operated flights.
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- Star Alliance Gold and above frequent flyers.
JAL Sakura Lounge
Eligible passengers departing Haneda on a oneworld flight number can relax at JAL’s Sakura Lounge at Haneda Airport. This includes passengers flying to Australia on JAL, Qantas or Cathay Pacific.
How to access the JAL Sakura Lounge in Haneda
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge.
- Qantas Club members (but not single-use passholders).
- Qantas Club Annual Guest Card.
- Economy (Flex Y Fare), Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class passengers travelling on a JAL-operated flight.
Cathay Pacific Lounge
The Cathay Pacific Lounge in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is one of the airline’s largest lounges outside of its Hong Kong base.
How to access the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Haneda
- Business Class and First Class passengers flying on a oneworld airline.
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge.
- oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members.
Lounges at Tokyo’s Narita Airport
Similarly to Haneda Airport, there are far more lounges in Narita Airport than the ones listed below. But given that many limit entry to Japan-issued credit card holders only, we’ve just listed the ones most applicable for Aussie travellers departing from Narita Airport.
Priority Pass lounges
Members of the Priority Pass lounge program have a few options inside Narita. The Priority Pass card is not accepted in any lounges in Haneda.
Priority Pass lounges in Narita Airport
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- KAL Business Class Lounge
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- ANA Lounge
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- IASS Executive Lounge (landside, only for arrival, departure and domestic transit).
Note that ANA operates two lounges at Narita Airport – level two and level four, after passport control – that can both be accessed by Priority Pass members.
Similarly, there are two IASS Executive Lounges – one in Terminal 1 and the other in Terminal 2 – that Priority Pass holders can access.
ANA Lounge
ANA’s Perth route departs from Narita, and you can access the ANA Lounge (Business Class) when travelling in an eligible cabin class, or by holding Star Alliance Gold or above status.
First Class passengers onboard ANA and Star Alliance flights can technically access this lounge, but should visit the superior ANA Suite Lounge instead.
How to access the ANA Lounge in Narita
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- Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class passengers travelling on ANA.
- Business Class and First Class passengers departing on Star Alliance flights (i.e. Singapore Airlines).
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- Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers when flying on ANA or another Star Alliance carrier (i.e. Singapore Airlines).
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- By paid entry, starting from 8,000 JPY (~A$82) for select fare classes when pre-purchased online. Higher fees apply at counter.
JAL Sakura Lounge
This one is more relevant if you’re heading back to Australia, given that eligible passengers travelling on oneworld partners can access the lounge. If you’re flying with Qantas, JAL or Cathay Pacific and meet one of the below requirements, you can gain entry into the JAL Sakura Lounge at Narita Airport.
How to access the JAL Sakura Lounge in Narita
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge
- Qantas Club members (but not single-use passholders)
- Qantas Club Annual Guest Card
- Economy (Flex Y Fare), Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class passengers travelling on a JAL-operated flight.
Emirates Lounge
Emirates operates its own lounge inside Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Access is reserved for Emirates Skywards elite frequent flyers, plus Business Class and First Class passengers onboard Emirates-operated flights. While this won’t be relevant for the bulk of passengers flying from Tokyo to Australia (unless you’re taking an extremely long detour via Dubai), it’s worth noting that paid access to this lounge is available. The entry fee borders on exorbitant, though – $USD130 plus taxes per person – but the option is there.
Earning and using points on hotels in Tokyo
Tokyo’s sprawling metropolis houses thousands of accommodation options. Budget travellers are well-catered to with Japan’s signature capsule hotels, while those seeking the ultimate in comfort and luxury will also find plenty to satisfy, from Airbnbs to luxury stays.
Find out how you can earn the best rewards when you book accommodation in Tokyo.
Book directly with the hotel
Hotel loyalty programs provide plenty of perks for members, even at the entry-level tier. You’ll enjoy benefits such as free Wi-Fi, a welcome drink or complimentary breakfast, among other member-exclusive offers. And the best way to take advantage and work towards a higher tier – to unlock even more perks in future – is by booking directly with the hotel.
Many global chains have a presence in Tokyo. IHG One Rewards, Accor Live Limitless, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy are just some programs you can earn points towards when you stay at participating properties.
Book through a third-party provider
Not all properties are affiliated with a loyalty program, but there are still ways to ensure you get rewarded by earning points towards a frequent flyer program instead.
If you want to earn Qantas Points
The Qantas Hotels platform awards Qantas Points on hotel and Airbnb bookings. You can pocket one point per $1 from Airbnb bookings, and three points per $1 on hotels. There’s also the potential to earn up to 50% more points from your booking once you’ve unlocked Qantas Points Club.
Qantas Points can also be redeemed for Classic Hotel Rewards to save on your stay.
If you want to earn Velocity Points
Velocity doesn’t have its own hotel booking platform, but you can earn Velocity Points on bookings made via Rocket Travel, at a rate of three Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible stays.
If you want to earn KrisFlyer miles
Hotel aggregator Rocketmiles – which is a separate platform from Rocket Travel – offers the ability to earn Rocketmiles reward points. These points can be converted to KrisFlyer miles, as well as a range of other frequent flyer programs.
If you want to save on the cost of your hotel bill
If you hold an American Express card that includes travel credit, you can put this towards your hotel booking to reduce the cost of your stay. This perk is included with cards like the American Express Explorer. And if you prefer to use your credit for flights or car hire you can do that, too, as long as you book via American Express Travel.
Point Hacker’s tips and tricks for booking your Tokyo trip
Before you book your trip to Tokyo, here are some final tips and tricks to make your travels a breeze.
- Japan is notably a cash society, but the popularity of card payments is steadily rising. Consider using a credit card with no overseas transaction fees to save on those pesky foreign exchange fees.
- When searching for reward seats using Qantas Points, ensure you’re looking at Classic Flight Rewards for the best value points redemptions, not Classic Plus Flight Rewards or Points Plus Pay. Similarly, ensure you look for the purple ‘Reward Seats available’ banner when using Velocity Points. Our beginner’s guide to booking reward seats has all you need to know.
- Most credit cards in Australia offer complimentary travel insurance, including many American Express cards.
- Booking day trips or activities in Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan? With Viator Rewards, you can earn money back from select activity bookings – that means more cash towards your next experience.
- Looking for inspiration for your next Japan trip? Here’s how we explored Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto over six nights, and took a road trip around the southern region of Kyushu.
So, is it time for you to book a trip from Australia to Japan in 2025? If you need expert assistance finding those elusive reward seats in Business or First Class, Point Hacks offers a reward seat Concierge service to help you build your dream itinerary.
Featured image: Jaison Lin, Unsplash.
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