Tokyo to Seoul is one of Asia’s busiest short-haul routes — a hop of just under three hours with dozens of departures a day. The cheapest way to fly it is a Korean low-cost carrier between Narita and Incheon, at around ¥28,000 return; the convenient Haneda–Gimpo pairing puts you city-centre to city-centre but costs roughly three times as much. This guide covers who actually flies it, what each of those options really costs, and how to book it cheaply.
Route: Tokyo (Haneda HND / Narita NRT) → Seoul (Incheon ICN / Gimpo GMP)
Distance: approximately 1,150 km (715 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 2h 50m — the non-stops we track run 2h 15m to 2h 55m depending on the airport pair
Direct flights: Yes, and there is no reason to connect. Every one of the cheapest fares we track is a non-stop between Narita and Incheon on a Korean low-cost carrier — Jeju Air, Air Busan or Eastar Jet. Asiana, Korean Air, ANA and Japan Airlines fly full-service non-stops, including the handy Haneda–Gimpo city-airport pairing.
Fares from Tokyo to Seoul (JPY)
Seoul is one of the cheapest international trips from Tokyo, and the route’s frequency keeps the low-cost floor remarkably steady. Demand climbs around Japan’s holiday peaks — Golden Week, mid-August Obon and the year-end break — and over the spring blossom and autumn-colour seasons, with winter the quietest stretch. But the budget fare itself barely moves: checking every departure month from August to December, the cheapest return sat between ¥27,600 and ¥29,600 throughout, and an Obon-week August departure cost the same as a quiet November one. We do not print a yen figure against each month, because that steadiness is the real story — the table below tells you when the route is busy, not what you will pay.
| Month | Demand | What that means for the fare |
|---|---|---|
| January | low-medium | quiet once the New Year rush clears |
| February | low | one of the calmest months to travel |
| March | medium | builds towards the blossom season |
| April | high (blossom) | cherry-blossom demand both ends |
| May | high (Golden Week) | avoid late April to early May |
| June | medium | steady, before the summer break |
| July | high (summer) | school holidays lift demand |
| August | very high (Obon) | busiest month — though the low-cost floor held at about ¥28,000 when we checked |
| September | medium | demand eases after Obon |
| October | medium-high | autumn colours draw visitors |
| November | medium | good value before the year-end peak |
| December | high (year-end) | the New Year period is expensive |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write: the cheapest is ¥27,640, and the low-cost non-stops cluster tightly between ¥27,600 and ¥29,600 — that is the going rate, not a sale. The next real step up is Asiana’s Haneda–Gimpo non-stop at about ¥81,000, which buys you two city-centre airports rather than a cheaper seat. So anything close to ¥28,000 is the market price and worth taking; do not hold out for a ¥20,000 return, because nothing on sale is anywhere near it. Add bags and seat selection to the low-cost fare before comparing.
Airlines on this route
Low-cost, Narita–Incheon (where every cheap fare is):
- Jeju Air — the single most common carrier in our fare data, behind more of the cheapest Tokyo–Seoul returns than everyone else combined. Non-stop Narita to Incheon, with bags and seats charged separately.
- Air Busan — the next most frequent, non-stop on the same airport pair and priced within a few hundred yen of Jeju Air.
- Eastar Jet — also non-stop Narita to Incheon and in the same fare band; worth checking when the other two are full on your dates.
Full-service non-stop (more convenient, several times the price):
- Asiana — the only full-service carrier to appear in our cheapest-fare data, flying Haneda to Gimpo at about ¥81,000 return. Both airports are close to their city centres, so you are paying for the ground time you save. It is being merged into Korean Air but still flies its own schedule.
- Korean Air — full-service non-stops into both Incheon and Gimpo, with easy onward connections across Korea and beyond.
- ANA and Japan Airlines — full-service non-stops from Haneda and Narita, with a checked bag included on standard fares. Neither appears among the cheapest fares we track, so expect full-service pricing.
The real decision on this route is not which airline but which airport pair. Narita–Incheon on a Korean low-cost carrier is about ¥28,000 and adds a long train ride at both ends; Haneda–Gimpo is about ¥81,000 and drops you near both city centres. Work out what those extra hours are worth to you before booking — on a short trip, they often are.
When to book & how to save
- Book 1–3 months ahead for the best low-cost fares; the cheapest seats sell first even on a high-frequency route.
- Avoid the holiday peaks — Golden Week, mid-August Obon and the year-end break push short-haul fares up sharply.
- Fly Haneda–Gimpo if the time is worth the money: both airports are close to their city centres, but in our fare data that pairing runs about ¥81,000 against ¥28,000 for Narita–Incheon.
- Price low-cost carriers all-in: add checked bags and seat selection before comparing, since full-service fares include a bag.
- Do not wait for a sale: across every month we could price, the cheapest return stayed between ¥27,600 and ¥29,600 — even in Obon week. On this route the low-cost fare is the price, so book when the dates suit you.
Arriving in Seoul
Most flights land at Incheon International (ICN), about 48 km west of the city; the AREX airport train reaches Seoul Station in roughly 45–60 minutes for around ¥1,000 equivalent. If your flight uses Gimpo (GMP) — the airport paired with Haneda — you are much closer in, about 17 km from the centre, with a subway or AREX ride of around 30 minutes for a similar low fare. A taxi from either airport into central Seoul runs roughly ¥5,000–¥9,000 equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Tokyo to Seoul?
Non-stop flights take about 2 hours 50 minutes, and the non-stops we track run between 2h15m and 2h55m depending on the airport pair. It is a short hop across the Sea of Japan, flown several times a day by both full-service and low-cost carriers, so you can usually find a departure to suit your schedule.
Are there direct flights from Tokyo to Seoul?
Yes, and the non-stop is also the cheapest option. Every one of the lowest fares we track is a Korean low-cost non-stop between Narita and Incheon — Jeju Air, Air Busan or Eastar Jet. Asiana, Korean Air, ANA and Japan Airlines fly full-service non-stops, including the Haneda–Gimpo pairing that links both cities’ close-in airports.
How much does it cost to fly from Tokyo to Seoul?
About ¥28,000 return on a low-cost non-stop between Narita and Incheon — the cheapest we can find on sale is ¥27,640, and those fares cluster between ¥27,600 and ¥29,600. The full-service Haneda–Gimpo alternative on Asiana runs about ¥81,000. Prices are quoted before bags and seat selection on the budget carriers.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Tokyo to Seoul?
Winter, once the New Year rush clears, is the quietest stretch — but this route is unusual in that the budget fare hardly moves. Across every month we could price, from August to December, the cheapest return stayed between ¥27,600 and ¥29,600, and Obon week cost the same as a quiet November. Golden Week, Obon, the year-end period and the blossom season are still the busiest times to travel and the hardest on which to find a seat.
Which airlines fly from Tokyo to Seoul?
The cheap fares are all Korean low-cost non-stops from Narita to Incheon: Jeju Air, Air Busan and Eastar Jet. Full-service non-stops come from Asiana (including Haneda–Gimpo), Korean Air, ANA and Japan Airlines. Full-service fares include a checked bag; budget fares charge for bags and seats separately, so compare the all-in price.
Which airport do I fly into in Seoul?
Most flights land at Incheon (ICN), Seoul’s main international hub. Some services — especially those from Haneda — use Gimpo (GMP), which is much closer to the city centre. Check your ticket, as the two airports are on opposite sides of the metropolitan area.
How far in advance should I book Tokyo to Seoul flights?
Aim to book 1 to 3 months ahead for the cheapest low-cost fares. Even on a high-frequency route the lowest seats go first, and prices rise noticeably around Golden Week, Obon, the blossom season and the year-end peak.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be cheaper than weekend flights on this popular short-haul route. Being flexible by a day or two, and mixing weekday flights, is one of the easiest ways to bring the fare down.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
