Tokyo has been on the list for years. One of those cities that always seemed a step too far — too long a flight, too expensive a ticket. Air China is flying from London this September and October from £425 return. That changes the calculation.
✈️ The deal
- From: London
- To: Tokyo, Japan
- Airline: Air China
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: £425–£499 return
- When: September/October
Example dates:
09/09/2026 – 14/10/2026
10/09/2026 – 14/10/2026
15/09/2026 – 13/10/2026
💰 How far does your money go?
A bowl of ramen at a proper Tokyo ramen shop costs around ¥800 — that's under £4. A beer from a convenience store is ¥300, roughly £1.50. Even eating out twice a day at decent sit-down restaurants, you'd struggle to spend more than £30 on food. A round at a London pub costs more than a full day of meals in Tokyo.
☀️ The weather
September in Tokyo is warm and increasingly clear, with temperatures around 25–27°C as the summer heat begins to ease. October is arguably the best month to visit — temperatures settle at a comfortable 18–22°C, skies turn consistently blue, and the first autumn leaves start appearing in parks and temple grounds. One of the best windows in the year to be in Japan.
🏨 Where to stay
From budget comfort to full luxury, Tokyo covers every level well.
APA Hotel Shinjuku-Kabukicho — 8.1/10 · From £55/night
Central Shinjuku location, compact and efficient. Steps from the best ramen streets in the city.
Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo — 8.7/10 · From £85/night
Three minutes from Tokyo Station, clean modern rooms and a reliable restaurant. The best mid-range value in the city centre.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo — 9.3/10 · From £420/night
High-rise luxury in Nihombashi. Exceptional service, Michelin-starred dining, and sweeping views across the Tokyo skyline.
🎯 What to do
Tokyo rewards curiosity at every level.
Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa — Tokyo's oldest temple, best visited before 8am before the crowds arrive. The surrounding market street is one of the best in Japan.
Shibuya Crossing at night — The world's busiest pedestrian crossing is genuinely more impressive in person. Worth going twice — once at rush hour, once late at night when the energy shifts.
Tsukiji Outer Market — The inner market moved, but the outer market is still the best place in Tokyo to eat fresh tuna, tamago, and grilled seafood for breakfast. Get there early.
teamLab Planets, Toyosu — An immersive digital art space that genuinely doesn't translate to photos. One of those experiences you have to be inside to understand. Book in advance.
🗺️ Where to go from here
Tokyo is a gateway to the rest of Japan.
Kyoto — Japan's cultural heartland. 2.5 hours on the Shinkansen. Temples, bamboo groves, geisha districts, and arguably the best food in the country.
Hakone — One hour from Tokyo by train. Hot spring resorts, views of Mount Fuji on clear days, and a scenic ropeway over volcanic valleys.
Nikko — Two hours north by train. Ornate Edo-period shrines in cedar forests. A completely different side of Japan.
Osaka — 2.5 hours on the Shinkansen. Louder than Tokyo, with better street food and the Dotonbori district at night.
At £425 return, this won't sit around for long.
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