Flights from Israel to Japan — Direct, One-Stop, and Which to Choose

One airline flies direct from Israel to Japan today: El Al, from Ben Gurion to Narita Airport in Tokyo. Alongside it there are dozens of one-stop options, and some of them are cheaper or more convenient on certain dates.

This guide compares the options: flight times, what is included, where you land and what to do in the week before you fly. Before you book, also read the Japan visa and entry guide.

El Al — the only direct route

El Al operates Tel Aviv–Tokyo (Narita) with Boeing 787s, usually four times a week and sometimes five in spring. The outbound flight takes about 11.5 hours and the return about 13 hours. Meals are kosher, a clear advantage for anyone who keeps kosher. Frequencies change by season, so check El Al’s schedule for your dates.

What about Arkia?

In 2026 Arkia announced a twice-weekly direct route to Narita and sold tickets for flights from late October. In October 2026 the Japanese authorities did not approve operating the route with a foreign carrier’s leased aircraft, and the flights were cancelled. The airline says it is still seeking approval. For now there are no Arkia direct flights to Japan. If the route is approved, we will update this page. Until then, don’t book a flight shown as direct without checking that it actually operates.

One-stop flights — via the Gulf, Africa and Europe

Most of the cheaper options go through one stop:

Via the Gulf — Emirates through Dubai and Etihad through Abu Dhabi. These are usually the fastest connections, from about 16.5 hours in total. Via Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Airlines offers the largest number of weekly connections. Via Europe — Lufthansa, ITA and others, but the route is longer, sometimes over 24 hours.

The advantage of a connection is flexibility: you can land at Haneda, close to central Tokyo, or at Kansai in Osaka and start in Kyoto. You can also fly “open-jaw”: land in Tokyo and fly home from Osaka without repeating the same leg by train.

Narita or Haneda — where you land

Direct flights from Israel land at Narita, about an hour from central Tokyo. From there you reach the city on the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner, or by a cheaper bus. Haneda is inside the city, about 30 minutes by train to the centre. Full details on getting into the city are in the Tokyo guide.

Airport transfers and rail tickets

When to book and which season

The expensive, crowded seasons are cherry blossom (late March–April), autumn leaves (mid-November–early December) and the Jewish holidays, when many Israelis fly at once. For those dates book a few months ahead, especially on the direct flight, which has few weekly departures. Winter and early summer make good fares easier to find. To choose a season, see when to go to Japan.

Jet lag and the time difference

Japan is 7 hours ahead of Israel in winter and 6 hours ahead in Israeli summer; Japan has no daylight saving time. Direct flights leave Israel in the evening and land in Japan around midday or in the afternoon, so you can reach the hotel, eat and fall asleep at a reasonable hour. Try to sleep on the plane, get daylight on day one, and plan nothing more than a short walk for arrival day.

Tokyo hotels for the first night

Baggage, food and seats

On a 12-hour flight your seat matters: pay for seat selection in advance if you are flying as a family or a couple. Check what the fare includes, since basic fares don’t always include a checked bag. Kosher travellers get a kosher meal on El Al; on other airlines, order a special meal in advance.

Flying with kids

On a long flight with children, book seats together in advance, and for babies request a bassinet in the bulkhead row when you book, since bassinets are limited. A direct overnight flight helps little ones sleep most of the way. More family tips in the Japan with kids guide.

Before you board

Fill in Visit Japan Web before landing to get a QR code for immigration and customs. Install an eSIM so you are online the moment you land. Add a Suica card to your phone for the train from the airport, and take out some yen in advance or at a 7-Eleven ATM at the airport. Japan’s departure tax (¥3,000 per person since July 2026) is already included in your ticket.

Flying from somewhere else? From Europe there are direct flights to Tokyo from most major capitals, and from the United States from many cities on both coasts. The advice on seasons, jet lag and Narita versus Haneda applies to everyone.

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From here: sort out your Japan visa and entry, choose when to go, or start planning with the 10-day itinerary.