Japan’s bullet trains get most of the attention, but for longer hops such as Tokyo to Sapporo or Osaka to Okinawa, a domestic flight is often the faster choice. The country has a well-developed network of low-cost and regional carriers, and comparing Japan domestic flights before you go makes it easy to fit a second or third city into one trip.
Low-cost or regional carrier?
Low-cost carriers keep the base fare lean and charge for extras such as checked bags and seat selection, and many fly from Narita or Kansai. Regional carriers tend to fly from Haneda, which sits much closer to central Tokyo, and usually include a slightly larger cabin bag allowance. The right pick depends on your route, the airport nearest your hotel and how much luggage you are carrying.
| Airline | Type | Main bases | Free cabin bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peach Aviation | Low-cost | Narita, Kansai, Sendai, Naha | 7 kg |
| Jetstar Japan | Low-cost | Narita, Kansai, Chubu Centrair | 7 kg |
| Skymark Airlines | Low-cost | Haneda, New Chitose, Fukuoka, Kobe, Naha | 10 kg |
| AIRDO | Regional | Haneda, New Chitose | 10 kg |
| StarFlyer | Regional | Haneda, Kitakyushu | 10 kg |
| Spring Japan | Low-cost | Narita | 7 kg |
Six airlines for getting around Japan
Each of these domestic airlines in Japan suits a different kind of itinerary.
Peach Aviation
Best for: Osaka-based itineraries and Okinawa.
Founded in 2011, Peach flies domestic and short international routes from bases at Kansai, Narita, Sendai and Naha, and was named Best Low-Cost Airline in Japan at the 2025 Skytrax awards. It is a natural fit for travelers starting in Osaka or heading south to the islands.
Jetstar Japan
Best for: trips that include Nagoya.
Jetstar Japan operates from Narita, Kansai and Chubu Centrair, giving it one of the broadest spreads of bases among Japan’s low-cost carriers. With around 20 destinations, it links the main island cities with Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa.
Skymark Airlines
Best for: flying from Haneda at a lower fare.
Operating since 1996, Skymark flies from Haneda as well as New Chitose, Fukuoka, Kobe and Naha, and its most popular route is Tokyo to Sapporo. It won Best Customer Satisfaction Airline in the 2023 Japanese Customer Satisfaction Index, and its 10 kg cabin allowance is generous for the category.
AIRDO
Best for: Hokkaido in any season.
Based at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, AIRDO is a regional carrier focused on Hokkaido, with Tokyo to Sapporo as its busiest route. It is a strong option for winter ski trips and summer flower season alike.
StarFlyer
Best for: travelers who value punctuality.
StarFlyer flies from Haneda and Kitakyushu and was ranked the most punctual low-cost carrier for on-time performance in 2022 by Cirium. Its most popular route connects Osaka Kansai with Tokyo.
Spring Japan
Best for: Narita departures.
Spring Japan has flown from its Narita base since 2012, with routes that include Sapporo, making it useful when you land at Narita on an international flight and want to connect straight onward.
Pairing flights with the rail network
The fastest Japan itineraries mix both. The bullet train is hard to beat between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, where it runs city center to city center. For longer journeys the plane wins clearly: Tokyo to Sapporo takes around an hour and a half in the air against many hours by rail, and Okinawa is realistically reachable only by air. Booking Tokyo to Sapporo flights or an Osaka to Okinawa hop for the long legs, then using trains for the shorter ones, saves a full day on a two-week trip and leaves more time for the places you actually came to see.
Tips before you book
- Check which Tokyo airport your flight uses, since Haneda and Narita are far apart.
- Weigh your cabin bag at home, as low-cost carriers enforce the 7 kg limit.
- Add checked baggage when booking rather than at the airport.
- Arrive early, as check-in can close well before departure on domestic routes.
Plan Your Next Hop
Airpaz is an online travel platform focused on Asia that has been helping travelers book flights and hotels since 2011. It lists every airline above, lets you add baggage, seats and meals during booking, and offers multilingual customer support around the clock.
A short flight can turn a Tokyo trip into a tour of Japan, from Hokkaido’s snow to Okinawa’s beaches. With flights within Japan compared side by side, linking the cities you want to see takes only a few minutes.
Search your route today and add one more city to the trip.
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