Hi there, JFC-ers,

There are lots of different ways to travel and see the world. The way I travel might not be right for you, and that's okay — it doesn't mean that your way is wrong, and my way is better, or vice versa. Heck, sometimes the way I travel isn't right for me, either. 

But rarely have I been reminded so clearly that people's travel desires differ than this week. Clickbaity editorial choices aside, I personally cannot imagine ever complaining to a journalist that a Greek hotel didn't offer bacon and sausages for breakfast…

But everyone's needs are different, and that's why we've been working away on even more resources to help you plan the kind of trip that works for you. Keep reading to find out more!

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

So you've got your heart set on travelling to a certain place, but now you need to work out how much to budget for flights. Or maybe JFC just landed in your inbox with fares so cheap you can't ignore, and suddenly you find yourself needing to know how to buy metro tickets in Ho Chi Minh City.

We've been working away behind the scenes to build out our collection of travel guides based on our own travel experiences. And with summer trips and airline sales on the horizon, now seems like a pretty smart time to share them! We'll warm you up with some hot tips on perennial favourites Tokyo and Mexico City.

By Larissa

Flight Finding Team Lead Larissa is an Aussie expat from Sydney who only sometimes misses the beach. Based in London, when she's not busy checking for brunch spots in her next trip, she's writing about flight deals for Jack's Flight Club.

Tokyo is a massive metropolis (in every sense of the word) – it’s the city with the largest population in the world, in parts a concrete and neon jungle, in others you’ll find tiny shrines and quiet backstreets flanked by high-rise apartments.

It has 23 wards, each with its distinct culture and atmosphere. You may have heard of names like Chuo, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Taito, each with their own neighborhoods. It’s the kind of city where you could spend weeks on end and not see everything on your list.

I scored a return trip from London via Copenhagen to Tokyo for under £450, and I spent 5 full days traversing the city. Read on for my tips on how to make the most of your time (and where to get the best ramen) in town. 

Getting there

Tokyo is a major transport hub, so it’s usually easy to find flights from around the world. 

Japan has 2 major airlines that fly from Europe and North America to Tokyo: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Both offer non-stop flights from large hubs like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, New York, LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. ZipAir Tokyo is a budget option for non-stop flights from the West Coast of the US. 

Most flagship airlines offer non-stop flights to Tokyo as well, like British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air Canada, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. However, the cheapest way to get there is usually to take connecting flights, especially via China.

Here’s a handy JFC guide on what to expect when booking your flight to Tokyo:

From Europe:

• Expected average price range: €470s-€670s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 15+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: €300 rtn 

From the UK:

• Expected average price range: £350s-£530s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 20+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: £338 rtn

From the USA:

• Expected average price range: $570s-$890s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 20+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $257 rtn

From Canada:

• Expected average price range: $770s-$1200s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 15+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $678 rtn

JR Rail pass

You may be wondering whether it’s worth buying a JR Rail pass to travel around Japan, or buy your tickets as you go. Unless you’re planning on travelling constantly on Shinkansen trains throughout your trip, it’ll likely be cheaper to skip the pass and just book your tickets individually. You can check your individual itinerary here.

When to Visit

Japanese culture is in tune with the changing seasons, with thousands of festivals and celebrations that line up with the calendar. 

Depending on where you head in Japan, the intensity of the cold/heat will differ – in Hokkaido you’ll get much cooler summers and frozen winters, versus Okinawa, where the opposite is true. But for central cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, the weather will be similar enough. 

Spring — March–May

Temperature: 5–28 C/41–82 F

The biggest celebration of spring is when the cherry blossoms bloom in March–April, and it’s also a popular time to visit the country. The maps published each year that predict when the blossoms will peak across the country are a handy tool for planning your cherry blossom tour. 

During these times, you should expect crowds of Sakura spotters everywhere, and locals will be out taking part in hanami, or picnics under the cherry blossom trees. There will also be lots of Sakura-flavored snacks and treats on offer. 

Summer — June–August

Temperature: 18–35 C/64–95 F

One word: humid. If you visit during these months, the humidity will be above 70%. That means it’s worth packing light layers, as well as sunscreen and a hat. 

People often travel for summer festivals in cities like Aomori, Sendai, Kochi and Shiranui. But within Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you’ll hear the sound of taiko drums, and shrines will be decorated with lanterns and finery. 

Fall — September–November

Temperature: 10–20 C/50–68 F

This time of year is becoming almost as popular as cherry blossom season, with autumn foliage painting the country red. It’s also cheaper in general to visit Japan post-summer, which makes it a really nice option if you’re looking for discounts on accommodation or flights. 

Unsurprisingly, you’ve also got plenty of festivals to celebrate the change in season. At the shrines of Kyoto, there are light shows going into the evening during this time, against a backdrop of autumn leaves. 

Winter — December–February

Temperature: 4–15 C/39–59 F

I visited in February 2025, so I have a particular fondness for this time of year! The majority of my days there were sunny, but I still needed my scarf and a winter coat. We had one day of snow in Kyoto, which was a nice treat, too. It was decent sightseeing weather, but we did have to wrap up at times.

Our trip also coincided with the plum blossom festival in Kyoto — they’re less well-known than cherry blossoms, but equally beautiful. Unfortunately, not many trees had bloomed by the time the festival rolled around on the 25th February, but it was still enjoyable to go to the shrine and have plum tea and dango.

Food

A lot of what we now know as ‘Japanese’ food originated in Tokyo. That, alongside the fact it’s Japan’s biggest city, means you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice for every single Japanese dish you want to try. 

Here are a few that are known to be particularly good in Tokyo: 

• Curry: served with rice or udon
• Monjayaki: pan-fried batter topped with cabbage, seafood (similar to okonomiyaki) 
• Edomae sushi: the ‘typical’ sushi you’re probably familiar with, with raw seafood on rice
• Gyu-katsu: deep-fried beef cutlet (usually wagyu beef)

Larissa's Pro Tip

I lined up for about 45 minutes one evening to eat at Gyukatsu in Asakusa, and it was well worth it — you can even grill each piece of beef to your taste.

They do have 2 locations within a 5-minute walk of each other, so it’s worth scoping out both lines to see which is shorter. 

Tokyo also has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, covering not just Japanese cuisine, but also French, Chinese, Spanish, and Indian. As with everywhere in Japan, Tabelog is where you should go for restaurant reviews and reservations. Any restaurant above a 3.5 rating should guarantee you a really good meal (these ratings are stricter in Japan than in other countries). 

Continue reading our Tokyo travel guide...