Seoul to Tokyo (ICN–HND) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for the duration of stay. Complete the Visit Japan Web registration (vjw.digital.go.jp) before travel to pre-register your customs and immigration declaration, which generates a QR code that speeds up arrival processing. This replaced the paper arrival card at most airports.

At immigration, biometric data (fingerprints and photo) is collected for all foreign nationals. The 90-day entry covers tourism, business meetings, and visiting friends or family. Working is not permitted. For stays beyond 90 days, a visa must be obtained at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul before travel. Extensions within Japan are possible at a Regional Immigration Bureau but require a valid reason and are not guaranteed.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon and Gimpo to Tokyo Narita, Haneda, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Okinawa run 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours. Korean Air, Asiana, ANA, JAL, Peach, Jin Air, T'way, Jeju Air, and Air Busan operate dozens of daily frequencies across all routes, making Japan the single most connected destination from Korea. Japan uses the Japanese yen (JPY), trading at roughly 9 to 10 KRW per JPY 1. IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) work on all trains and at convenience stores. Buy one from any ticket machine for JPY 500 deposit. Japan Rail Pass (7 days, JPY 50,000) covers all JR trains including shinkansen.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

Keikyu Line to Shinagawa (13 min, ¥310) and Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (18 min, ¥500) both connect to JR and Tokyo Metro networks. Terminal 3 (international) has direct access to both rail lines.Limousine buses serve Shinjuku, Shibuya, and major hotels (¥1,100, 40–60 min depending on traffic). Taxis to central Tokyo run ¥3,500–5,500. Haneda's proximity to Tokyo means ground transport is faster and cheaper than from Narita in virtually all cases.

Humid subtropical climate. Summers (June–September) are hot and humid (28–35°C) with a rainy season in June and typhoons possible July through October. Typhoons occasionally divert or cancel flights, but direct hits on Tokyo are less frequent than farther south. Humidity peaks in July and August.

Winters are cold and dry (2–10°C) with occasional light snow. Even minor snowfall disrupts Tokyo's ground operations since the city is not equipped for winter road treatment. Spring (April) is pleasant but windy. Fall (October–November) offers the best flying conditions.