Twelve hours is a long time to spend in a metal tube. But the London to Tokyo route is one I've done six times now, and I've got it down to a science. Whether you're flying for the first time or looking to upgrade your long-haul routine, this is everything I know.
Which Airline Should You Choose?
You have four main options from London: Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA both fly direct from Heathrow, while British Airways operates the route and Finnair/Lufthansa offer one-stop connections via Helsinki and Frankfurt. For direct, JAL and ANA are the clear winners — both offer exceptional service, superb food, and genuinely competitive prices, especially in economy.
ANA flies to Haneda (HND), which is significantly closer to central Tokyo — about 30 minutes by monorail versus 90 minutes from Narita. If you're heading straight into the city, HND is worth a premium of £30–£50 over a Narita routing. JAL serves both airports so always check which terminal you're flying into.
The Seat: Choose Wisely
On a 12-hour flight, your seat choice matters enormously. On ANA's 777-300ER in economy, avoid the middle block entirely — the 3-4-3 configuration is tight, and the middle seats are miserable. Aim for a window seat in rows 30–35 where the cabin narrows slightly and you gain a few extra centimetres of shoulder room.
If you're splurging on Premium Economy (worth it on this route), ANA's Premium Economy is excellent — 2-4-2 seating, a proper footrest, noise-cancelling headphones included, and a dedicated cabin that feels meaningfully quieter than economy. JAL's equivalent, JAL Economy Class 'Sky Wider', is also well-regarded and costs about the same.
Packing for the Flight
My long-haul carry-on always contains: noise-cancelling headphones (non-negotiable), a silk sleep mask, a travel pillow that actually works (the Trtl is better than the horseshoe), compression socks, a change of clothes, and a large empty water bottle to fill airside. Airlines provide blankets, but they're thin — bring a light merino layer.
Don't bother with sleeping tablets unless you've used them before. The time difference between London and Tokyo is 9 hours in winter, 8 in summer, and the best strategy is simply to sleep on the second half of the outbound flight — roughly from Dubai time onwards — to approximate arriving in Tokyo morning.
The Food on ANA and JAL
Both airlines offer a Japanese meal option on London–Tokyo and it is invariably better than the Western option. On ANA I recently had miso soup, steamed rice with pickled plum, grilled fish, and a dessert of anmitsu (sweet jelly with red bean paste). It was genuinely delicious. The Western option was chicken in a beige sauce. Choose the Japanese.
Meal timing matters. On the overnight outbound flight, ANA serves dinner shortly after departure, then a light breakfast about two hours before landing. Try to resist snacking in between and let your body adjust to the new time zone. On the return leg (a daytime flight), it's easier — the meal rhythm roughly matches UK afternoon and evening.
What to Watch and Do
Both airlines have extensive in-flight entertainment. ANA's system ('ANA Experience') includes a solid selection of Japanese cinema, anime, and music — spend at least a couple of hours here because you won't get another chance to watch Studio Ghibli films in an appropriately Japanese setting. JAL's system is similar and includes a moving map with extraordinary detail over Russia and Siberia.
For the stretches when you can't sleep and don't want to watch another film: bring a book (a real one — Kindles run out of battery at the worst moments), download a podcast playlist, or simply look out of the window. The Siberian taiga from 38,000 feet is one of the most starkly beautiful sights in commercial aviation.
Arrival at Haneda
Haneda immigration has improved dramatically since the pre-pandemic queues that used to stretch for an hour. With a UK passport, you'll use the e-gate (register your fingerprints on the way in), and the whole process now takes about 15 minutes from touchdown to baggage claim. The airport itself is exceptional — clean, efficient, and has a remarkable replica of an Edo-period street on the 4th floor departures level. Worth a look even if you're exhausted.
One practical note: Japan still runs largely on cash. Grab ¥20,000 (about £110) from the 7-Eleven ATM in arrivals — it accepts foreign cards where most Japanese bank ATMs don't. This will cover your transport to the hotel and a few meals while you find your feet.
