Return trip to Japan from Sydney, with a separate trip from Japan to Europe returning to Japan

[jek1964]

Firstly, I apologise if this has been asked before. I did search, but couldn't find what I was thinking of.

My husband and I are looking to travel from SYD-NRT then up to Sapporo for the snow festival. We are looking at roughly 5 days in Japan and then on a separate ticket fly NRT-DXB-FCO/LHR-DXB-NRT, have roughly 2 days in Tokyo and then finish the SYD-NRT-SYD trip. We intend to be in Europe for approximately 8 weeks, before heading back to Japan.

My question is (and I apologise if it sounds as if I'm dumb): 1) Can the SYD-NRT-SYD tickets be return tickets or should they be bought separately (separate PNRs), so SYD-NRT - do the Europe trip on separate tickets (EK), then a new ticket (PNR) for the NRT-SYD portion.

I also believe that we might need to get Multiple Entry Short Term Visas for Japan, I'm waiting to hear back from the Japanese Consulate for confirmation on this.

I hope this made sense, I'm just trying to work out the logistics of it all before booking. It's more the Japanese visa that's catching me out in my understanding.
Has anyone done something similar?

Thanks in advance for reading and answering .

 

[rbjhan]

Your nationality would help, to start....
Australians are visa on arrival to Japan.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Firstly, I apologise if this has been asked before. I did search, but couldn't find what I was thinking of.

My husband and I are looking to travel from SYD-NRT then up to Sapporo for the snow festival. We are looking at roughly 5 days in Japan and then on a separate ticket fly NRT-DXB-FCO/LHR-DXB-NRT, have roughly 2 days in Tokyo and then finish the SYD-NRT-SYD trip. We intend to be in Europe for approximately 8 weeks, before heading back to Japan.

My question is (and I apologise if it sounds as if I'm dumb): 1) Can the SYD-NRT-SYD tickets be return tickets or should they be bought separately (separate PNRs), so SYD-NRT - do the Europe trip on separate tickets (EK), then a new ticket (PNR) for the NRT-SYD portion.

What you are proposing is to ‘nest’ tickets. You can buy a SYD-NRT-SYD ticket, fly one way, and then have another ticket return to europe. Before using your return portion to SYD.

No issues with doing this at all.

It will likely be much cheaper buying - for cash - a round-trip SYD-NRT. If using points it won’t make much difference.

 

[jek1964]

What you are proposing is to ‘nest’ tickets. You can buy a SYD-NRT-SYD ticket, fly one way, and then have another ticket return to europe. Before using your return portion to SYD.

No issues with doing this at all.

It will likely be much cheaper buying - for cash - a round-trip SYD-NRT. If using points it won’t make much difference.

Thank you. This makes sense.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 11:40 PM

Your nationality would help, to start....
Australians are visa on arrival to Japan.

Sorry, missed putting it in my post. Both Australian citizens and passport holders.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you. This makes sense.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 11:40 PM

Sorry, missed putting it in my post. Both Australian citizens and passport holders.

You don’t need a visa for Japan. You will be eligible for a visa exemption for a short stay up to 90 days, provided this is for tourism or business: Japan

 

[elanshin]

Firstly, I apologise if this has been asked before. I did search, but couldn't find what I was thinking of.

My husband and I are looking to travel from SYD-NRT then up to Sapporo for the snow festival. We are looking at roughly 5 days in Japan and then on a separate ticket fly NRT-DXB-FCO/LHR-DXB-NRT, have roughly 2 days in Tokyo and then finish the SYD-NRT-SYD trip. We intend to be in Europe for approximately 8 weeks, before heading back to Japan.

Firstly I assume you mean 2026? if you mean 2025 Feb that would be pretty pricey now.

My question is (and I apologise if it sounds as if I'm dumb): 1) Can the SYD-NRT-SYD tickets be return tickets or should they be bought separately (separate PNRs), so SYD-NRT - do the Europe trip on separate tickets (EK), then a new ticket (PNR) for the NRT-SYD portion.

While it is possible, if you're not booking this as award tickets, it will cost significantly more to book one ways than it is to book it as return trips. Also as it is SYD does not fly to NRT on any airline. All 5 daily departures are SYD - HND (which works out better if you're going to CTS as there are significantly more HND - CTS flights).

I'd probably look at a SYD - HND - CTS - HND - SYD journey. Then book a Japan <> Europe ticket separately to this assuming it's all on cash fares.

I also believe that we might need to get Multiple Entry Short Term Visas for Japan, I'm waiting to hear back from the Japanese Consulate for confirmation on this.

Australian's dont need to apply for any visas for tourism stays. In fact I've had friends do uhh weekly KR <> JP hops to bounce between the two countries.

 

[jek1964]

Firstly I assume you mean 2026? if you mean 2025 Feb that would be pretty pricey now.


While it is possible, if you're not booking this as award tickets, it will cost significantly more to book one ways than it is to book it as return trips. Also as it is SYD does not fly to NRT on any airline. All 5 daily departures are SYD - HND (which works out better if you're going to CTS as there are significantly more HND - CTS flights).

I'd probably look at a SYD - HND - CTS - HND - SYD journey. Then book a Japan <> Europe ticket separately to this assuming it's all on cash fares.


Australian's dont need to apply for any visas for tourism stays. In fact I've had friends do uhh weekly KR <> JP hops to bounce between the two countries.

Thank you. We're travelling in 2025.
I was using NRT to indicate Tokyo in general, but probably will do Jetstar who do fly into NRT. Not ruling out another airline that flies to HND, but can get to CTS via NRT. We will spend a day either side of CTS in Tokyo.
Thank you for the suggestions, will look into them.

 

[elanshin]

Thank you. We're travelling in 2025.
I was using NRT to indicate Tokyo in general, but probably will do Jetstar who do fly into NRT. Not ruling out another airline that flies to HND, but can get to CTS via NRT. We will spend a day either side of CTS in Tokyo.
Thank you for the suggestions, will look into them.

If you're planning on spending a day in Tokyo, I would seriously consider HND over NRT. Basically in Sydney terms, its like landing into Katoomba area vs Bankstown area (Distance wise).

From a quick glance, jetstar will not be much cheaper than Qantas, JAL or possibly Cathay via Hong Kong. They may look cheaper on paper but once you add bags, it might come out more expensive.

You can also fly in to NRT but fly to Sapporo (CTS) from Haneda. JAL often has some super cheap domestic flights for foreigners. The bigger problem is if you're flying into snow festival time, hotels are going to be booked out.

 

[frodo]

If you're planning on spending a day in Tokyo, I would seriously consider HND over NRT. Basically in Sydney terms, its like landing into Katoomba area vs Bankstown area (Distance wise).

I am more of the opinion of 'it depends', and flying into HND vs NRT would not be a big factor in choosing which flights to take for me.

Sure it's a bit further but depending on whereabouts in Tokyo you are staying, it may only take around 30 min more by train. Obviously if prices and flight times were similar, I'd choose HND, but if a NRT flight was cheaper and had favourable timings, I would not hesitate to book that.

 

[jek1964]

If you're planning on spending a day in Tokyo, I would seriously consider HND over NRT. Basically in Sydney terms, its like landing into Katoomba area vs Bankstown area (Distance wise).

From a quick glance, jetstar will not be much cheaper than Qantas, JAL or possibly Cathay via Hong Kong. They may look cheaper on paper but once you add bags, it might come out more expensive.

You can also fly in to NRT but fly to Sapporo (CTS) from Haneda. JAL often has some super cheap domestic flights for foreigners. The bigger problem is if you're flying into snow festival time, hotels are going to be booked out.

Thank you , something to consider.
I've had a look and there is a next day connection from NRT to CTS. But, your suggestions are worth looking into. Thanks again.

 

[jek1964]

If you're planning on spending a day in Tokyo, I would seriously consider HND over NRT. Basically in Sydney terms, its like landing into Katoomba area vs Bankstown area (Distance wise).

From a quick glance, jetstar will not be much cheaper than Qantas, JAL or possibly Cathay via Hong Kong. They may look cheaper on paper but once you add bags, it might come out more expensive.

You can also fly in to NRT but fly to Sapporo (CTS) from Haneda. JAL often has some super cheap domestic flights for foreigners. The bigger problem is if you're flying into snow festival time, hotels are going to be booked out.

Forgot to mention. I've been able to book at a reasonable price (considering it's during Snow Festival) in Sapporo, 2 nights 9-11 Feb.
Good tip about JAL, will look into that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you're planning on spending a day in Tokyo, I would seriously consider HND over NRT. Basically in Sydney terms, its like landing into Katoomba area vs Bankstown area (Distance wise).

From a quick glance, jetstar will not be much cheaper than Qantas, JAL or possibly Cathay via Hong Kong. They may look cheaper on paper but once you add bags, it might come out more expensive.

You can also fly in to NRT but fly to Sapporo (CTS) from Haneda. JAL often has some super cheap domestic flights for foreigners. The bigger problem is if you're flying into snow festival time, hotels are going to be booked out.

I don’t think it’s *that* bad! lol

The Kaisei Skyliner gets you into Ueno in about 20 mins… and much cheaper than the Narita express.

 

[jek1964]

I don’t think it’s *that* bad! lol

The Kaisei Skyliner gets you into Ueno in about 20 mins… and much cheaper than the Narita express.

The Kaisei Skyliner - we used this when we were in Japan in 2019, very easy and basically took us across the street from our hotel.