Distance from London to Tokyo
How Far Is London from Tokyo?
London is 9,559 km (5,940 miles) from Tokyo by great-circle distance. The shortest route heads NE on a Eurasian great-circle route.
London to Tokyo is a very long Eurasian route that heads northeast across Europe and Siberia. The great-circle track can be surprisingly far north, which is why the midpoint lands deep in Arctic Siberia.
London to Tokyo Flight Time
| Distance | 9,559 km 5,940 miles 5,161 nautical miles |
| Flight Time |
~12h (London → Tokyo) ~14h (Tokyo → London) |
London to Tokyo Time Difference
| Time Difference | Tokyo is usually 9 hours ahead of London in standard time (UTC+9 vs UTC+0), or 8 hours ahead when London is on daylight saving time (UTC+9 vs UTC+1). Tokyo does not observe DST. |
| Time Zones | Europe/London (London) Asia/Tokyo (Tokyo) |
| DST Note | Tokyo is usually 9 hours ahead of London, or 8 hours ahead when London is on daylight saving time. Tokyo stays on UTC+9 year-round. |
London vs Tokyo: Geography & Population Comparison
How Far Is 9,559 km?
- 9,559 km is only about 68 km shorter than London to Hong Kong (9,627 km).
- It is about 72 km shorter than Paris to Hong Kong (9,631 km).
- It is about 154 km shorter than Paris to Tokyo (9,713 km).
Flights from London to Tokyo
This is a very long Eurasian route that often arcs over northern Europe and Siberia. London to Tokyo is commonly the faster direction, while the Tokyo to London return is usually longer because of routing and jet-stream patterns.
Flight times are estimates based on great circle distance and typical cruising speeds. Actual times vary by airline, route, and conditions.
Great-Circle Route and Midpoint
London to Tokyo heads northeast across Eurasia, often following a great-circle track over northern Europe and Siberia.
- Initial Bearing
- 32° (NE)
- Midpoint
- Arctic Siberia, deep in northern Russia
- Crosses
- Eurasia · Siberia
Orthographic projection · Click 3D for interactive view
London and Tokyo Airports
London
- LHRHeathrow Airport
- LGWGatwick Airport
- STNStansted Airport
- LTNLuton Airport
- LCYLondon City Airport
Tokyo
- HNDHaneda Airport
- NRTNarita International Airport
Distance by Speed
| Commercial jet | 900 km/h 10h 37min |
| Long-haul jet | 850 km/h 11h 15min |
| 320 km/h reference speed | 320 km/h 29h 52min |
Speed estimates use straight-line distance and do not include routing, stops, security, boarding, taxi time, or surface transfers.
Cities at a Similar Distance
Approximate great-circle distance, nearly the same scale.
London to Tokyo FAQ
How far apart are London and Tokyo?
London and Tokyo are 9,559 km (5,940 miles) apart by great-circle distance.
How long is the flight between London and Tokyo?
A typical flight is about 720 minutes from London to Tokyo and about 840 minutes on the return.
Does the route cross Eurasia and Siberia?
Yes. The great-circle path heads northeast across Eurasia and often passes over Siberia.
What is the time difference between London and Tokyo?
Tokyo is usually 9 hours ahead of London in standard time and 8 hours ahead when London is on daylight saving time.
Which airport codes are commonly used?
London is typically served by LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, and LCY, while Tokyo is typically served by HND and NRT.
Which direction is usually faster on this route?
London to Tokyo is usually a little faster than Tokyo to London because the eastbound direction can line up better with wind patterns.