Travelling from Tokyo to Colombo: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll catch your flight from Tokyo to Colombo. Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT) are the main airports in Tokyo.
Disembark at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), the major arrival point in Colombo.
Around 9 hours 30 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Tokyo to Colombo flight.
Colombo is three hours 30 minutes behind Tokyo and observes the UTC+5:30 timezone.
For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your Tokyo to Colombo flight.
During popular months like June, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than normal. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Tokyo to Colombo
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to get cheap Tokyo to Colombo flights if you book in advance. Airlines often have some amazing early bird deals.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Tokyo to Colombo across the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your plans are flexible.
You don't need to check every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know when there's a better deal on cheap flights from Tokyo to Colombo.
Find an affordable Tokyo to Colombo flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Tokyo
Haneda Airport (HND)
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save money on your Tokyo to Colombo flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Haneda Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
HND is about 14 kilometres from central Tokyo. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions.
Need a convenient hotel close to Haneda Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Tokyo to Colombo, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure gate:
Of all flights departing from Haneda Airport, 73.52% land on schedule at their destination.
You'll find HND at 3丁目 Hanedakuko, Ota.
Narita International Airport (NRT)
Prefer to fly from Narita International Airport (NRT)? This popular hub offers nonstop flights from Tokyo to Colombo, seamlessly connecting you to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).
From NRT, you can book a direct Tokyo to Colombo plane ticket with SriLankan Airlines.
Visit family or friends or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your Tokyo to Colombo flight, check out these options when departing from Narita International Airport:
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Depending on traffic conditions, you can drive to NRT from the centre of Tokyo in around 1 hour. The airport is roughly 64 kilometres away.
You're off on holiday, so why not enjoy an additional night away? Consider kicking back in one of these hotels near Narita International Airport the day before your flight from Tokyo to Colombo:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Narita International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 70%.
NRT is located at 成田空港第2PTB(バス), Narita.
Arriving in Colombo
Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML)
The distance from Colombo Ratmalana Airport (RML) to central Colombo is approximately 13 kilometres. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Reserve a hotel near RML if you're coming in on a late flight from Tokyo to Colombo. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is roughly 27 kilometres from the centre of Colombo. Following your flight from Tokyo to Colombo, it'll take you approximately 40 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The trip will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or cab lines. Pick up a Bandaranaike International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the rates and availability from Sr Rent A Car, Green Motion and Sixt.
Get what you want, not just what's left over. Reserving your ride from CMB two weeks in advance often means lower prices and a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Colombo
Before you book your flights from Tokyo to Tokyo, think about which time of year works best for you. Peak season in Tokyo offers a lively atmosphere and plenty to do, while the low season brings cheaper hotel deals and smaller crowds.
Book a Tokyo to Colombo ticket departing in March if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Colombo to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
January has average temperatures of between 22ºC and 32ºC. Search for cheap flights from Tokyo to Colombo around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Colombo
Once you've booked your flight from Tokyo to Colombo, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Colombo:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square & Independence Memorial Hall and Viharamahadevi Park are top attractions which should feature on every Colombo itinerary.
Explore more of Sri Lanka
You've seen Colombo, now it's time to explore more of Sri Lanka. Journey around 18 kilometres south to Moratuwa to tick off its top attractions. From Boat House to Angulana Beach and Dilmah Conservation One Earth Arboretum, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Jaffna is another favourite destination in Sri Lanka and is around 306 kilometres north of Colombo. No journey is complete without a visit to Jaffna Fort, Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple and Jaffna Public Library.