The connection as a stop
Qatar, Emirates and Turkish publish programmes for those who stop in the connecting city. In Istanbul, Turkish offers a free tour to transit passengers with a long connection. The stop goes on the same ticket.
The house view
Tokyo is 18,490 kilometres from Guarulhos in a straight line. There is no nonstop flight between the two cities, and every trip goes through a connection in the Gulf, Europe, the United States or Istanbul.
That is exactly why the route has more options than any other in the table. Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, the European airlines via their bases and the American airlines via their hubs all compete for the same passenger, each with different cabins on each sector.
The connection can be just an airport corridor, or it can be part of the trip. Two days in Doha, Dubai or Istanbul along the way ease the fatigue of more than twenty hours of flying, and go on the same ticket when the fare allows.
Cabins
Qatar Qsuite, Emirates, Turkish and European airlines, connecting
Published reference
R$ 25k to R$ 38k
Below published
25% to 45%
What is included
- 18,490 km to Narita and 18,535 km to Haneda
- Connection via the Gulf, Europe, the United States or Istanbul
- A stop of a few days along the way, when the fare allows
- Written proposal within 24 business hours
How the price comes down
Four levers specific to this route.
These are not general techniques. They are the ones that work on this city pair, because of how the network is drawn and the published rules of the airlines that fly it.
Narita or Haneda
Haneda is closer to central Tokyo, and that is worth a price difference. Narita often has a lower fare. The quote shows both.
Cabin by sector
On a connecting trip, the cabin on the long sector matters more than on the short one. The choice prioritises the best product on the longest leg, where you sleep.
Out one way, back the other
Going via the Gulf and returning via Europe or the United States is a plan some fares allow. It suits those who want to stop in two different cities on the same trip.
The route year
When the price rises, and when it gives.
The published fare is not the same all year, and the availability of the lower fare classes changes with it. This is the general shape of the year on this route.
PeriodWhat happensEffect on price
January and FebruaryWinter, snow in the north and holidays in BrazilMiddle ground, with the outbound expensive
March and AprilCherry blossomThe peak at the destination, with hotels and flights in demand
May and JuneGolden Week in early May, rains in JuneGolden Week expensive, June cheaper
July and AugustHumid summer and July holidays in BrazilExpensive flight in July, shoulder season at the destination
September and OctoberEnd of the heat, start of autumnA good window
NovemberAutumn foliageSecond high season at the destination, with flights still reasonable
DecemberChristmas and New YearPeak, and the one period when buying early is mandatory
This is the typical pattern for the route, not a forecast. Events, holidays and schedule changes alter the picture, which is why the quote is made for your date, not for the month.
Questions
What people ask before booking.
How much is a business class ticket from São Paulo to Tokyo?
The published market reference sits between R$ 25k and R$ 38k for a round trip with taxes, in high season and bought late. On this route, the best fares we usually reach are 25% to 45% below published. The exact figure comes in the written quote, for your date.
Is there a direct flight from São Paulo to Tokyo?
No. Every trip has at least one connection, usually in Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, a European city or an American hub. The connection defines the total time and the cabin on each sector.
What is the best connection to Japan?
There is no single best for every date. The Gulf usually has the shortest total time with high-standard business class on both sectors. Europe and the United States come in when the price or the stop makes sense.
Can I stop for a few days along the way?
Yes, when the fare allows. Doha, Dubai and Istanbul have published programmes for those who stop in the connecting city, and the stop goes on the same ticket.
All routes
The flights page has the full table.
Twelve routes with the published reference and the range of our best fares, the six aircraft categories, and the ticket rules explained line by line.