Cheap Flights Australia to Japan

Ok this isn't "Free flights to Japan" but it is some good news if you live in Australia and want to visit Japan.

AUD$254 (incl baggage) one way is a very cheap flight from Gold Coast (Australia) to Japan, and recently it's been happening more frequently.  The secret is timing - when to buy.

Having flown to or from Japan more times than I can count on all my fingers and toes, I'm always on the lookout for cheap flights.  Now, Jetstar didn't ask me to say this (I'm just sharing info for the benefit of everyone) but Jetstar generally has much cheaper flights available than any other airline, for flights between Gold Coast, Australia, and Japan.  What I really look for, though, are the Japan sales, which are either around half the regular ticket price, or two-for-one sales.

Over the years I've had my eye on these sales and they seem to have a pattern.  (Except for 2011, after the March 11 disaster.)  Heads up.  In previous years, I generally saw Jetstar Japan sales in March, May, June, September and November, for flights in March, April, June, September, October, November.

In 2011, after the March 11 disaster, Jetstar had Japan sales every month, approximately one month apart, from May to October.  The flight period for each of these sales was generally the following month or the following two months.

In general, flights that aren't in August, Golden Week (A Japanese holiday week in May) or Australian School holidays will generally appear as sale fares, on sale about 1-3 months prior to the flight.  Sometimes there are exceptions to this rule, such as in 2011, and also part of the Australian school holidays in June-July or September-October are sometimes included in last minute sales.

There's just one issue I've had with Jetstar occasionally that doesn't happen so often with Qantas or Jal (and pay several hundred dollars more) which I should warn you about.  Occasionally, when passenger numbers are too low, they will cancel and combine flights, for example, a direct nine-hour flight from Gold Coast to Narita may end up being a twelve hour trip with a stopover in Cairns.  Other than this sort of thing (which for the most part won't happen) I've had an excellent time flying with Jetstar, and saved a lot of money.

I recommend Japan in the first week of April, for the beautiful Sakura blossoming season.  Sakura only bloom for about two weeks, for most of the Kanto-Chubu-Kansai area (Kyoto, Tokyo etc) they begin in the last week of march and are beginning to wane in the second week of April.  

The month of November is also particularly beautiful, being the season of Koyo, meaning red Autumn leaves.  Koyo is much more predictable than Sakura, as the red-leaf season lasts for much longer than the delicate cherry blossom petals.

In both Sakura and Koyo season, famous Buddhist temples and sightseeing places will have about a week when they open at night with light-up of the featured sakura or red-leafed trees.  These are both spectacular sights and something not to be missed if you can time your trip to coincide with these events.

Here is an example of a Jetstar sale on now:
It's been extended until Monday 16 January 2011 at midnight.

Link for more info:    Jetstar Japan Sale

Sale on now until midngiht (23:59 AEDT) Wednesday 11Monday 16January 2012, unless sold out prior. Sale may be extended.

International routes			Travel periods	One-way Sale fare AUD^
Cairns		Osaka	13 Jan - 28 Mar 2012	$199
Cairns		Tokyo (Narita)	17 Jan - 28 Mar 2012	$199
Gold Coast		Osaka	14 Jan - 28 Mar 2012	$219
Gold Coast		Tokyo (Narita)	11 Jan - 28 Mar 2012	$219
Sydney		Osaka	1 Feb - 28 Mar 2012	$318
Via Cairns
Melbourne (Tullamarine)		Osaka	14 Feb - 28 Mar 2012	$331
Via Cairns
Melbourne (Tullamarine)		Tokyo (Narita)	14 Feb - 28 Mar 2012	$331
Via Cairns

Sale fares are one way, checked baggage not included^. You can choose from 15kg to 40kg checked baggage for an additional $28- $70 per passenger per fare. Fares may not be available on all flights and days.