Taiwan and Japan pair amazingly together—I should know. After all, living in Taiwan (i.e. close to Japan) was a big part of what allowed me to start growing my Japan site into what it is now.
Then, there are all the cultural and historical links between the two countries, some of which are warm and fuzzy and some of which are…not. I’ve mentioned some of these elsewhere on the site. Now is not the time and place for those, I don’t think.
No matter why you want to travel from Taiwan to Japan (or vice-versa), the good news is that you have almost endless options for doing so. The better news? I’m going to outline all of them below!
Taiwan is Asia’s Best Base for Travel to Japan
Take it to me: Traveling from Japan to Taiwan (or the other way around) is so convenient it’s almost like flying domestic. This is due not only to efficient airports on both ends, but the fact that many flights to Japan take four hours or even less from Taiwan. In fact, a recent flight from Okinawa to Taipei took less than an hour from touchdown to take-off!
During the year I lived in Taiwan pre-pandemic, I traveled to Japan a staggering seven times, sometimes for as short as a few days. The short flight time combined with similar time zones means you won’t suffer any jet lag when traveling between the two countries. Which, when added to just how many Japanese cities are connected to Taiwan nonstop…well, I’m getting ahead of myself, I think.
Ways to Travel Between Taiwan and Japan
Flights from Taipei (TSA) to Tokyo (HND)
When I lived in Taipei, I often boasted about the fact that I could walk out of my front door and walk into the door of a Tokyo hotel room less than five hours later. This was possible due to nonstop flights from Taipei’s close-in Songshan Airport (TSA) to Tokyo’s equally convenient Haneda (HND) airport. Four airlines serve this route: Taiwan’s China Airlines and EVA Air; and Japan’s JAL and ANA.
Flights from Taipei (TPE) to major Japanese hubs
Of course, TSA-HND flights tend to be expensive, which is why some travelers take a different strategy for Taiwan-Japan flights. Namely, flying between Taoyuan Airport (TPE) and other major Japanese hubs, including Tokyo-Narita (NRT), Osaka (KIX), Nagoya (NGO), Sapporo (CTS) and Fukuoka (FUK). These flights are not only more affordable, but are also ideal if you’re making connection beyond Japan.
Flights from Taipei (TPE) to secondary and tertiary Japanese cities
If I wasn’t bound for Tokyo or somewhere near it, another favorite way for me to explore Japan was via flights from Taipei to smaller cities in Japan. One flights I especially remember was Kagoshima (KOJ) to Taipei, which I took after exploring Japan’s Yakushima island. Other out-of-the-way Japanese airports connected nonstop to Taiwan include Takamatsu (TAK), Komatsu (KMQ) and Aomori (AOJ).
Flights from Kaohsiung (KHH) or Taichung (RMQ) to Japan
Living in Taipei, I never needed to take Japan Taiwan flights that didn’t originate from or terminate in Taipei. However, two other airports—Kaohsiung and Taichung—enjoy nonstop flights to Japan. While only Tokyo-Narita is currently available from Taichung, Kaohsiung enjoys service to Osaka-Kansai, Nagoya-Centrair and Okayama, in addition to its NRT flights.
Ferry from Kaohsiung or Keelung to Okinawa
For me, the beauty of travel between Taiwan and Japan is its speed and efficiency. However, if you’re more about the journey than the destination, then the ferry between Taiwan and Japan might be right for you. It’s a long slog, at around 16-19 hours one-way, depending on whether you’re bound for Ishigaki or Miyakojima. Do also note that Taiwanese departure ports alternate between Keelung and Kaohsiung, which aren’t exactly close to one another.
Ways to Combine Your Japan and Taiwan Trips
There are dozens of ways to travel to Japan from Taiwan, and lots of ways to integrate travel to the two countries together:
- Take a short trip to Taiwan after exploring Japan if you only have one or two places in Taiwan (such as Taipei, or outlying islands like Lanyu and Lyudao) you wish to visit.
- Alternatively, visit Japan after Taiwan if your more extensive trip will take you to Taiwan, and you simply want to chase that with a few days in Tokyo or Osaka.
- If you’re living in Taiwan like I was, follow in my footsteps and use the proximity of your base to explore Japan in greater depth.
- Whether you fly a Taiwanese airline like Starlux or a Japanese airline like ANA, take advantage of free stopovers to explore two countries for the price of one, for example flying LAX-TPE-NRT, or JFK-HND-TSA.
Is Taiwan or Japan right for you? My guide comparing Taipei and Tokyo is a great place to start having this debate with yourself.
Other FAQ About Traveling from Taiwan to Japan
How do I get from Taiwan to Japan?
Taiwan is extraordinarily well-connected to Japan. While business travelers enjoy nonstop flights between Taipei’s and Tokyo’s close-in Songshan and Haneda airports, tourists love links between Taoyuan and airports that range from major hubs like Osaka-Kansai, to off-the-beaten-path destinations including Aomori and Takamatsu. If you’re not in a rush, you can also take a ferry from Taiwan to Japan.
How close is Taiwan to Japan?
Japan is an extremely long country, which means that your physical distance from Taiwan can be a few hundred or a few thousand kilometers. However, the practical answer to this question is that most destinations in Japan can be reached by plane from Taiwan in less than four hours.
Can you take a ferry from Taiwan to Japan?
You can take a ferry from Taiwan to Okinawa’s Ishigaki and Miyako islands, which are technically in Japan. However, if you want to travel to major Japanese cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Sapporo, it’s really much more sensible to fly.
The Bottom Line
There are almost as many ways from Taiwan to Japan as there are things to do in Japan once you get there. Taipei has links to more than a dozen cities in Japan, from major hubs like Narita and Haneda, to secondary cities from Aomori to Takamatsu. Alternatively, you can fly from Kaohsiung or Taichung to various cities in Japan, or ride a ferry from Kaohsiung or Keelung to Okinawa. Need personalized help planning your trip to Japan (or to Taiwan, for that matter)? Consider commissioning a custom itinerary, and lecturing my expertise about both of these amazing countries.
