Carmen
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-30
Japan is a long-haul trip from Ireland, but it is very manageable for a first visit if you keep the plan simple. Most travellers do best with a first route built around Tokyo and Kyoto, adding only one or two extra stops. From Dublin DUB, Cork ORK, Shannon SNN, Knock NOC or Kerry KIR, the main decision is not whether Japan is possible, but which connection pattern gives you the smoothest journey and the best use of your holiday time.
How connections from Ireland usually work
There are normally no direct flights from Ireland to Japan, so you should expect at least one stop each way. From DUB, you will usually see the widest choice of one-stop options via major European or Middle Eastern hubs. From ORK and SNN, schedules can be more limited, so total journey time matters as much as headline fare. If you are starting from NOC or KIR, it is often worth comparing a separate positioning flight to DUB against a through-ticket from your local airport.
Cherry blossom or autumn colours?
For first-timers, spring and autumn are the two easiest seasons to love, but they feel very different. Cherry blossom season brings famous parks, big demand and less flexibility, especially if your dates are tied to school holidays or a midterm break. Autumn colour tends to offer crisp weather, strong city sightseeing conditions and a slightly calmer rhythm in some places. Summer can be humid, while winter is quieter and can work very well if your focus is cities, food and lower crowd levels.
The simplest first route: Tokyo and Kyoto
If this is your first Japan trip, resist the urge to cover the whole country. Tokyo gives you scale, neighbourhood variety, food and easy day-trip options. Kyoto gives you temples, gardens, traditional streets and a slower pace. A practical plan is to fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka, or the reverse, so you avoid backtracking. The rail link between Tokyo and Kyoto is straightforward, and this open-jaw approach usually makes better use of your annual leave than returning to the same airport.
What to expect on budget in Euro terms
Japan has a reputation for being expensive, but first-time visitors from Ireland are often surprised by how controllable daily spending can be once flights are booked. The long-haul airfare is usually the biggest variable. In Japan itself, local transport, convenience-store meals and business hotels can make the overall trip more manageable than many expect in Euro terms. The main pressure points tend to be peak-season flights, popular hotels in Tokyo or Kyoto, and limited-availability rooms during blossom or autumn foliage periods.
Booking logic that suits Irish travellers
Before you book, check whether your travel window overlaps with school holidays, bank-holiday weekends or major events in Japan, then compare several departure airports. DUB often gives the broadest choice, but ORK or SNN can still win once you factor in surface travel, parking and overnight stays. Keep your first trip focused, choose flights with sensible connection times, and build around Tokyo and Kyoto rather than chasing too many stops. When you are ready, compare your options carefully on /fluege.
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