Flights from Japan to Sri Lanka
SriLankan Airlines sells Tokyo to Colombo from both Narita and Haneda. On 20 October 2026 its Japan site showed Narita round trips from JPY 102,150 and Haneda from JPY 169,720. Japanese citizens get a free 30-day tourist ETA, and Sri Lanka is 3 hours 30 minutes behind Japan.
Is there a direct flight from Japan to Sri Lanka?
Quick answer: SriLankan Airlines is the one to check: it sells Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda to Colombo on its Japan website. On 20 October 2026 the lowest Narita round trip was JPY 102,150, and Haneda started at JPY 169,720. Japanese citizens get a free 30-day tourist ETA, and Sri Lanka is 3 hours 30 minutes behind Japan.
SriLankan's pages do not publish the weekdays of the Tokyo flights or say whether every fare is nonstop, so we do not give a weekly count. Flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) near Colombo. For the full list of cities with nonstop flights to Colombo, see our direct flights guide.
How much is a flight from Tokyo to Colombo?
These fares come from SriLankan Airlines' own pages on 20 October 2026. They are economy round trips for one adult, and they are samples, not quotes.
| From | Travel dates shown | Lowest round trip | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | 10 to 16 November 2026 | JPY 102,150 | 53 minutes before we read the page |
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | 12 to 18 November 2026 | JPY 102,350 | 7 hours before |
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | 24 November to 2 December 2026 | JPY 102,350 | Not stated |
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | 12 December 2026 to 8 January 2027 | JPY 134,240 | Not stated |
| Tokyo Haneda (HND) | 2 to 6 November 2026 | JPY 169,720 | 7 hours before |
| Tokyo Haneda (HND) | 17 December 2026 to 7 January 2027 | JPY 169,720 | Not stated |
| Nagoya (NGO) | 19 to 25 November 2026 | JPY 166,130 | 2 hours before |
Sources: SriLankan Airlines Japan, SriLankan Tokyo to Colombo.
The route map lists only Tokyo in Japan, so a Nagoya fare is likely to involve a connection. Check the routing before you book it.
How do Haneda fares change by month?
SriLankan's Tokyo page gave monthly lows from Haneda:
| Month | Lowest Haneda round trip |
|---|---|
| October 2026 to February 2027 | JPY 169,720 each month |
| March 2027 | JPY 209,470 |
What this tells you: Narita fares were about JPY 67,000 lower than Haneda's on the same airline. The New Year holiday cost more from Narita (JPY 134,240) than mid-November (JPY 102,150). At the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's buying rate on 19 October 2026, one yen was worth LKR 2.062, so JPY 10,000 came to about LKR 20,620 (CBSL exchange rates).
How much baggage can you take?
SriLankan Airlines' baggage page gave these allowances on 20 October 2026 for routes outside the Americas, which includes Japan:
| Cabin | Checked bags | Hand baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 30 kg in total, no single bag over 32 kg | 1 bag, 7 kg, up to 115 cm |
| Business | 40 kg in total | 2 bags, 7 kg each |
| Infant | 10 kg | Not stated |
The airline says allowances can vary by period, routing and fare type, so check your ticket. A bag longer than 158 cm in total size costs USD 50 extra on the same page.
Do Japanese citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
| Question | Answer from the official ETA site, 20 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Do you need an ETA? | Yes. All foreign nationals need an ETA before arrival |
| Is it free for Japanese citizens? | Yes, for a 30-day tourist ETA, from 25 May 2026. Japan is on the list of 40 countries |
| How many entries? | Double entry within the 30 days |
| Children | Under 12s of any nationality get a free ETA for up to 30 days |
| Where to apply | eta.gov.lk only |
Lookalike websites charge fees for the free ETA. Our Sri Lanka visa guide names the ones that official sources warn about.
What is the time difference with Japan?
Sri Lanka is 3 hours 30 minutes behind Japan all year. Japan is on UTC+9 and Sri Lanka is on UTC+5:30, and neither changes its clocks.
| Time in Tokyo | Time in Colombo |
|---|---|
| 6.00 am | 2.30 am |
| 12.00 noon | 8.30 am |
| 6.00 pm | 2.30 pm |
| 10.00 pm | 6.30 pm |
The small gap means jet lag is mild compared with flights from Europe or the United States. A short first day is still wise after a long flight.
When should you go from Japan?
Japanese holidays fall in very different Sri Lankan seasons. These figures are average monthly rain from the WMO 1991 to 2020 normals for each station.
| When | South coast (Galle) | East coast (Trincomalee) | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year, January | 86.8 mm | 152.4 mm | South and west coast |
| Late April to early May | 201.9 to 315.9 mm | 48.1 to 71.8 mm | East coast |
| Summer holidays, July and August | 172.6 and 161.9 mm | 51.0 and 66.6 mm | East coast |
| Autumn, October and November | 344.5 and 282.6 mm | 215.6 and 375.6 mm | Wet on both coasts |
Our east coast vs south coast guide explains the two monsoons, and the best time to visit guide covers each month. For July and August, see Sri Lanka in July and August.
Can you add the Maldives?
Yes, and SriLankan sells it as one ticket. On 20 October 2026 its Japan site showed Narita to Male round trips from JPY 164,680 for November 2026. SriLankan's route map lists Male as a flight from Colombo, so the trip goes through Sri Lanka. Ask the airline whether your fare allows a stopover of several days in Colombo. Our Sri Lanka and Maldives itinerary shows how to split 10 days or 2 weeks between the two. The same site also sold Narita to Chennai from JPY 101,130, if you want to add South India.
How should you plan the trip from Japan?
| Step | Tip |
|---|---|
| 1. Pick your airport | Narita was the cheaper option on the fares we saw |
| 2. Pick your coast | South and west in winter, east in summer |
| 3. Get the ETA | Free for Japanese citizens, on eta.gov.lk only |
| 4. Sort your data | Compare an eSIM vs a local SIM |
| 5. Plan the arrival | See the Colombo airport arrival guide |
| 6. Pick a route | The 5-day itinerary suits a short holiday |
From the airport, the Colombo airport to Kandy guide and the Colombo airport to Galle and Mirissa guide cover the first road trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight from Japan to Sri Lanka?
SriLankan Airlines is the airline to check. Its route map lists Tokyo among its Far East destinations, and its Japan site sells Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda to Colombo. Its pages do not say which days each flight runs or whether a given fare stops on the way, so check the flight details when you book.
How much is a flight from Tokyo to Colombo?
On 20 October 2026, SriLankan Airlines' Japan site showed Narita to Colombo economy round trips from JPY 102,150 for 10 to 16 November 2026. Its Haneda page showed from JPY 169,720 for October 2026 to February 2027 and JPY 209,470 for March 2027. The airline says fares were collected in the last 48 hours.
Is Narita or Haneda cheaper for Sri Lanka?
Narita was much cheaper on the samples we saw on 20 October 2026. SriLankan's lowest Narita round trip was JPY 102,150 and its lowest Haneda round trip was JPY 169,720. That gap of about JPY 67,000 can pay for a night or two in Tokyo near Narita.
Do Japanese citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
You need an ETA, but it is free for tourist stays of up to 30 days. The official ETA site lists Japan among the 40 countries whose citizens get a free 30-day tourist ETA from 25 May 2026, with double entry within the 30 days. Apply on eta.gov.lk before you fly.
What is the time difference between Japan and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is 3 hours 30 minutes behind Japan all year. Japan is on UTC+9 and Sri Lanka on UTC+5:30, and neither country uses daylight saving time. Noon in Tokyo is 8.30 am in Colombo.
How much baggage can you take from Japan to Sri Lanka?
On SriLankan Airlines, Economy passengers on routes outside the Americas get 30 kg of checked baggage and Business passengers get 40 kg, with no single bag over 32 kg. Hand baggage is 7 kg, one bag in Economy and two in Business. The airline says this can vary by period, routing and fare type.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka from Japan?
For the south and west coasts, December to March, when Galle averages 71 to 90 mm of rain a month on the WMO 1991 to 2020 normals. For a summer trip in July or August, go east: Trincomalee averages 51 to 67 mm in those months, against 162 to 173 mm at Galle.
Can you combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives from Japan?
Yes. On 20 October 2026 SriLankan Airlines' Japan site also sold Narita to Male round trips from JPY 164,680 for November 2026. SriLankan's route map shows its Male flights leaving from Colombo, so these trips route through Sri Lanka. Our Sri Lanka and Maldives itinerary shows how to split the days.
Sources
Last verified 2026-10-20
- https://www.srilankan.com/en_uk/plan-and-book/flight-routes
- https://www.srilankan.com/en-jp/
- https://www.srilankan.com/en-jp/flights-from-tokyo-to-colombo
- https://www.srilankan.com/bgalw
- https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/
- https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/en/rates-and-indicators/exchange-rates/daily-buy-and-sell-exchange-rates
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/SriLanka/CSV/
Covered in this guide
Sri Lanka ETA and Free Visa 2026
Colombo airport arrival guide
eSIM vs Local SIM in Sri Lanka
Flights from Europe to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and Maldives: 10 Days or 2 Weeks
Colombo
Related guides
All guidesFlights from Europe to Sri Lanka
SriLankan Airlines sells Paris and Frankfurt to Colombo, Edelweiss flies seasonally from Zurich, and most other European cities connect in the Gulf. On 20 October 2026 airline pages showed economy round trips from about EUR 566. German, French, Dutch, Swiss and Russian citizens get a free 30-day ETA.
Flights from the Philippines to Sri Lanka
There is no nonstop flight from Manila to Colombo. Singapore Airlines connects daily via Singapore in about 8 to 10 hours, and Etihad sells round trips via Abu Dhabi from USD 761. Filipino passport holders pay USD 50 for an online tourist ETA, plus the Philippine travel tax.
Flights from the USA to Sri Lanka
There are no nonstop flights from the United States to Sri Lanka. One-stop routes from New York connect through Doha, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul, with economy round trips seen from USD 1,057 on 19 October 2026. US citizens have been able to get a free 30-day ETA since 25 May 2026.