I’ve lost county of how many times I’ve flown in business class, to Japan and otherwise. In fact, apart from during and just after the pandemic, I don’t think I’ve taken a single flight over 12 hours in normal economy class.
I don’t say this to brag, but to contextualize today’s post: For a long time, business class was “enough” for me. It still is, if we’re being honest, but it wasn’t until recently that I was even curious about how first class different from business, in the context of travel to Japan and otherwise.
I’ve recently flown both of the country’s current-best first class products, however. As a result, I now feel I can weigh in on the million-yen question: Is it worth flying first class to Japan?
Why I Finally Splurged on First Class to Japan
Although I wish I could tell you there was some inciting incident that inspired me to fly Japanese first class, at long last, that’s simply not the case. Rather, I decided (in early 2020 specifically, before covid messed my business up for years on end) that I wanted to review ANA and JAL in first class, to add to the business class content I’d created for both carriers.
That was the first piece. The second? Frankly, I got better at earning and managing my miles and points, thanks both to increased earnings, more efficient leveraging of credit card bonuses and automated tools like Seats.aero. I became laser-focused on dates that would work for each redemption, and made sure that I had the resources at any given time to book the flights I wanted. When the time came, all I had to do was click!
Reasons to Consider Flying to Japan in First Class
Experience on the ground
Whether we’re talking about the ANA Suite Lounge or the JAL First Class Lounge, the ground experience (at least originating in Tokyo) is absolutely fabulous if you fly in first class on either of these carriers. There are slightly fewer benefits if your starting your journey overseas, though I did appreciate how in Chicago (in advance of my ANA flight), I was able sit in a portion of the gate area that had been cordoned off from the chaos.
Onboard service
Is JAL first class worth it? Well, if you value having all your needs met and even anticipated, then I’d say it certainly is. ANA had great service, too, but for me JAL simply took it to another, with polished and professional flight attendant who would be at my seat with something before I even knew I wanted it (with plenty of poise and finesse, no less!). No complaints here for either Japanese carrier.
(And sleep!)
Your bed will be large and comfortable when flying first class to Japan, regardless of which carrier you choose, or which product is onboard. Importantly, unlike business class, the bed is full-width, allowing you to sleep in any position without needing to contort yourself. Moreover, you’ll be offered both turn-down service and pajamas. The only thing on your agenda will be closing your eyes and falling asleep!
Exclusive food and drink
If you take first class to Japan on a Japanese carrier, you’ll be offered a choice of a Western meal and washoku, or multi-course Japanese dining. No matter which of these you pick, you’ll enjoy restaurant-style dining, with fine wines, champagne and sake, not to mention other exclusives, such as caviar, a full bar and other treats. JAL offered me kokuto, a black sugar liqueur from Okinawa.
Award redemption opportunities
There are fewer first class seats on each plane than there are business class seats, with just 6 F seats on JAL and 8 on ANA, compared to several dozen in biz. As a result, it’s harder to come across award availability for first than it is for business. On the other hand, if you’re able to snag a ticket, you could spend as little as 80,000 American AAdvantage miles to “buy” a ticket that would cost over $10,000 if paid in cash.
Why Business Class Might Be Sufficient
I’ll be honest: Although I don’t plan to become obsessed with finding first class awards to Japan again anytime soon, I would splurge on another first class ticket in a heartbeat, if the opportunity presented itself. At the same time, from a purely practical perspective, business class offers much the same experience as first class, most importantly a lie-flat bed (and, on ANA’s refurbished 777s and JAL’s A350s, a privacy door).
The question, to be sure, is not “is ANA first class worth it?”—it certainly is, if you have the resources necessary to book it without causing yourself too much financial stress. Rather, apart from special occasions (or, if you’re a blogger like me, to do your own review), it might be better to spend slightly (OK, much) less and fly business class, and devote more cash to your on-the-ground experience in Japan.
Other FAQ About Flying First Class to Japan
How much is 1st class to Japan?
A first-class flight between the US or Europe and Japan can easily cost $10,000 (more than 1 million Japanese yen!) one-way or $20,000 round-trip. For most travelers, the only realistic way to enjoy this experience is using frequent flyer miles, which as of 2025 can cost upwards of 220,000 United MileagePlus miles to fly on ANA, or as little as 80,000 AAdvantage miles to take JAL’s first class.
What does a first class flight to Japan look like?
A first class flight to Japan is an opulent experience. After relaxing in the first class lounge, you’ll board to an offering of champagne and hot towels. You’ll then enjoy a full meal service, usually with a choice between Japanese and Western options, followed by caviar, cheese, dessert and coffee or tea. For the rest of the flight, you can order any food or drink your heart desires on-demand, entertain yourself with streaming movies and TV series or work using free in-flight WiFi. Presuming, of course, that you don’t catch some Zs in your fully-flat bed.
How many miles to fly first class to Japan?
As of August 2025, you can fly from the US to Japan (on Japan Airlines) for as little as 80,000 AAdvantage miles one-way. When flying ANA costs tend to be higher, with the minimum being 90,000 Flying Club miles on Virgin Atlantic, and the maximum being 220,000 United MileagePlus miles.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth flying first class to Japan? On one hand, many travelers will not appreciate the upgrades you experience compared to business class—well, unless you fly JAL’s new A350 first class, in which case they’re pretty dramatic. On the other hand, if you have the money (or, more likely, frequent flyer miles and award availability), the joy of flying first class is very worth the splurge, especially if you’re able to do so one one of Japan’s two airlines, and particularly on their flagship aircraft (currently the 777-300ER for ANA and the A350-1000 for JAL). Need personalized help making the right decisions ahead of your next Japan trip? Consider hiring me to help!
