Star Alliance member Shenzhen Airlines is currently offering tickets from Barcelona to Osaka and Tokyo starting at €515, which is considerably lower than other airlines between Spain and Japan.
This fare includes two checked bags weighing 23 kilos each, allowing you to bring back your shopping spree with no extra fees. Additionally, this fare allows for open jaw flights, meaning you can book the flights arriving to Tokyo and leaving from Osaka, this way you just will need a one way shinkansen ticket to go to Tokyo to explore Kansai area and Tokyo.
In order to get the best price to Tokyo, you need to have a 25-hour stopover in Shenzhen on most of the dates. You can work this around by booking an open-jaw ticket from Barcelona to Tokyo and from Osaka to Barcelona.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates. We sadly cannot preview availability for open jaw flights.
This fare allows for a free stopover in Shenzhen for up to 24 hours in each direction and you can take an advantage of China’s visa-free transit program. In the case of some of the inbound flights to have the cheapest price you must do a overnight stay in Shenzhen but you can avoid this if you flight back from Osaka like with this option:
You would fly on the airline’s Airbus A330 for the long route, which features a standard 2-4-2 seating configuration. For the flight from Shenzhen to Japan, you would be aboard an Airbus A320.
Search & Book
The minimum stay requirement is five nights or one Saturday overnight stay, and the maximum stay allowed is three months. Departures are available in April and May.
You can use Google Flights (instructions) for finding available dates quickly and easily. The flights can be booked directly on Shenzhen Airlines‘ website, but it’s worth mentioning that booking through their website can be challenging based because doesn’t have the best user experience. If you encounter any issues, I would recommend booking through OTAs with Skyscanner.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
Shenzhen Airlines books you into booking class L on the long flights and booking class A on the short ones. This is what the flights from Barcelona to Osaka will earn you
- 3,114 Award Miles + 520 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,114 Miles on Asiana Club
- 3,114 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,114 Award Miles + 120 Points on Miles&More
- 3,114 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 3,114 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 3,114 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 3,114 Points on SAS EuroBonus
Destinations
Information & Tips for Japan
Japan, the ‘land of the rising sun’, is located in the east of Asia and is one of the most popular travel destinations on the continent. Big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto convince urban fans while ski fans get their money’s worth in Hokkaido and Tohoku.
Flights to Japan are usually a little more expensive than comparable offers to other destinations in Asia, but there are exceptions, and you can sometimes find bargains.
Best travel time
Since the country consists of many climatic zones it is hard to name a perfect time for travelling to Japan. However, summer should usually be avoided, as June is dominated by the rainy season and July and August offer sweltering temperatures with high humidity.
Visa
Most European citizens do not need a visa to enter Japan for a stay of up to 180 days if they do not want to work, study or train. Travelers that arrive under these conditions without a visa will be granted a residence permit as a “Temporary Visitor” for an initial period of 90 days upon entering the country at the airport.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as YohoMobile and Nomad. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Japan 🇯🇵 Compared
→ All Dealz for Japan
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