Should I book four separate tickets or all together?

Book all four on the same reservation. If the flight gets cancelled or delayed, the airline has to rebook your entire family together. Separate bookings mean you might get split up on the new flight.

Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Osaka with kids?

Tokyo flights run slightly cheaper from most US cities (usually $100-$200 per person). But if you are planning to visit Kyoto and Osaka, flying into Osaka saves you the train fare and time. Run both scenarios.

Do kids get discounts on flights to Japan?

Children under 2 fly for 10% of adult fare as lap infants. Ages 2-11 sometimes get a small discount (5-10%) on international flights, but not always. Check both adult and child fares when booking—sometimes buying all adult tickets is actually cheaper.

When do Japan flight prices actually drop?

Major drops happen during airline sales (January, April, September) and when new routes launch. Flash sales pop up randomly, last 24-48 hours, and can cut $200-$400 per ticket. This is why you set fare alerts 6-8 months out.

Can we use miles for a family trip to Japan?

Yes, but you need to book 10-12 months ahead for award availability. Expect to use 70,000-90,000 miles per person round-trip from the US. Four people equals 280,000-360,000 miles. If you have them and can get the dates, absolutely use them.

How to Get to Japan on a Family Budget

Book flights 3-5 months ahead for the best family deals, target Tuesday-Wednesday departures, and consider shoulder season (April-May or September-November). A family of four can expect to spend $3,000-$5,000 total on flights from the US West Coast, $4,500-$7,000 from the East Coast.

Set your fare alert 6-8 months before travel. Use Google Flights or Hopper to track routes to Tokyo (NRT/HND) or Osaka (KIX). Set your alert for your home airport plus alternative nearby airports. Family fares drop fastest during flash sales, which last 24-48 hours.
Book 3-5 months out when the pattern emerges. Watch your alerts for 2-3 weeks. You will see a price range emerge. When fares drop to the lower end of that range, book. Waiting for the absolute lowest fare with a family of four means risking seats selling out or prices jumping back up.
Choose Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday departures. These days consistently run $100-$300 cheaper per person than Thursday-Friday departures. On a family of four, that is $400-$1,200 in savings. Saturday departures also help you skip a hotel night by landing Sunday morning.
Consider open-jaw tickets if you want to see more. Fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka (or reverse). This saves backtracking and often costs the same as round-trip to one city. Compare both routing options when booking.
Split the family if it saves serious money. Sometimes economy + premium economy for parents costs less than four economy seats on a different routing. Run both scenarios. Your kids will survive if you are three rows behind them for 11 hours.

Should I book four separate tickets or all together?: Book all four on the same reservation. If the flight gets cancelled or delayed, the airline has to rebook your entire family together. Separate bookings mean you might get split up on the new flight.
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Osaka with kids?: Tokyo flights run slightly cheaper from most US cities (usually $100-$200 per person). But if you are planning to visit Kyoto and Osaka, flying into Osaka saves you the train fare and time. Run both scenarios.
Do kids get discounts on flights to Japan?: Children under 2 fly for 10% of adult fare as lap infants. Ages 2-11 sometimes get a small discount (5-10%) on international flights, but not always. Check both adult and child fares when booking—sometimes buying all adult tickets is actually cheaper.
When do Japan flight prices actually drop?: Major drops happen during airline sales (January, April, September) and when new routes launch. Flash sales pop up randomly, last 24-48 hours, and can cut $200-$400 per ticket. This is why you set fare alerts 6-8 months out.
Can we use miles for a family trip to Japan?: Yes, but you need to book 10-12 months ahead for award availability. Expect to use 70,000-90,000 miles per person round-trip from the US. Four people equals 280,000-360,000 miles. If you have them and can get the dates, absolutely use them.