Flights to East Asia from the US
50 route guides to 6 East Asia airports from US cities, with entry rules, flight times and the best months to go.
Quick answer: Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei have nonstop flights from many US cities, while mainland China has fewer nonstops, mostly from the West Coast and New York. US citizens need no visa for short tourist stays in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and South Korea's K-ETA is waived for Americans through December 31, 2026. Mainland China still requires a visa for ordinary tourism, but its 240-hour visa-free transit lets US citizens stop over on the way to a third country.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
East Asia flights at a glance
| Entry for US citizens | Visa-free short stays in Japan (up to 90 days), South Korea, Hong Kong (90 days) and Taiwan (90 days); mainland China needs a visa unless you qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit |
|---|---|
| Korea K-ETA | US citizens exempt through December 31, 2026; an e-Arrival Card is filed instead |
| Typical nonstop flight time | About 11 to 13 hours from the West Coast, about 13 to 16 hours from the East Coast |
| Main arrival airports | Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT), Seoul Incheon (ICN), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Hong Kong (HKG), Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) |
| Alliances | Star Alliance: ANA, EVA Air, Air China, United. oneworld: JAL, Cathay Pacific, American. SkyTeam: Korean Air, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta |
| Quietest months | Usually mid-January to early March outside Lunar New Year, and early December |
| Time difference | Japan and Korea are 14 hours ahead of New York in winter; China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are 13 hours ahead |
Where you can fly in East Asia
Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.
Who flies nonstop from the US
Japan has the widest choice. Japan Airlines, ANA, United, American and Delta all fly nonstop to Tokyo from several US hubs, and the low-cost ZIPAIR flies from the West Coast. Tokyo has two airports: Haneda is close to the city, Narita is about an hour further out. Check which one your ticket uses before you book a hotel or an onward flight.
Seoul Incheon is served by Korean Air, Asiana and Delta, with United and the long-haul low-cost Air Premia on some routes. Asiana is merging into Korean Air: it leaves Star Alliance on December 16, 2026, and the combined airline stays in SkyTeam. If you booked Asiana with United miles or for Star Alliance status, check how your trip is handled after that date.
Hong Kong is served by Cathay Pacific from several US cities and by United from San Francisco and Los Angeles, as of recent schedules. Taipei has EVA Air, China Airlines and STARLUX from the West Coast and other cities, plus United. Mainland China has a limited set of nonstops, run by United, Delta, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, mostly from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. As of November 2026, check schedules with the airline, because US-China frequencies are capped by government agreement and change often.
Entry rules for US citizens, November 2026
Japan: no visa for tourist or unpaid business stays of up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for your whole stay and proof of a return or onward ticket. You cannot work on a visa-free entry.
South Korea: Americans can enter without a visa, and Korea has extended the K-ETA exemption for US citizens from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Instead, file the free e-Arrival Card online up to three days before landing. You can still apply for a K-ETA voluntarily, which removes the need for the arrival card. Korea has not said what applies from January 1, 2027, so check the official K-ETA site before a 2027 trip.
Hong Kong allows US passport holders 90 days visa-free. Taiwan allows US citizens 90 days visa-free, and since October 1, 2025 every visitor must complete the free online Taiwan Arrival Card within three days before arrival. Ignore paid sites that charge for it.
Mainland China and the 240-hour transit rule
The United States is not on China's 30-day visa-free list, so a normal round trip from the US to China needs a tourist visa. The exception is 240-hour visa-free transit: US citizens arriving at a designated port, including Shanghai, with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region can stay up to 240 hours within the permitted areas.
The onward ticket is the key condition. A trip of US to Shanghai to Tokyo qualifies; US to Shanghai and back to the US does not. Hong Kong counts as a separate region for this rule, so a US to Shanghai to Hong Kong itinerary is a common way to use it. Work, study and reporting still require a visa. Confirm the current port list with the Chinese embassy before you fly.
Gateways and onward connections
Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong are all big transfer hubs, and each sells one-ticket connections across the region. Seoul Incheon is efficient for Korean Air and Delta passengers heading to China or Japan's regional cities. Taipei works well with EVA Air or China Airlines for onward flights to Japan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
Inside Japan, the shinkansen bullet trains often beat a domestic flight between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Kansai Airport near Osaka is a useful second gateway for an open-jaw trip, flying into Tokyo and home from Osaka.
Hong Kong is linked to Shenzhen and Guangzhou by high-speed rail, which is one way to reach southern China without a separate flight.
Best and quietest times to fly
Japan's busiest periods are the cherry blossom weeks in late March and early April, Golden Week from late April to early May, and the autumn leaves, which peak in Tokyo and Kyoto around late November. June is the rainy season in much of Japan and Korea, and July and August are hot and humid.
Lunar New Year is the biggest travel week in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea; in 2027 it falls in early February. China's National Day Golden Week in the first week of October is also very busy. Typhoon season, roughly June to October, can disrupt flights to Taiwan, Hong Kong and southern Japan.
The quietest windows are usually mid-January to early March outside the Lunar New Year week, and early December. Spring and autumn give the best weather across the region.
Booking tips
From the East Coast, a one-stop trip through a West Coast hub can match a nonstop on total time and give you more choice of departure times. From smaller US cities, a connection in Tokyo, Seoul or Taipei on one ticket usually beats two separate bookings, because a missed connection on one ticket is the airline's problem to fix.
Open-jaw tickets suit this region: into Tokyo and out of Osaka, or into Seoul and out of Taipei. If your trip includes mainland China, plan the routing first and the visa second, because the 240-hour transit rule depends entirely on the onward ticket.
Route guides to East Asia
Tokyo (NRT)
- Atlanta to Tokyo flights
- Boston to Tokyo flights
- Chicago to Tokyo flights
- Detroit to Tokyo flights
- Las Vegas to Tokyo flights
- Los Angeles to Tokyo flights
- Miami to Tokyo flights
- New York to Tokyo flights
- Raleigh to Tokyo flights
- San Jose to Tokyo flights
- Seattle to Tokyo flights
- St. Louis to Tokyo flights
- Tampa to Tokyo flights
Tokyo (HND)
Seoul (ICN)
Shanghai (PVG)
Hong Kong (HKG)
Taipei (TPE)
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Japan?
No, not for tourist or unpaid business stays of up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for the whole stay and proof of an onward or return ticket.
Do Americans need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2026?
No. Korea has extended the K-ETA exemption for US citizens through December 31, 2026. File the free e-Arrival Card online within three days before arrival, or apply for a K-ETA voluntarily to skip the card. Check k-eta.go.kr for rules from 2027.
Can US citizens visit China without a visa?
Only in transit. With a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, US citizens can stay up to 240 hours in permitted areas after arriving at a designated port. A round trip from the US needs a Chinese visa.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo?
About 11 to 12 hours nonstop westbound, and less coming back because of the jet stream. Flights from New York take about 13 to 14.5 hours, as of recent schedules. Check with the airline.
Is Asiana still in Star Alliance?
Until December 16, 2026. After that Asiana leaves Star Alliance and merges into Korean Air, which is in SkyTeam with Delta.
Which Tokyo airport is better, Haneda or Narita?
Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo. Narita is about an hour further out but has many international flights, including low-cost carriers. Both work; just plan your ground transport for the one on your ticket.
What is the cheapest month to fly to East Asia?
Usually mid-January to early March, avoiding the Lunar New Year week, and early December. Cherry blossom season, Golden Week and summer school holidays are the busiest.
Do I need an arrival card for Taiwan?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025 every visitor must fill in the free online Taiwan Arrival Card within three days before arrival. If you forget, you can complete it with a QR code on arrival.
