Direct flights to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle
From Tokyo: everything leaves from Haneda
In 2026, the three airlines flying non-stop between Tokyo and Paris, Air France, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), all depart from Haneda airport, the closest to central Tokyo. Air France stopped serving Narita after October 2024 to concentrate its flights on Haneda; it also links Paris with Osaka-Kansai. All of them arrive at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (Roissy).
- JAL operates one daily flight, flown since 1 September 2026 with an Airbus A350-1000: departing Haneda in the late morning and arriving in Paris in the late afternoon the same day.
- ANA offers a daytime flight on a Boeing 787-9, arriving in Paris in the late afternoon.
- Air France notably operates an overnight flight that leaves Haneda around 10 pm and lands at Roissy around 6 am, handy for starting your sightseeing on the very first day.
At Roissy, JAL and Air France use Terminal 2E and ANA uses Terminal 1: always check the terminal on your boarding pass before your return flight.
Why the flight is longer than it used to be
Since 2022, Japanese and European airlines have been avoiding Russian airspace. On the outbound journey, planes fly the northern route (Alaska, the Arctic, Greenland); on the return, they take the southern route over Central Asia. The journey has therefore grown by two to three hours compared with the old Siberian route: allow around 14 hours 30 minutes to 15 hours from Tokyo to Paris and around 13 hours 30 minutes to 14 hours in the other direction.
From Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing
- Seoul-Incheon: direct flights with Air France, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and T'way Air.
- Shanghai-Pudong: Air France and China Eastern Airlines.
- Beijing: Air France and Air China.
| Departure | Airport | Direct-flight airlines | Approximate flight time to Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Haneda (HND) | Air France, JAL, ANA | 14 h 30 min to 15 h |
| Osaka | Kansai (KIX) | Air France | depends on the season |
| Seoul | Incheon (ICN) | Air France, Korean Air, Asiana, T'way | depends on the airline |
| Shanghai | Pudong (PVG) | Air France, China Eastern | depends on the airline |
| Beijing | Capital (PEK) | Air France, Air China | depends on the airline |
Information checked in September 2026; schedules change every season (late March and late October).
To get from Roissy to the city centre (RER B, bus, fixed-fare taxi), follow our guide getting from the airport to central Paris.
The time difference and how to cope with it
Japan and South Korea are on UTC+9 all year round, with no daylight saving time. China is on UTC+8, also with no daylight saving time. Paris is on UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer. In 2026, France switched to summer time on 29 March and returns to winter time on Sunday 25 October at 3 am; the European rule sets these changes on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
| When it is noon in Paris | Tokyo and Seoul | Shanghai and Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Winter time (late October to late March) | 8 pm (+8 h) | 7 pm (+7 h) |
| Summer time (late March to late October) | 7 pm (+7 h) | 6 pm (+6 h) |
Information checked in September 2026.
A few simple habits help limit fatigue:
- Set your watch to Paris time as soon as you board, and sleep on the plane according to that schedule rather than Tokyo's.
- On arrival, stay awake until the evening, get outside in daylight and walk: a stroll along the Seine is better than a three-hour nap.
- Plan a light first day. Our Paris in 3 days itinerary can be shifted by half a day without losing anything.
- On the way back to Asia, the time change goes in the harder direction (eastward): avoid going back to work the day after you land.
Plugs and voltage: the essential adapter
France runs on 230 V, 50 Hz, with type C and E sockets (two round pins, sometimes with an earth pin sticking out of the socket). Japan uses 100 V and flat type A or B plugs: you will therefore need a plug adapter, and the easiest option is to buy one in Japan before you leave.
An adapter does not change the voltage. Check the label on each charger: the words "INPUT 100-240V" mean it works in France without any other accessory. This is the case for almost all phone, laptop and camera chargers. On the other hand, appliances designed only for 100 V (hair dryers, hair straighteners, some Japanese shavers) may burn out: leave them at home and ask your hotel whether it provides a hair dryer.
- South Korea: 220 V and type C or F sockets, compatible with French sockets. No adapter needed in most cases.
- Mainland China: 220 V, but flat plugs (types A and I) do not fit French sockets: bring an adapter.
Internet and phone
For Wi-Fi and mobile internet, an eSIM is now the simplest solution for travellers coming from Asia: it is installed before departure and works as soon as you land. For a comparison of offers and prices, see our guide eSIM or SIM card for visiting Paris. As for payment, bank cards are accepted almost everywhere; see paying in Paris without getting caught out and, for restaurants, tipping in France.
Safety: pickpockets, the main risk
Paris is not a dangerous city, but travellers from Japan discover a far higher level of pickpocketing than at home. Thieves target tourists in crowded places and on public transport:
- Metro line 1 (Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Châtelet) and the RER B, the airport line: keep your bag closed and in front of you, especially as the doors are closing.
- The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Cœur: queues and forecourts attract pickpockets.
- Fake petitions: someone hands you a clipboard for a "signature" while an accomplice goes through your bag.
- Friendship bracelets at the foot of Montmartre: someone ties a string around your wrist, then demands money.
Never put your phone down on a café terrace table, do not keep your passport in a back pocket, and leave it in the hotel safe while carrying a copy with you. To find out more, read Is Paris safe? and our list of scams to avoid in Paris.
Eating Japanese: rue Sainte-Anne
Between the Opéra and the Palais-Royal, straddling the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, rue Sainte-Anne and its neighbouring streets make up the Japanese quarter of Paris: ramen, udon, okonomiyaki, grocery shops and bakeries. The most convenient station is Pyramides (metro 7 and 14). At mealtimes, a queue on the pavement is the norm, and several places do not take reservations.
- Higuma: 32 bis rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris. Ramen, gyoza and donburi, no reservations. Closed only on 14 July, 25 December and 1 January.
- Aki: 11 bis rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris. Osaka-style okonomiyaki, soba and donburi. Closed on Sundays, no reservations.
- Kunitoraya: 1 rue Villedo, 75001 Paris, on the corner of rue Sainte-Anne. Udon made on site with flour imported from Japan. Closed on Sundays.
Emergencies: numbers and embassies
Emergency calls are free, 24/7, from any phone:
- 112: the European emergency number, the one to remember if you are not sure which to choose.
- 15: SAMU, medical emergencies.
- 17: police.
- 18: fire brigade.
For on-duty pharmacies and hospitals, see our guide emergencies and healthcare in Paris.
If your passport is lost or stolen, contact your embassy after filing a police report:
- Embassy of Japan in France: 7 avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, tel. 01 48 88 62 00. The consular section (passports, emergency travel documents) is open on weekdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Metro Courcelles (line 2) or Charles de Gaulle-Étoile.
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea: 125 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, tel. 01 47 53 01 01.
- Embassy of China: 20 rue Monsieur, 75007 Paris, tel. 01 49 52 19 50.
Information checked in September 2026.
Visas and entry requirements
Japanese and South Korean nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of less than 90 days; Chinese nationals must apply for a Schengen visa. Rather than repeating these rules here, see our detailed guides: visa for Paris with a Japanese passport and visa for Paris with a Chinese passport, which also cover biometric registration at the border.
Further reading
Once your tickets are booked and the adapter is in your suitcase, prepare your arrival with our guide getting from the airport to central Paris, then plan your days with Paris in 3 days. Finally, keep the numbers from our page emergencies and healthcare in Paris close at hand.
