Flying into Tokyo means wanting to hit the ground running. The moment that you're in the Japanese capital — or even above it — you want to roll out of that plane and into the city's many sights and sounds ASAP. So, the news that Qantas is now soaring into Haneda Airport from Brisbane is a massive deal, saving travellers more than a hour's commute each way once they've landed. First, the other crucial part of this development: Qantas has also just restarted its direct flights between Brisbane and Tokyo for the first time in the pandemic era, effective Thursday, December 1, 2022. The move comes less than two months after Japan fully reopened its borders to international visitors, including without visas and package tours, after the country retained stringent travel restrictions right up until October 2022. In shifting its Brisbane flights to Narita, Qantas is the first carrier with a direct connection between Brisbane and Haneda. Before COVID-19, the Aussie airline already flew direct to Tokyo from the River City; however, those legs went to and from Narita Airport. Any airport that gets you to Tokyo is a good airport, clearly, but Narita is located out of the city itself, hence the lengthy bus ride there and back. "Pre-COVID, Japan was one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers and we're seeing the demand for Tokyo bounce back strongly," said John Simeone, Qantas Regional General Manager for Asia. "The new flight from Brisbane into Haneda Airport gives our customers much easier and faster access to downtown Tokyo and one of the world's most important business markets, saving more than an hour of transit time in getting to the city." Brisbanites keen to book their dream Tokyo trip immediately will fly on Qantas' Airbus A330 aircraft, which includes business suites and lie-flat beds. It's hitting the sky three days per week, offering 1700-plus seats weekly, travelling on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information about Qantas' Brisbane–Tokyo direct flights, head to the airline's website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.