A fare that looks identical in economy can differ by two hours of rail and a different immigration hall. If your hotel is in Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ginza, we bias Haneda unless Narita is materially cheaper or the only nonstop.
Haneda
International terminals here have improved the “arrive and be downtown” story. Late inbound slots matter: a 21:00 Haneda arrival is a different night from a 21:00 Narita arrival. ANA, JAL, and several Gulf and US carriers use HND on routes that used to be Narita-only.
Narita
Still the right airport for many Oneworld and Star long-hauls, and for onward tickets into the rest of Japan that were built years ago around NRT. Do not plan a same-day meeting in Yokohama off a Narita noon arrival unless you like running.
Open-jaw Japan
Fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka (KIX) is a standard first-trip pattern. That is multi-city, and often cheaper than two returns. Tell us the rail pass plan; it does not change the fare filing but it stops us returning you to the wrong island. Kyoto is not an airport. Sapporo and Fukuoka are honest add-ons if the dates are real.
Body clock and the Gulf versus Pacific
From the US East Coast, a one-stop via the Gulf or Europe can be kinder than a punishing double-connection across the Pacific. From the West Coast, nonstops to HND or NRT exist on several carriers and are usually the conversation. Arrival hour still wins: a 16:00 Haneda inbound is a different first night from a 21:30 Narita inbound plus immigration plus the Skyliner.
Cherry-blossom and Golden Week dates are a capacity problem, not a marketing slogan. If those weeks are fixed, say so. If they can slide by four days, say that too — it is often the difference between a coherent fare family and a basic box with no changes.
What we will not hide
If the inexpensive option is a 05:55 departure from Narita after a hotel in Shinjuku, the quote will say NRT in the first line. Sample homepage amounts for other cities do not apply to Tokyo; send the form for a USD snapshot on your dates.
Cabin and fare type
This page is the city briefing. Cabin still has to be chosen: economy class or business class. Sample amounts on the homepage are illustrations in USD, not a live Tokyo inventory. After a ticket is issued, the airline’s fare rules control changes — not this note.