{"id":243599,"date":"2026-02-22T18:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T18:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=243599\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:34:58","slug":"cheap-japan-korea-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/cheap-japan-korea-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stretch Your Miles on Intra-Japan and Japan-Korea Flights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting to Asia with points and miles<\/a> can be an intense and frustrating experience. With increased popularity and waning award availability, finding that perfect award flight is part science, part art. But once you\u2019re there, getting around doesn\u2019t have to be nearly as complicated.<\/p>\n

Luckily, there are plenty of options to use miles for intra-Japan as well as Japan to Korea flights. The awards are easier to book and can often be found on the cheap.<\/p>\n

Here are a few places to start when looking to save some cash and fly around Asia using miles.<\/p>\n

Intra-Japan Flights From 6,000 Miles<\/span><\/h2>\n

Japan's two main airlines — Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) — fly to all corners of the Japanese islands. You can book these flights with U.S.-based partners with relative ease. Here are a few examples.<\/p>\n

Japan Airlines flights<\/span><\/h3>\n

Japan Airlines flights throughout Japan can be booked for as low as 7,500 American AAdvantage miles<\/a>. This Fukuoka (FUK) to Sapporo (CTS) flight gets you from Kyushu Island in the south all the way to Hokkaido Island up north for only 7,500 miles in economy and 15,000 in business. Notice the almost unheard of $0 taxes and fees on this flight too.<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka
Fukuoka (FUK) to Sapporo (CTS) with AA miles. Screenshot of American Airlines.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

These same JAL flights can also be booked through\u00a0Alaska Atmos Rewards<\/a>, often at similar award rates. However, puzzlingly, Alaska charges taxes and fees on these same awards.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot
Screenshot of Alaska Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

No matter your route around Japan, it is worth looking at these award flights and even comparing them to the same travel via train.<\/p>\n

\"Park
Park Hyatt Niseko. Credit: Cameron Laufer\/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Now that Bilt Rewards (1:1 transfer)<\/a> and Capital One (2:1.5 transfer)<\/a> convert to JAL airlines, it's worth noting the pricing to book direct with JAL. The same city pairs above come in at 9,500 miles for economy and 11,500 miles in business with only $3 in fees.<\/p>\n

This is more miles for economy but cheaper in business than when booking through American or Alaska. However, when Bilt offers a transfer bonus, this award can be much cheaper and thus a better deal.<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka
Fukuoka (FUK) to Sapporo (CTS) with JAL miles<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

ANA flights<\/span><\/h3>\n

As a member of Star Alliance, ANA flights can be booked through its partners as well. This Tokyo (HND) to Osaka (KIX) flight can be booked with United MileagePlus for 6,000 miles and about $6.<\/p>\n

\"Tokyo
Tokyo (HND) to Osaka (KIX) with United miles. Screenshot of United.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

ANA is an Amex transfer partner<\/a> and offers domestic awards starting at 6,000 miles. However, these are limited to low-season flights of just 300 miles or less — where a train is often the better option. However, this pricing tier can come in handy when hopping between Japan's main island of Honshu and Hokkaido. The 370 yen of taxes and fees on this award currently equates to just US$2.39.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot
Screenshot of ANA<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Whether looking to fly JAL or ANA, you can explore the country with cheap award flights.<\/p>\n

Japan to Korea Flights From 7,000 Miles<\/span><\/h2>\n

Korean Air operates flights from both Tokyo airports \u2014 Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) \u2014 to Seoul\u2019s Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP) airports. Or, you can fly between a wide variety of other Japanese and Korean airports. FlightConnections currently tracks 64 unique routes between the two countries:<\/p>\n

\"FlightConnections
Screenshot of FlightConnections<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

As part of the SkyTeam alliance<\/a>, you can book Korean flights through partners like Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines. Through a partnership with Alaska Airlines, you can use Atmos points as well. This same flight from Tokyo (HND) to Seoul (ICN) has similar prices across programs.<\/p>\n

The prices are not much different, but having options based on the points and miles you have, plus the ability to time a transfer bonus<\/a> (namely to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/a>), could sway your decision about which program to book through. Plus, it's best to consider the cancellation policies<\/a> of each program if you need your plans to be more flexible.<\/p>\n

These are great options for hopping around Asia \u2014 even 15,000 miles in lie-flat business class is pretty reasonable.<\/p>\n

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/span><\/h3>\n