Chicago O'Hare to Narita International
6259 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 12h 59m with 9 airlines operating direct service from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Narita International (NRT). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $874 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $874). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Chicago O'Hare
Chicago O'Hare is one of America's two busiest hubs and the home base for both United and American — Terminals 1 and 2 belong to United, Terminal 3 to American, and Terminal 5 handles all international arrivals. The CTA Blue Line runs from a station at the airport to downtown Loop in around 45 minutes for $5. Winter weather drives chronic delays from late November through February, so build in connection padding through ORD between Thanksgiving and President's Day.
Arriving in Tokyo
Tokyo Narita International is 60 km east of central Tokyo, with the Narita Express train reaching Tokyo Station in 53 minutes for ¥3,070. ANA, Japan Airlines, United, Delta and American operate the US-Tokyo corridor; Haneda (HND) increasingly handles new US-Tokyo capacity for shorter ground transfers. Cherry blossom season (late March–early April) is peak demand; January and August are the cheapest from US bases.
Who flies ORD to NRT?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 12h 59m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 12h 59m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 12h 59m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 12h 59m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 12h 59m | Economy |
| KLM | KL | 12h 59m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 12h 59m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 12h 59m | Economy |
| Cathay Pacific | CX | 12h 59m | Economy |
9 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly ORD→NRT
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Chicago to Tokyo FAQs
Direct flights from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Narita International (NRT) take approximately 12h 59m for the 6259-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $874. Jun is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
9 carriers operate direct service from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Narita International (NRT): United Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and 4 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free for US passport holders up to 90 days. JESTA electronic authorisation phase-in expected by 2030. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Narita International (NRT) is the primary international airport for Tokyo. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.