Tokyo has been closed to most of the world for the duration of the swine flu epidemic.

You should book your flights to Tokyo as soon as possible because Japan is going to open its borders to foreign tourists on October 11.

Economy and business-class fares to Tokyo are discounted by as much as 60 percent. Business-class flights from California and Hawaii are as low as $1,525, while economy flights from California and Hawaii start at $550. It's a good idea to book quickly because the fares are a steal.

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These discounted fares are offered by American Airlines and Zipair Tokyo. The deal only applies to flights from January through February.

A deal like this is rare and not guaranteed to last more than 24 hours.

Deal basics

The airlines are American Airlines and Zipair Tokyo. Honolulu to Tokyo is one of the routes. If you want to book directly with the airline of your choice, you need to use thenywayanydaynywayanyday.com, anywayanyday.com There are some available travel dates this November. It's time to book by:

Thanks to Scott's cheap flights, this deal was found. A 14-day trial is included in the price of the website's Premium membership. Premium economy, business-class and first-class deals are included in the membership.

Sample flights

The fares to Tokyo's NRT are very low and are only available for flights departing from California and Hawaii. Business-class fares to Tokyo from Los Angeles and San Jose have been slashed. There are flights all the time.

We have highlighted a few flights.

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  • American: Departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), starting at $550.
  • Zipair Tokyo: Departs from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), starting at $574.
  • Zipair Tokyo: Departs from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), starting at $575.
  • Zipair Tokyo: Departs from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), starting at $1,525 (business class).
  • Zipair Tokyo: Departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), starting at $1,589 (business class).
  • Zipair Tokyo: Departs from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), starting at $1,719 (business class).

If you want to book your flights through the website of the airline you choose, we recommend you use the search function on the internet. If your flight is delayed or canceled, airlines are more reliable.

Zipair Tokyo is the cheapest option for flights leaving Los Angeles on February 5th. The cheapest business class flight is a Singapore Airlines flight that costs $4,680.

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Zipair Tokyo is the only option for a return flight after Feb. 12. The flight leaves from Tokyo at 1:45 p.m.

GOOGLE.COM/FLIGHTS

The cheapest business-class flights to Tokyo are usually between $1,700 and $1,800. It is more normal for such fares to be over $4,000.

GOOGLE.COM/FLIGHTS

The outbound flight to Tokyo costs $875 and the return flight to Los Angeles costs $620. If you are interested in flying business class to Tokyo, we recommend booking these tickets as soon as possible.

ZIPAIR.NET

Zipair provides seat selection, an inflight meal, a carry on and checked baggage. The bundles can cost up to an additional $115.

ZIPAIR.NET

Zipair gives you the option to choose your own amenities if you don't want to purchase a bundle. A tote bag or a box of cookies can be found on the outbound flight. You can get a complimentary alcoholic drink and dessert at the Narita TraveLounge.

ZIPAIR.NET

Zipair charges extra to select seats even after you choose a business class fare. Each seat costs $18. The cost of inflight meals is $10.58 each.

ZIPAIR.NET

The business class fare does not include the cost of checked baggage. The bag will cost an extra $38.78.

ZIPAIR.NET

Maximize your purchase

The Platinum Card from American Express gives 5 points per dollar for airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, and the Citi Prestige Card gives 5 points per dollar for airfare booked through American Express Travel. For more on maximizing airfare purchases, see this post.

The information for the card has been collected by a third party. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

Bottom line

If you've had an interest in visiting the country, the cheap fares to Tokyo are worth considering.

Business class fares to Tokyo start at $4,000. These flights to Tokyo are going to fill up fast.

Zipair Tokyo is the only airline that offers a business-class discount that does not include amenities. The price of your flights will go up.

Paying for perks like seat selection and airport lounge service will still be cheaper than business class fares from other airlines.