Best Points Programs for Japan

Japan is no longer just a one-program destination for many Australian points collectors. Qantas Points still buy the deepest network into Tokyo, but Velocity Frequent Flyer‘s partnership with All Nippon Airways has turned it into a contender. As of July 2026, Sydney to Haneda Economy Reward Seats start from 45,000 Velocity Points or 36,200 Qantas Points before taxes, fees and carrier charges. The right choice depends on your origin city, your cabin, and whether Tokyo is the destination or just the gateway to Osaka or Sapporo. Ultimately, the published one-way price and reward availability on your travel dates will determine the better option.

Here is how the programs compare in 2026, with the current anchors and the connections that get you beyond the capital.

Japan’s reward landscape shifted in 2025

Two 2025 changes reset the Australia to Japan points landscape. Virgin Australia ended its own Cairns to Tokyo Haneda flights on 24 February 2025. So there is no longer any Virgin Australia metal on the Japan run. In its place, the All Nippon Airways (ANA) partnership became a much stronger option. Velocity members can now book ANA Reward Seats, the program’s fixed-price reward inventory, directly on the Virgin Australia website. This covers ANA’s Australian routes, including Sydney to Haneda and Perth to Narita, plus onward flights across ANA’s domestic Japanese network. The Qantas group, meanwhile, carries its own flights into both Tokyo airports and supplements them with Jetstar’s leisure routes.

That leaves an even three-way contest between Qantas group flights, ANA seats through Velocity, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer for travellers willing to route via Changi. Our dedicated guide to flying to Tokyo with points digs into the capital itself route by route. This comparison weighs the programs against each other and carries you beyond Tokyo.

Qantas Points to Japan

On Qantas’ own aircraft, the Business Class anchors under the table effective 5 August 2025 are 98,400 Qantas Points one way from Sydney and Melbourne to Tokyo and 82,100 from Brisbane. The difference reflects the distance bands the two routes fall into. Economy follows the same zone logic at lower rates, with exact figures in the Qantas Classic Flight Reward tables. Taxes, fees and carrier charges are quoted at booking, and when Classic seats run out, Classic Plus Flight Rewards offer variable pricing on every Qantas route as a backstop.

Japan Airlines expands your options as a oneworld partner, but partner award rates apply. The same Sydney to Tokyo journey in JAL Business Class costs 108,000 Qantas Points, nearly 10,000 more than on Qantas itself. That price difference appears consistently across the partner award table. Our guide to booking a Classic Flight Reward seat covers how to compare the tables when mixing airlines.

Flexibility is a Qantas strength on this corridor. Classic Rewards booked online carry no booking fee, changes cost 5,000 Points per person and cancellations 6,000, as of July 2026. For ski season, it pays to book as soon as seats appear, then change your booking later if needed.

If you’re planning a multi-city itenerary, there’s one structural point to keep in mind. Under the distance pricing explained in the beyond-Tokyo section below, a Tokyo booking that continues to another Japanese city on eligible airlines can cost the same zone as Tokyo alone if the added miles do not tip you into the next band.

Velocity Points to Japan through ANA

Velocity now books ANA Economy from Sydney to Tokyo Haneda for 45,000 Velocity Points, which is why it belongs in this conversation. Virgin Australia’s own advertised route examples priced that one-way Reward Seat at 45,000 Velocity Points plus taxes and fees, correct as at 27 January 2026. The 45,000 point base price matches Velocity’s published partner reward table for the 4,801 to 5,800 mile band, as of July 2026. The equivalent Qantas Classic Flight Reward in Economy costs 36,200 Points before extra charges under its distance table. Perth to Narita is covered too, giving Western Australia a nonstop points route that neither Australian airline group operates with its own metal.

The partnership also solves the beyond-Tokyo problem, because ANA’s domestic network, including Sapporo and Okinawa, is bookable through the same Virgin Australia site. One of the easiest ways to build your balance is through bank-to-airline transfers. ANZ Rewards, NAB Rewards, the Amplify Rewards family and Amex Membership Rewards all convert at 2 points to 1 Velocity Point. While Westpac Altitude Rewards convert at 3 to 1, all as of July 2026. Our guide to moving points into Velocity explains the transfer process, while our round-up of Velocity points-earning credit cards covers the current earning options. If ANA availability fails you, Velocity Points also convert to KrisFlyer miles at 1.55 to 1, as of July 2026, opening the Singapore Airlines route via Changi as a fallback.

Paid ANA fares are part of the picture too. Eligible flights earn Velocity Points and Status Credits (SCs), the separate currency that counts towards status tiers. The rates are set by fare class and by whether the ticket carries a VA or NH flight number. A cash fare to Tokyo will still build towards status while the points fund the next trip.

Getting beyond Tokyo: Osaka and Sapporo on points

Most points itineraries to Osaka or Sapporo are really Tokyo itineraries with a connection. Each program handles the add-on differently. Through Velocity, the cleanest option is an ANA domestic sector on the same booking, since the airline’s Japanese network is available on the Virgin Australia site. Through Qantas Frequent Flyer, the distance-based pricing works in your favour. Classic Flight Rewards price the total distance flown when connections stay within the booking. A domestic Japan Airlines hop added to a partner booking therefore often costs less than two separate awards. Jetstar’s Japanese routes also provide a lower-cost alternative. The third route is Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong under the Qantas partner table. This suits Sapporo in particular when direct availability to Tokyo is scarce, though the partner premium applies. Whichever option you choose, check the price points for the entire journey before you book. Also remember that reward availability, not points price, usually makes the decision on peak ski season dates.

Timing beats everything for the winter routes. Sapporo reward space in January and February disappears early, and each program’s escape valve behaves differently. Classic Plus keeps Qantas seats available using variable points pricing. ANA tends to release Business seats either 11 months out or in the final weeks before departure. And KrisFlyer’s availability strength through Singapore, helped by Singapore Airlines adding no fuel surcharges to its own award tickets, makes the longer route via Changi a viable fallback.

How Qantas, Velocity and KrisFlyer compare for Japan

The table below compares one-way reward prices under each program. Points prices are per person under each program’s tables, correct as of July 2026. They exclude taxes, fees and carrier charges unless stated.

For Economy into Tokyo, the ANA route through Velocity offers a great product and is a standout for travellers departing from Perth. For Business Class, weigh the Qantas anchors against ANA and JAL availability on your dates. Remember that partner award rates are usually higher. For Sapporo and the ski season, book earlier than feels necessary and lean on whichever program shows domestic add-on space. One final tip: confirm the reward seat before transferring your points, then transfer, because bank-to-airline transfers are irreversible. Our overview of Qantas and Velocity partners maps every door each balance opens if you would rather stay flexible.

Frequently asked questions

Fees, rates and figures quoted are correct at the time of publication and should be verified directly with each provider before acting on them.