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FLIGHT RESEARCH
Research · 06 Sep 2026

Singapore → China/Japan/Korea — Flight Price Research, Dec 19–30 2026

One-way airfare research for a family trip departing Singapore around Dec 19, 2026 and returning around Dec 30, 2026. All prices are all-in (taxes and fees), 1 adult, economy, pulled live from Google Flights on 2026-09-06.

VERDICT — Shanghai (S$652), Beijing (S$657) and Seoul (S$672) all come in at roughly half the price of Japan. Seoul is the standout: its S$286 outbound is the single cheapest fare and it is a natural hub for onward connections. If Japan is the goal, Osaka is the cheapest gateway at S$1,131 round-trip, about S$115 under Tokyo.
Zeus · 06 Sep 2026 · Internal
Section 01

Round-trip totals

Cheapest one-way outbound plus cheapest one-way return, per adult, for each destination. Prices are live from Google Flights on 2026-09-06.

RouteOut (Dec 19)Back (Dec 30)Total
ShanghaiS$399S$253S$652
BeijingS$361S$296S$657
SeoulS$286S$386S$672
OsakaS$614S$517S$1,131
TokyoS$535S$711S$1,246
HokkaidoS$747S$694S$1,441
HarbinS$760S$664S$1,424

Google Flights flagged Harbin and Shanghai as "prices currently high." Peak-window fares run above the off-peak "cheapest" figures published by carriers, which is expected for the Christmas period.

Section 02

Cheapest one-way outbound (Dec 19)

The lowest fares leaving Singapore on Dec 19, 2026, per destination.

Seoul
S$286
Vietjet via Da Nang — cheapest of all
Beijing
S$361
Cathay via HKG
Shanghai
S$399
China Southern / S$402 Spring nonstop
Fukuoka
S$514
Thai AirAsia — cheapest Japan entry
Tokyo
S$535
Vietjet / S$569 Scoot nonstop
Osaka
S$614
Scoot nonstop
Hokkaido
S$747
Asiana via ICN
Harbin
S$760
Asiana via ICN

Source: Google Flights live search (2026-09-06).

Section 03

Cheapest one-way return (Dec 30)

The lowest fares back to Singapore on Dec 30, 2026, per destination.

Shanghai
S$253
Vietjet / S$369 Spring nonstop
Beijing
S$296
Cathay
Seoul
S$386
Vietjet
Osaka
S$517
T'Way via Jeju
Harbin
S$664
Asiana/Korean
Hokkaido
S$694
Scoot via Taipei
Tokyo
S$711
Batik

Source: Google Flights live search (2026-09-06).

Section 04

Best cost-efficient routing

How the destinations stack up on total cost for the family trip.

Pure cost. Shanghai (S$652), Beijing (S$657) and Seoul (S$672) are all roughly half the price of Japan. Seoul stands out: its S$286 outbound is the single cheapest fare, and it is a natural hub for onward connections. If the family is flexible on destination, Seoul or the China pair delivers the most value for the money.

If Japan specifically. Osaka is the cheapest Japan gateway at S$1,131 round-trip, about S$115 cheaper than Tokyo (S$1,246). Both have nonstop budget options (Scoot and Peach). Tokyo's nonstop Scoot outbound (S$569) is the best-value single leg. Osaka is the smarter pick unless Tokyo itself is the point of the trip.

Hokkaido and Harbin are the premium snow destinations. Both run about S$1,420 to S$1,440 round-trip, roughly double the China and Korea alternatives. That is the price of the powder.

Sources: Google Flights, Scoot Singapore→Tokyo.

Section 05

Full fare detail — outbound (Dec 19)

Every fare captured for the outbound leg, with routing and total travel time.

DestinationCarrier / routingPriceDuration
HarbinAsiana via ICNS$76014h25m
HarbinShandong via TNAS$84923h05m
HarbinShandong via TNAS$1,19511h30m
TokyoVietjet via SGNS$53511h05m
TokyoScoot nonstopS$5696h25m
TokyoBatik via KULS$5919h20m
TokyoANA/SQ nonstopS$9546h45m
OsakaScoot nonstopS$6146h10m
OsakaPeach nonstopS$6316h20m
OsakaSQ/ANA nonstopS$1,0306h
HokkaidoAsiana via ICNS$74710h35m
HokkaidoScoot via TPES$84010h10m
HokkaidoT'Way via ICNS$92313h10m
HokkaidoANA via NRTS$96111h40m
SeoulVietjet via DADS$2869h45m
SeoulScoot nonstopS$5966h15m
SeoulAsiana nonstopS$6796h35m
BeijingCathay via HKGS$36114h25m
BeijingCathay via HKGS$4708h10m
BeijingShenzhen via SZXS$56310h15m
BeijingTHAI via BKKS$6318h20m
BeijingSQ nonstopS$8616h05m
ShanghaiChina Southern via SZXS$39928h
ShanghaiSpring nonstopS$4025h15m
ShanghaiThai Lion via DMKS$43527h50m
ShanghaiCathay via HKGS$4857h55m
ShanghaiShenzhen via SZXS$5378h25m
ShanghaiSQ nonstopS$8215h20m
NagoyaAsiana via ICNS$6979h45m
NagoyaTHAI via BKKS$7019h30m
NagoyaCathay via HKGS$91310h
NagoyaSQ/ANA nonstopS$1,3416h10m
FukuokaThai AirAsia via DMKS$51411h15m
FukuokaTHAI via BKKS$65011h55m
FukuokaTHAI via BKKS$70110h10m
FukuokaT'Way via ICNS$71911h35m

Source: Google Flights live search (2026-09-06).

Section 06

Full fare detail — return (Dec 30)

Every fare captured for the return leg, with routing and total travel time.

DestinationCarrier / routingPriceDuration
TokyoBatik via KULS$71110h55m
TokyoTHAI/ANA via BKKS$72311h10m
TokyoVietjet via SGNS$73410h35m
TokyoZIPAIR nonstopS$9427h35m
OsakaT'Way via CJUS$51714h15m
OsakaTHAI via BKKS$6559h55m
OsakaScoot nonstopS$7957h
HokkaidoScoot via TPES$69410h20m
HokkaidoAsiana via ICNS$1,06510h55m
HokkaidoChina Airlines via TPES$1,08811h
HarbinAsiana/Korean via ICNS$66414h20m
HarbinJeju Air via ICNS$74112h45m
HarbinShandong via TNAS$75413h30m
SeoulVietjet via DADS$38610h
SeoulT'Way nonstopS$5556h55m
BeijingCathay via HKGS$2968h25m
BeijingTHAI via BKKS$41211h25m
BeijingMalaysia Airlines via KULS$4279h05m
ShanghaiVietjet via SGNS$2539h50m
ShanghaiSpring nonstopS$3696h10m
ShanghaiMalaysia Airlines via KULS$4088h25m

Source: Google Flights live search (2026-09-06).

Section 07

Sources & accuracy note

All prices were pulled live from Google Flights on 2026-09-06, all-in (taxes and fees), 1 adult, economy, for the exact dates. Outbound is Dec 19, 2026; return is Dec 30, 2026, priced as separate one-way legs. Figures were cross-checked against published fare ranges (Scoot Tokyo about S$487 to S$603 off-peak, Spring Shanghai S$133 to S$430, Vietjet Seoul about S$285). Peak-window prices run higher than off-peak "cheapest" figures, which is expected for the Christmas period.

Caveat: Skyscanner, Kayak, Momondo, Expedia and airline sites blocked automated access (bot walls), so Google Flights is the single live source. Fares three or more months out are estimates and will move. Book early for the peak.