New Taiwan–Japan Flight Routes 2026: Direct Flights to Hokkaido, Komatsu, Ishigaki & More

If you’re one of the many people in TIFE’s community with family, friends, or roots back in Taiwan, this is worth a look: Taiwanese carriers have been quietly building out direct routes to parts of Japan that used to mean a transfer through Taipei or Tokyo. Starlux and Tigerair Taiwan have both expanded their Japan networks through 2026, and two brand-new Kaohsiung routes launched just this month. Here’s the full, current picture — useful whether you’re planning a trip home, hosting visiting family, or just chasing a better fare to somewhere less obvious than Narita.

📋 Quick Navigation: Starlux routes · Tigerair Taiwan routes · Why this matters · FAQ

Starlux Airlines: Taichung and Taipei expansion

Tigerair Taiwan: two new Kaohsiung routes just launched

This is the freshest news in this roundup — both routes opened for reservations back in June but only started flying this month:

Komatsu puts Kanazawa and the Hokuriku region within direct reach from southern Taiwan for the first time on this carrier, and Ishigaki opens up Okinawa’s outer islands without routing through Taipei or Naha. Both are low-frequency routes for now (2x weekly), so they suit a specific trip window rather than flexible last-minute travel — check current availability before building an itinerary around them.

Why this expansion matters

Both carriers are explicitly chasing demand outside the well-worn Taipei–Narita and Taipei–Haneda corridors. For Taiwanese residents in Tokyo, that means more direct options for visiting family without connecting through Taipei twice, and for anyone hosting relatives from Taiwan, it opens up regional Japan (Hokuriku, Hokkaido, Okinawa’s outer islands) as a realistic add-on to a Tokyo trip rather than a separate, harder-to-book leg. Route frequencies on new services like these tend to increase over their first year if demand holds, so it’s worth checking back before assuming a 2x-weekly schedule is permanent.

Taiwan–Japan Flight Routes 2026 FAQ

• What are the newest Taiwan-Japan routes as of September 2026? Tigerair Taiwan’s Kaohsiung–Ishigaki (from Sept 2) and Kaohsiung–Komatsu (from Sept 3), both 2x weekly on Airbus A320.
• Does Starlux fly direct from Taichung to Tokyo? Yes, Starlux launched Taichung–Narita on March 30, 2026, running 4x weekly with up to 8x weekly during the spring peak period.
• Is there a direct flight from Taipei to Hokkaido? Yes — Starlux flies Taipei Taoyuan–Hakodate, increased to 5x weekly as of June 9, 2026.
• Can I fly direct from Kaohsiung to Japan? Yes, Tigerair Taiwan’s new Kaohsiung–Ishigaki and Kaohsiung–Komatsu routes both depart from Kaohsiung, alongside Tigerair’s existing Kaohsiung-Japan services.
• Are these routes seasonal or year-round? They’re currently scheduled as ongoing services rather than short seasonal charters, though frequency (especially on the 2x-weekly Tigerair routes) may adjust based on demand — confirm current schedules directly with the airline before booking.
• Where can I book these flights? Directly through Starlux Airlines’ or Tigerair Taiwan’s official websites, which will have the most current schedules and fares.

Quick reference

• Starlux Taichung–Narita: Launched March 30, 2026, 4x weekly (up to 8x peak)
• Starlux Taipei–Hakodate: Increased to 5x weekly from June 9, 2026
• Tigerair Kaohsiung–Ishigaki: Launched September 2, 2026, 2x weekly
• Tigerair Kaohsiung–Komatsu: Launched September 3, 2026, 2x weekly
• Related: Best Day Trips from Tokyo | Japan Summer Flights 2026 | TIFE for Travelers

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