Sri Lanka
JapanColombo to Tokyo shipping route.
4,551 nautical miles via Strait of Malacca, about 13.6 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Colombo and Tokyo
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ColomboStrait of MalaccaTokyoShipping time from Colombo to Tokyo
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Strait of Malacca (shortest) | 4,551 nm | 15.8 d | 13.5 d | 10.5 d |
| via Sunda Strait | 5,148 nm | 17.9 d | 15.3 d | 11.9 d |
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About the Colombo to Tokyo shipping route
The shipping route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Tokyo, Japan covers 4,551 nautical miles port to port, via Strait of Malacca. On a globe the two ports sit 6,859 km apart, so the ship sails 1.23 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.
Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 13.6 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 15.8 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 10.5. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Colombo and Tokyo to plan the full ocean transit time.
The next option is via Sunda Strait, 5,148 nautical miles, 597 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.
Container freight rates on Colombo to Tokyo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Tokyo (JPTYO) carriers give about 8 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.
Of the 65 port to port routes from Colombo in this directory, Tokyo is the 32nd shortest. Closer destinations include Yokohama (4,540 nm), Marsaxlokk (4,477 nm) and Dalian (4,220 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Colombo to Tokyo?
The port to port distance from Colombo to Tokyo is 4,551 nautical miles (8,429 km), via Strait of Malacca. The route passes Strait of Malacca.
What is the shipping time from Colombo to Tokyo?
About 13.5 days at 14 knots and 10.5 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Tokyo to Colombo has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Colombo to
Nhava Sheva931 nm - Colombo to Mundra1,265 nm
- Colombo to
Karachi1,419 nm - Colombo to
Port Klang1,420 nm - Colombo to
Singapore1,605 nm - Colombo to
Salalah1,838 nm 
Busan to Tokyo669 nm
Shanghai to Tokyo1,042 nm- Incheon to Tokyo1,067 nm
- Ningbo to Tokyo1,075 nm
- Qingdao to Tokyo1,113 nm
- Dalian to Tokyo1,176 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.