Haneda goes global

When it comes to international airports that serve the greater Tokyo area, Narita Airport is the first that comes to mind. As Japan’s largest and most well-known airport, it handles over 35 million passengers each year. That’s about to change: with the opening of a new terminal at Haneda Airport this autumn comes the birth of a new international gateway. Haneda’s new terminal opens on Thursday October 21 (with flights commencing on Sunday October 31), and here is a sneak peek at what’s in store.

After arriving at the new terminal, the first thing to note is the third-floor check-in area – designed to incorporate large glass windows and high ceilings that help create a feeling of being only moments away from soaring into the sky.

After checking in, the area of choice for most will be the fourth floor – a place to shop, buy gifts and say goodbye to friends and loved ones. From the departure floor, head up the escalator and step into a space designed to recreate the appearance of Edo, the unique historical Tokyo.

The space even includes a kabuki-style stage – complete with bright red pillars.

In keeping with the concept of creating an Edo-style alleyway, the shops here have each been designed to invoke a feeling of Japanese tradition and culture, and use no visible glass or metal in their exterior designs – helping to create a particularly pleasant and relaxing old-time atmosphere.

Located on the fifth floor, are outdoor ‘Moon Viewing’ and ‘Mt Fuji Viewing’ decks, a planetarium exhibiting 40 million stars, a café/bar and a shop that specialises in Japanese anime character merchandise.

For those who don’t mind paying a little extra to relax in style prior to departure, there’s an elegant lounge on offer.

Grab a bite to eat, with a clear view of the runway outside.

Everything you need to relax and refresh yourself has been thought of, including sofas (complete with ottomans), massage chairs and even shower rooms. Business rooms are provided for anyone looking for a quiet space in which to get some last-minute work done.

After completing the usual departure formalities, passengers can then move on to the departure lobby, where they can enjoy a range of duty-free shopping and eleven brand name stores. For the kids, there’s also a play area provided.

Haneda’s boarding bridges are the first boarding bridges in the world to have completely seamless, smooth floors. As expected, these unique bridges fit perfectly with the new double-decker Airbus A380.

In total, the new international terminal houses over 100 shops and restaurants. It’s open twenty-four hours, making it an airport that can be enjoyed around-the-clock, even by those who aren’t actually planning on flying anywhere.

As of Sunday October 31, Haneda Airport will be connecting Tokyo to thirteen international destinations: five destinations in America, including New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii; seven destinations in Asia, including Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore; and one European destination, Paris. During the daytime, Haneda will help ease the strain on Narita by adding flights to Asia. During the evening, it will help meet the demand for flights to America and Europe. The new terminal may have only one-tenth the capacity for international flights when compared to Narita, but, with relatively quick and easy access from central Tokyo, what it lacks in scale it makes up for in convenience.

Access to the new international terminal:

The Monorail arrives and departs at the same elevation as the departure floor and the Keihin Kyuko Line uses an underground station. From Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa stations – which both open services to and from the new international terminal in line with the opening of the new airport facilities on Thursday October 21 – the journey takes a mere 13 minutes. Additionally, limousine bus services will also be in service from the same day.