If you’re one of those lucky travelers who arrive at Haneda International Airport (HND), you will find it a super-convenient gateway to Tokyo and Japan. Here’s our full guide to arriving at Haneda.
JAL planes on the tarmac at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
Haneda Airport Introduction
Most international travelers to Japan arrive at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), but more and more international flights to Japan are arriving at Haneda International Airport (Haneda for short). Haneda is about 14 kilometers or 8 miles south of central Tokyo, which means it’s very close to Tokyo. So, if you are choosing between Narita and Haneda and you can get a good deal on a Haneda flight, go for it! You can quickly look up flights arriving at Narita and Haneda on a flight comparison website.
Observation deck at Haneda Domestic Terminal - image © Chris Rowthorn
So, if you’re one of those lucky travelers flying into Haneda, here is our full step-by-step guide to arriving at the airport. We cover all the basics like getting money, buying SIM cards, luggage transfer, and airport transport to the city.
Step-by-Step Haneda Airport Arrival Guide
Once you clear immigration and customs at Haneda, you’ll emerge into the international arrivals hall, which is on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3. It’s a relatively small and compact area. There is an information counter right in the middle of the hall in case you have any questions.
Entering the international arrivals hall at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
There are ATMs on either side of the exit into the arrivals hall from customs. The most useful of these is the Seven Bank ATM, which is on your left as you exit customs. Seven Bank ATMs work with most foreign cash cards.
Seven Bank ATMs at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
Also on your left as you exit customs, just past the ATMs, is a currency exchange counter operated by Mizuho Bank.
Currency exchange counter at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
On your right as you exit customs is a Japan Post ATM. These also work with most foreign cash cards.
Post ATMs at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
Just to your left as you enter the arrivals hall, you’ll see a counter that sells limousine bus tickets. Limousine buses are a convenient option for those with a lot of luggage, because they’ll take you and your luggage straight to many hotels (so you don't have to lug your luggage through train and subway stations).
On your right as you enter the arrivals hall, across from the limousine bus ticket counter, is a small tourist information center. The helpful ladies here can answer all your questions and point you in the right direction if you’re lost.
Tourist information counter at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’re picking up a pocket wifi from Ninja Wifi or Global Wifi, the counter is past the tourist information counter on the right (turn right before the Keikyu counter). You can pre-order a Japan SIM card or pocket wifi for collection on arrival at Haneda.
Global and Ninja Wifi pickup counter at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’d like to ship your heavy bags to your next destination, you will find the luggage delivery counters at the end of the hall to your right as you exit customs. Alternatively, you can book your luggage delivery service online through an agent like Klook before you leave home. See our detailed guide for more information about how Japan's luggage delivery services work.
Luggage delivery service counters at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you need an infusion of caffeine or a snack before continuing into Tokyo, there’s a branch of Tully’s Coffee on your left as you emerge from customs.
Tully’s Coffee at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If mere caffeine isn’t enough to wake you up, or you really need to rinse off the hours of travel, there are shower rooms at the end of the hall on the left as you emerge from customs (for a more thorough wash and a steam, consider the spa at Haneda Airport Garden listed below).
Shower rooms at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
For a wide variety of shops, several great restaurants, an incredible rooftop spa and fine hotel, walk straight through the arrivals hall, go past the train counters, and cross the pedestrian bridge to the Haneda Airport Garden complex.
Haneda Airport Garden - image © Chris Rowthorn
Once you’ve got some Japanese cash, had a cuppa and a snack, and perhaps shipped your bags to your hotel, your next concern will probably be figuring out transport to Tokyo. As mentioned above, the limousine bus ticket counter is on the left as you exit customs. The two train options are at the end of the hall if you walk straight out of customs.
If you want to stay overnight at Haneda Airport before travelling into Tokyo, the Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda is located in the Haneda Garden Complex mentioned above, while the Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda is located on the Departures floor (4th floor of this terminal).
For a full discussion of transport between Haneda and Tokyo, see our Tokyo Airport Transport page, which lists prices, trip durations and helps you choose the best option for you.
The Tokyo Monorail ticket machines, counter and entrance are on the left, at the back of the hall.
Tokyo Monorail ticket machines at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
You can buy a Welcome Suica card from the same bank of machines as the Tokyo Monorail Tickets. Just be warned that the line can be long here. However, if you have an iPhone you can buy a digital Suica card and you can also buy a Welcome Suica card online to be delivered to your home before you travel. For more information on these options, see our How to get a SUICA or PASMO IC card page.
Welcome Suica card machine
The Keikyu Line ticket machines, counter and entrance are on the right at the back of the hall.
Keikyu Line counter at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
There is no JR line between Haneda and Tokyo. But you can still buy a Japan Rail Pass and activate a Japan Rail Pass at the JR East Travel Service Center. It’s just past the Tokyo Monorail entrance on the left at the very back of the hall.
JR East Travel Service Center at Haneda. - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’d like to take a taxi into Tokyo (which is a perfectly good option and costs between Y7,000 and Y9,000, depending upon your destination in Tokyo), you will find the escalator down to the taxi boarding area on the 1st flood right behind the information counter. It’s marked in English.
Escalator down to taxi ranks at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’re connecting to a domestic flight in Japan, you have two options to get to the domestic terminal. You can show your ticket to the people at the Tokyo Monorail or the Keikyu Line counters and they will give you a free ticket to the domestic terminal (one stop away on either line) or you can take the shuttle bus which leaves from boarding spot 0 on the 1st floor. If you have bags to check for your domestic flight or if you need a boarding pass, proceed to the domestic check-in counters which are on your right as you exit customs.
Sign for domestic check-in counters at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’d like to grab a meal before continuing into Tokyo or boarding another flight, head to the restaurant and shopping area on the 4th floor of the international terminal.
Restaurant floor in the international terminal at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
There’s a very attractive Japan-themed restaurant section here.
Restaurants in international terminal at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
If you’re continuing on a domestic flight inside Japan, you’ll also find a good selection of restaurants in the domestic departure hall at Haneda.
Atrium in domestic departure hall at Haneda - image © Chris Rowthorn
Other Useful Haneda Information
- For full details on trains, buses and taxis between Haneda Airport and Tokyo, see our Tokyo Airport Transport page.
- Our Haneda Airport Terminal Guide gives a complete rundown of eating, shopping and entertainment options at the airport.
- If you need to stay at Haneda itself, see our Haneda Airport Hotels page for recommendations on the best places to stay
- For full details on SIM cards, pocket wifi and cell phone rentals, see our Internet in Japan for Tourists page.
- For some recommended hotels for your stay in Tokyo, see our Tokyo Hotels page.
- See our guide to arriving at Narita, Tokyo's main airport for international flights.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
