Soon after the initial kick of my first night in Japan had already settled in, I was already up and about early in the morning, very much looking forward to experiencing more of Japan. I was excited to once again visit Haneda International Airport, this time for a quick tour of the facilities that vacationers and locals alike could enjoy.
You might wonder, “why the airport?” You have to remember that the airport is technically the first place you visit upon your plane’s touchdown and is a direct reflection of the country you’re visiting.
And I am not even going to expound on that.
It might be weird revisiting an airport you’ve already spent hours in the night before, but once you get to stroll casually inside the area you’d understand that the place itself is a destination in its own right. You can walk around the airport and kill idle time with all the shops, restaurants, lounges (if you’re a VIP), and other facilities you can use and enjoy to your heart’s content.
The Haneda International Airport has three terminals. The main ones, 1 and 2, are connected underground. Both have Market Place and are open 24 hours a day.
JAPAN SAYS THANK YOU
One of the things that is very noticeable upon entering the airport is the big “Japan Says Thank You” message that is exhibited for all travelers to see. It was nice to see the Philippines represented in the poster. It is worth noting that the Philippines’s humanitarian assistance to Japan amounted to a total of 290 million yen. The ad kind of reminded me of our own “The Philippines Says Thank You” campaign that ran all over the world.
A HAPPY KIND OF STUCK
Imagine this: You’re stuck between long hours of layovers and all your gadgets are already running low on juice. Or your kids are starting to throw tantrums because of boredom. What can you do inside Haneda airport, then?
Thanks to the free Wi-Fi provided within the airport zone, a quick Google of “Haneda Airport” yielded results of reviews with nothing less than four stars in ratings. As it seems, travelers simply love this airport. The Terminal 2, which opened in December of 2004, has all the right amenities for weary tourists and returning locals to enjoy, such as several levels of shopping stores and restaurants. You can also visit special displays set up in different locations, like in the case of the new Business Class seats All Nippon Airways is introducing to the public. Miniature models of the seats were also set up so one can have a good look at how roomy the seating could be when arranged side by side.
PROJECT: RUNWAY
If going through the shops still leaves you with so much time in your hands, you can always visit the Observation Deck—an open-air area on the rooftop of the airport that allows waiting passengers to relax, take a breath of fresh air, and watch airplanes takeoff on the airstrip. This has got to be my favorite part of the place. There’s just something so stimulating about watching planes fly, and it gives tourists something to do while waiting to embark their own flights. I also got a kick out of seeing small-scale taxiway lights adorning the footpath heading for the Observation Deck. Just like a true runway!
It is quite unbelievable just how much fun things you can do within Haneda International Airport. I’ve watched numerous Japanese programs highlighting this airport for its classy design and even classier services and I’ve always thought this to be an overindulgence of the pride they have for their airfields, but now I realize they weren’t kidding. If, by some form of mischievous prank pulled by mother luck I’d find myself trapped in an airport, as in the case of what happened to Tom Hanks in the movie The Terminal, I think I’d choose to be trapped in this airport.
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