Japanese Culture | Exploring Japan's premier gateway, Haneda International Airport

🧳 Located at the mouth of the Tama River in Ota Ward, Tokyo, Haneda Airport, officially known as Tokyo International Airport, includes Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the International Terminal, making it Japan's largest airport. According to 2014 statistics, Haneda Airport ranked fourth in the world in terms of passenger numbers. 🌟 The history of Haneda Airport dates back to the 1930s, when it was known as Tokyo Airport and served for civil aviation passenger and cargo transport. Later, Haneda Airport was occupied by the U.S. military and returned in 1952, renamed Tokyo International Airport. Since then, the airport has gradually expanded, with a significant portion built on reclaimed land. 📍 Haneda Airport has four runways and is one of the very few airports in Japan that operates 24 hours a day. Compared to Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture, Haneda Airport is very conveniently located for access. It takes only 13 minutes at the fastest to reach the International Terminal of Haneda Airport from Hamamatsucho in Tokyo by monorail, and 11 minutes at the fastest from Shinagawa by Keikyu Express. In contrast, the fastest trip from Tokyo to Narita Airport takes an hour, and the fare is much more expensive than going to Haneda. 👍 One of the iconic structures of Haneda Airport is the arch-shaped cable-stayed bridge, officially named the Tokyo International Airport Central North-South Connection Bridge. The bridge spans the Bayshore Route expressway, facilitating traffic between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Haneda Airport's control tower is 116 meters high, ranking fourth in the world. The observation deck is close to the airport's taxiway, where you can easily see airplanes. From the observation deck, you can see planes taxiing right in front of you, and even clearly see the captain and co-pilot, with the captain politely waving. ✅ Inside the International Terminal, the shopping area with a Japanese ambiance called 'Edo Koji' sells various souvenirs from Japan. You can take a free shuttle bus to travel between terminals, look at airplanes, eat some delicious food, buy some souvenirs, take a few photos, and then return home satisfied. For this reason, travel companies even offer special sightseeing routes to Haneda Airport.