How Early To Arrive At Haneda Airport (Domestic & International Flights)

Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport is a major gateway to Tokyo, the capital of Japan with an extensive network of domestic and international flights.

There are three terminals at Haneda Airport; Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 which cater to domestic flights and the International Terminal which caters to international flights.

Given this, I recommend arriving at Haneda Airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and at least 3 hours before an international flight.

However, you’ll also want to consider personal circumstances that may influence you to arrive at the airport even earlier. These include; travelling with young children, how you are going to travel to the airport, what time you’re flying etc.

What Time Should You Arrive at Haneda Airport?

We typically recommend arriving at Haneda Airport at least two hours before departure for domestic flights (flights within Japan) and at least three hours before departure for international flights (flights outside Japan).

This should provide you with enough time to;

• Check-in
• Baggage drop
• Security checks
• Reaching the gate before boarding begins

In our opinion, it’s always better to arrive at the airport a little early and have some extra time browsing the stores or grabbing a bite to eat rather than arriving late, feeling rushed and running the risk of missing your flight.

Why Do You Need Longer For International Flights?

It’s often recommended that when travelling to international destinations (outside Japan) you arrive at Haneda Airport at least 3 hours before the flight departs. This is to allow for extra time to check visas, entry requirements, immigration control and clear customs.

Long-haul international flights also often have a longer boarding period (starting earlier) to allow for all passengers to board the aircraft in ample time before the scheduled departure.

How Are You Getting to Haneda Airport?

Deciding on the ideal time to arrive at Haneda Airport requires consideration of how you’ll be travelling there. Given the complex layout of the city, it’s essential to anticipate traffic conditions.

Use Google Maps to evaluate the distance and projected travel time to the airport according to your mode of transport.

The Time of Year

National holidays such as Christmas and New Year can significantly increase travel demand and result in longer lines at the airport than usual.

As such, if your travel coincides with these periods, it might be wise to contemplate arriving an hour earlier than usual.

Checking In For Your Flight

The majority of airlines now allow you to check in for your flight using either the mobile application or web application up to 24 hours before departure. Checking in using this service should provide you with a digital boarding pass and therefore only require you to use the bag drop service (if applicable).

However, if you’re unable to check in for your flight before arriving at the airport then you’ll want to make sure you arrive at the airport with enough time to do so.

The majority of airlines provide both self-service check-in kiosks and check-in counters at Haneda Airport which allow you to complete the check-in process quickly and easily.

However, keep in mind that airlines will close the check-in gates before the flight departs (exact times vary, however, it’s usually around 45 minutes – check with your airline). If you have not checked in before the designated time then you will be denied boarding – even if you’re at the departure gate on time for the flight itself.

Dropping Checked Bags

Much like checking in for your flight, another factor you’ll want to consider when determining what time you should arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport is whether or not you’ll need to check your luggage.

The bag drop will close roughly one hour prior to the flight’s departure (exact times vary depending on the airline and destination so be sure to check your flight information) so you’ll want to make sure you arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport early enough to accommodate for this where applicable.

If you do not have any checked bags then once you have your boarding pass (either digital from checking in online or physical from checking in at the airport) you’ll be able to head straight through to security.

Which Haneda Airport Terminal Do You Need?

Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) has terminals. Airlines may adjust their designated terminals, so always check your ticket or the airport’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Domestic Terminal 1

• Japan Airlines
• Skymark Airlines 
• StarFlyer

Domestic Terminal 2

• All Nippon Airways
• Air Do
• Solaseed Air

International Terminal (Terminal 3)

• ANA
• Japan Airlines
• Peach Aviation
• Aeroflot Russian Airlines
• Air Asia X
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air France
• American Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific Airways
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Emirates
• Eva Air
• Finnair
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hainan Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• HK Express
• ITA Airways
• Juneyao Airlines
• Korean Air
• Lufthansa German Airlines
• Okay Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas Airways Limited
• Qatar Airways
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Shanghai Airlines
• S7 Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Spring Airlines
• Thai Airways International
• Tianjin Airlines
• Tigerair Taiwan
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• VietJet Air
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Australia Airlines
• Vistara