Tokyo [Tokyo] 7 Around Haneda Airport, Greater Tokyo, Tokyo Island

Q. How many international airports does Kanto area have?

A.Two major international airports service the Tokyo area: Narita Airport and Haneda Airport . Both offer domestic and international flights at all hours of the day; however, Haneda is much closer to downtown Tokyo and Yokohama.

With a central location, quick transportation, and short-term accommodation options, Haneda is a great entry point to the country and for exploring further.

Q. When did Haneda open?

A. Haneda opened in 1931 and was Tokyo and Yokohama's major airport for both international and domestic flights.

Q. When did Narita open?

A. In 1978, Narita Airport opened and took charge of the majority of Tokyo's international air traffic, while Haneda continued to connect a majority of the nation's domestic travelers. Following its new runway completion and new international terminal building in 2010, Haneda began to service more international routes.

Q. How can I access Haneda Airport? 

A. Haneda Airport is easily accessible via train or monorail from downtown Tokyo.

From Shinjuku or Shibuya station catch the JR Yamanote or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Hamamatsucho Station, then transfer to the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport . Alternatively, take the Keikyu Airport Line from Shinagawa. There are also a number of limousine buses to Haneda Airport that depart Tokyo Station every 30 to 60 minutes. The limousine buses also leave from some of the major hotels.

Q. I heard there is a monorail as well to access between central Tokyo and Haneda. Would you tell me more about that?

A. Initially built for the 1964 Olympics, the Tokyo Monorail is a pretty unique way to get to and around the Haneda Airport area. Stopping at each of the three terminals, the monorail offers views of Tokyo Bay on its way to Hamamatsucho Station, which takes about 15 minutes. From Hamamatsucho Station, you can catch the Yamanote Line, Tokyo's main loop line.

Q. Is is possible to stay at a hotel nearby Haneda Airport?

A. As Haneda Airport's international terminal is open 24 hours, the surrounding area offers a number of flexible accommodations for those with late or early flights. Each of the airport's three terminals also has its own hotel on site.

Q. What if we have some time to kill before or between flights?

A. Consider visiting Ota Market, an excellent way to discover some of the best local produce from the city and its surrounding area.

Located just one stop from the airport, Ota Market is one of Japan's biggest markets. At over 100,000 square meters, it's larger than Tsukiji's fish market (which has since moved to a new location) and boasts a huge selection of vegetables, fruit, and fish.

In the airport

Haneda offers many things to do inside the airport terminals themselves. From the observation decks, you can see planes taking off and landing with Tokyo in the background, while enjoying a glass of Haneda's very own craft beer Sky Ale. Visit the past as you stroll the Edo Koji shopping area, or do some pop-culture shopping in Tokyo Pop Town.

Word Focus:

accommodations 宿泊施設

Word Focus:

Portrayed 描写された

Outskirts of the metropolis 都市近郊で

Q. As people may think of Tokyo as the urban face of the city so often portrayed in the media—full of neon, crowded stations, skyscrapers, theme cafes and offbeat subcultures. Are there any other features to be recommended to do in Tokyo?

A. -Mt Mitake and Mt Takao are both popular outer Tokyo hiking spots suitable for beginners. Lifts and cable cars are available for those who want to enjoy the views without breaking into a sweat on the ascent.

Mt Takao is popular for its monkey park and Yakuo-in Temple , an esoteric Buddhist training ground. On Mt Mitake's summit, the Musashi-Mitake Shrine is a half-hour hike from the upper cable car station through a beautiful stretch of forest.

-Studio Ghibli's animated features have touched the hearts of millions, with My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service among its most popular titles. Relive the magic of your favorites with the Ghibli Museum's life-size recreations of their animated worlds.

-Located at the outskirts of Inokashira Park, the museum also shows visitors how Ghibli films are made. You can even watch shorts animated exclusively for the museum. Be sure to check out the Ghibli goods and collectibles, which are unavailable elsewhere.

-Cherry blossom season is a marvelous time to be in Japan. Musashino's Inokashira Park and the grand Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa are both favorite cherry blossom viewing spots. For a date like no other, pedal a swan boat for two on one of their picturesque ponds when the cherry trees are in bloom.

- Tokyo’s largest amusement park, Yomiuri Land features dozens of attractions for both children and adults, including roller coasters, an expansive summer waterpark, and bungee jumping.

From November to February, Yomiuri Land hosts Jewellumination, when the park turns into a stunning display of colorful projection mapping and 5.5 million winter lights. The sea of color will make you forget all about the winter cold.

Sample the sake at a real brewery

Learn how Japanese sake is produced at Ozawa Brewery in Ome, west of Tokyo. A visit here will give you the chance to sample a variety of delicious brews. Enjoy drinking on a terrace overlooking the beautiful Tama River and Mitake Valley.

Q. Most people think of Tokyo isn’t only the metropolis. What can we do on a chain of islands which belong to Tokyo?

The Tokyo Islands couldn't be more different than the city of the same name. This chain of volcanic islands includes the Izu Islands and the remote subtropical Ogasawara Islands , all technically part of the Tokyo area. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ogasawara Islands are a haven for wild birds and other exotic species such as the bonin white-eye, found only on Hahajima . The unspoiled natural environment of the two islands (Hahajima and Chichijima)

Q. What is Ogasawara island known for?

A. Unlike your average dolphin-watching tour, you can get in the water to swim with them in the wild.