Hi,
In December I spent 7.5 hours in Haneda T3 after leaving my hotel before my JL59 2330 flight back to DOH and enjoyed it
( Ok, ok , I know what you are going to say- spend more time in tokyo
)
But after an active 6 days in Hiroshima/miyajima and tokyo enjoying the sunshine , autumn colours and winter illuminations ( lots of walking but had time to relax in the hotel pool and lounges) an easier time was not bad
( I did have access to the JAL F lounge). If I had no lounge access or only Sakura lounge access I might not recommend this
Check out at the Conrad was at 1pm but able to use the executive lounge till 3pm so had a nice seafood ramen bowl in the restaurant, coffee in the lounge and a short walk outside.
Left Conrad just after 3pm by taxi and arrived at Haneda T3 at 330pm
Check in at JAL F counter was quick.
Queue for security was quite long ( 5 or 6 zigzag lanes outside the security lanes- lots of US and other departures around this time but moving quite well
Went up to the outdoor observation deck ( nice and sunny)- shops just inside from the observation deck had lots of Japanese kitkats ( large boxes) but had no room in my hand baggage
Explored the landside Edo market place ( above the checkin area) and got a few small christmas presents to take home
By this time the queues for security had almost disappeared and using the business lane virtually walked straight to the screening machines. Used the exit immigration machines with no wait.
Went first to the Cathay Pacific lounge past gate 114 ( virtually empty) .had a few cakes and a couple of Cathay delight drinks ( Cathay pacific lounge closes at 5pm)
At 5pm went down to check out the JAL Skyview lounge. Dining area a little busy but other areas very quiet. Buffet selection very good ( and excluding the qr code ordering of sushi in JAL F) and better than JAL F
Stayed there till 6pm then went to JAL F lounge and settled down in the Red suite
Got my shoes polished in the lounge and ordered some sushi via the QR codes.
Relaxed and admired the lounge
About 8pm left my carry on in the lockers in the lounge and went for a walk in the terminal ( down to gate 105 then back to gate 142 then back to the lounge) About 2km walk in total
Bought a few souvenirs but the selection airside is a bit limited ( and can have some large queues to pay at the confectionary shops ( ie kit kats, tokyo banana etc at peak times)
Food selections seem a bit limited compared to other airports but as I was eating in the lounge I was not particularly looking for a place to eat
There is a 7-11 shop airside in T3
Back in the F lounge and beginning to feel a bit hungry so ordered the bento box on the qr code then went up to the 5th floor Salon area of the JAL F lounge to have a Hibiki whisky (virtually the only person up there)
After the whisky went back to the Red suite and relaxed.
Soon it was 2300 and time to head for the flight ( fortunately JL 59 was leaving from gate 114 so a short walk from the F lounge)and boarding started at 2310 for a 2330 departure ( skipped the meal after takeoff and went straight to sleep after takeoff)
Overall an enjoyable few hours
Did not visit the landside Haneda airport garden complex on this visit but could be worthwhile on other trips
Regards
TBS