You are correct in your assumption. Edo Market at International Terminal is before passport control on landside. Arriving passengers have to go through immigration/customs to reach Edo Market.

If you are unable to go through immigration/customs because you do not have visa, then you will not able to go to Edo Market area. Only area you will have access is departure gate area.

or you could apply for visa.

Visa just to go to Edo market? Not worth the time or paperwork

No, to "leave the airport and explore the city" as the OP said in his original post.

The airport(s) at which you are transiting - HND
The airline on which you are arriving - Singapore Airlines (International)
The airline on which you are departing - ANA (Domestic)
Your connection time in hours/minutes - 1h 55min (ETA 1605h, ETD for domestic at 1800h)
How you are connecting - International to domestic (Int-Dom)
Whether you are traveling on a single ticket, or separately-booked tickets - Separate Tickets

Questions re International - Domestic Connection

- What is the fastest way between the international terminal and domestic T2 (ANA)?

- Is it possible for SQ to check the tickets all the way through so that we don't have to collect tickets and luggage at the international terminal? Or is it a must to collect our luggage to bring it to the domestic terminal?

- As our international and domestic segments are on separate PNR, what are our options if we find ourselves stuck in the immigration queue and running out of time to check in for the domestic sector etc, for example? Is there anywhere we can ask to put us on a faster/priority queue?

I will be travelling with my husband and 2 yo.

Thanks for the input!

You always have to collect your luggage when arriving in Japan, custom clearance is at your point of entry to Japan.

If you are running low on time, you can ask the people managing the queue nicely, but apart from crew and diplomatic lines, there are no fast track for immigration. As you are on separate PNR, NH will not be at the gate to meet you in case of a delay. But you can be lucky that someone else are.

1H 55M is tight but not impossible. I have never done the change of terminals.at Haneda, so I leave it to others to comment on that.

transiting Airport: NRT
Arriving Airline: NH
Departing Airline: UA
Connection Time: 9 hours (7:55am to 5:00pm)
Connecting: Int - Int
Booked via: Single Ticket

Having connected in NRT a million times I know the deal, but pretty much what I wanted to do is transit back into the terminal after clearing security to goto the ANA or UA lounge to shower and change then exit the terminal and clear customs to go into Tokyo for a quick lunch. I don't know the process of trying to leave the terminal to get into customs so I appreciate any advice.

Apparently it is possible but not straightforward to go from the air-side lounges through immigration and out into the arrivals area. If you wanted to do that, I would go to the immigration office next to immigration counters (through which departing passengers enter the air-side area) and inquire.

That said, I think it's simpler to forgo the lounge - Just come off your flight and follow signs for arriving passengers to enter Japan. You can use land-side showers in Terminal 1 at a 50% discount (full price is 1,030 yen) if you are transiting between international flights:
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/news/omotenashi.html

If you are flying NH business class, there is an arrivals lounge with nice shower facilities.

The process of going to the airside lounge and then leaving the airport is not as easy as it sounds. The arrivals and departure levels are separated, and you would need staff to escort you. There has been reports that this took very long time to achieve. As mentioned above, go for an airside option and save the hassle and time.

Oh thats perfect then... I didn't even know about those, thats a lot easier solution... Thanks

Unfortunately I am in economy. I have *G and Priority Pass Select but I dont think either of those will help in this situation

If you have Star Gold, couldn't you use NH's landside arrival lounge?

As per ANA's rules for that particular lounge:

1. First Class customers arriving on ANA operated international flights, and one accompanying guest on same flight per customer on the day of arrival only.
Image of class services
2. Business Class customers arriving on ANA operated international flights on the day of arrival only (no accompanying guest permitted).
Image of class services
3. ANA Diamond Service members, ANA Platinum Service members and ANA Super Flyers Card members arriving on ANA operated international flights and one accompanying guest on ANA operated international flights per customer on the day of arrival only.

Doesnt appear as Star Gold gets entry even though im flying NH into NRT

NH's arrivals lounge at NRT serves as their domestic lounge.

I've had a look at their website, and it seems Star Gold only has access if you're taking a domestic flight on NH/subsidiaries. So you are right that you won't have access technically, although I suppose it never hurts to ask.

It seems you saw my post before I corrected it.
The land-side shower facilities at Terminal 1 are not free of charge but you can use them at a 50% discount (full price is 1,030 yen) if you are transferring from one international flight to another.