Thanks for all the helpful advice regarding my NRT/HND transfer which was so smooth from arrival. Immgration took less than 5 mins after landing early from SGN. I bought my ticket at the counter on arrival and my 2 large cases, weighing a combined 47kg was tagged and checked onto the bus. I had 3 pieces of hand carry on and the staff didn't even bat an eyelid and I was allowed to carry them on. They allocate you a seat number when they check your ticket, so efficent and smooth is the process.

3:40 layover in HND. What to do? Business class so will have lounge. To clarify it's T3 to T3, so minimal transit distance. I heard to eat at the eel restaurant?

I've been to Tokyo about half a dozen times, and if I had more time I'd probably slip out, but is there anything even possible to do outside in that short amount of time? I'm also OK sitting at the airport/lounge to relax/shower/eat.

Is the airport garden worth going out for?

The problem can be the immigration time, but you can always go and have a look and see if it looks chaotic. If yes, just go to transit security and the lounge. But 3:40, I'd probably just stay airside. There are some good restaurants land side, but somewhat of a hassle to go through just for food.

I have to Google the eel restaurant, I did not know there is one airside.

Are you talking about "Unagi Kikugawa" in Haneda Airport Garden?
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1315/A131504/13280605/
FWIW - Haneda Airport Garden is a commercial complex attached to the terminal by a covered walkway (Landside). It doesn't have any interesting gardens that I am aware of.

I would not go through immigration on a 3h 40m stop just to eat eel, much as I am a fan of unagi.

No, there are no gardens. There is an onsen in the hotel though, which could be nice. And while it is proper onsen water it is a rather artificially created spot for it

A mall is fine. I go through many malls in Asia. But if you're saying 3:40 is tight just to slip out and back through immigration then maybe I'll pass. I'll just peek into the immigration hall and make a game time decision.

Is departure security/immigration a risk at HND when coming back airside?

With business class it should not be too bad. I have never seen any significant lines for fast track, as only class of service counts. Exit passport control is quick.

Accidental double post

Data points: Landed at gate 108. Less than 10 minutes from exiting plane to the toilet landside. I was Row 9 so one of the first to deplane but there were people speed walking to pass me. I just made my way to the immigration no problem.

probably would�ve taken a little longer in the standard line but I have APEC so I was the only one in that line.

eating my unagi right now.

my colleague flew into NRT in the morning and told me it was just as fast (no apec). Hes able to do a full food crawl with 7 hours or whatever.

^ More info. Flight landed at 6:45pm, it was a quick taxi to the gate where I estimate around 6:50pm or so we parked. I was out of immigration and in the landside bathroom at 7:01pm I wandered around the airport and walked to Haneda AIrport Garden, then wandered some more before sitting down to eat my Unagi. I was done by 7:50, went to walk around some more, then heard they were closing everything at 8pm. I later learned Haneda Airport Garden stores basically close around 8pm. Food will stay open til 9-10pm ish.

I neglected to make a reservation so I guess I was lucky to get in to the unagi restaurant. I noticed the udon place was PACKED. There was a line 20 deep outside. I tried to get a small meal at the unagi place, and then food crawl to the next spot (yakiniku) which was full by the time I swung by at 8pm. I settled for matcha instead and sat there til 8:30pm relaxing until I decided to browse the departure hall a bit. I went back thru security at 8:55pm which is 2 hrs before my departure. Security was fast, probably 5 minutes or so total and I was out airside ready to hit up the lounge.

I did not realize the showers no longer use that machine to reserve and so with a web portal I think people book up early? There was only 11pm showers by then so I opted to just have a drink at the lounge before going to duty free to buy some kit kats to bring home.

Boarding for both flights to HND and ex-HND were 20 minutes on a 789 and 77W. Too impressive. I'm too used to having time to play games on United flights and looking around bored and still having time to spare as they're so slow at boarding.

Do you hold everything in while traveling between countries or is visiting toilets on arrival just a hobby?

Lol getting into TMI territory but here's my airport bathroom strategy:

• After landing: If I have to go and feel like I can't make it for another hour, then I pee at arrival before immigration/baggage claim
• If I can hold it, then I just get through immigration and go later. At least at my home airport SFO, GE with Mobile App is fast, and baggage claim is always slow meaning I have more than enough time to clear customs and head to the bathroom afterward. Honestly in most airports I like to at least get through immigration, but I do know that can be risky if you get stuck in a long immigration line.
• My next step in this trip was to head to dinner, so it made sense to head to the bathroom beforehand (in this case land side), do my business, wash my hands, freshen up, and head to dinner.

And specifically for this trip report, I referenced the bathroom because I had 2 moments where I checked the time. One was basically when we the seat belt sign went off (~6:50pm) and the other was after I breezed through immigration, arrived at the bathroom sink, which was 7:01pm. I noted those times as a note because I did want to report back to this thread about the immigration wait experience.

I made the unhappy discovery last fall that JL 767s to Guam do not have washlets

I have an award reservation on a Thursday in early July that includes an 8-hour layover at HND. Arriving 4PM on United business class, departing midnight on ANA business to BKK.
No experience at all in Tokyo, so wondering if I should keep this routing and pop out of the airport for a bit. Or continue to look for options to open up that do not have a long layover.

I have looked back numerous pages in this thread and didn't find much. And a search of FT for a thread on HND layovers found only one that was closed in 2020.

Any threads or info I have missed on options and experiences for an 8-hour layover out of HND?
Not really a big sushi person, as I don't like much seafood, which other websites seem to mention often. Some other unique food options might be fun, or somebody have other things they like in this circumstance.

I could theoretically check my roller board and just have a backpack, though pretty heavy.

8 hours is plenty of time to go enjoy a good meal in the city and get back. there is luggage storage in T3 so you don't have to haul anything around with you. Tons of great non-sushi meals to be had. Yakitori, yakiniku, tempura, ramen, etc