Thks - that's actually what I thought too. I was thinking maybe we got out of Keisei Ueno, take a cab to Asakusa. We have to pick up the Nikko pass at Asakusa anyway. But with the timing being Friday evening, would traffic be any issue?

Traffic around Ueno station can be a bit chaotic at any time, Friday rush hour could make it worse. It might be faster to take the subway.

Are you checking luggage? If not, you can just take the airside transit bus to T1, that should generally be fine for 2h10m.

If you have checked luggage it is a bit more challenging.

Update - I flew out of HND T1 on Friday evening at around 6:50 PM and found somewhat longer lines for security - Three zigzags around the tensa barriers.
There was a JAL employee with a megaphone at one end of the security line, announcing a dedicated security lane for passengers on the Kumamoto flight which was scheduled to depart 20 minutes later. The other lanes also moved fairly quickly, with staff directing passengers to vacant spots for placing items in trays. I think HND is handling things well, even for folks who show up quite close to their scheduled departure time.

Here's a little update.

Last week I flew HEL-HND-SYD in PE on JAL, on 2 separate award tickets (issued by QF and BA). On checking in at HEL, the agent (a Japanese lady) didn't want to through-check me (I was HBO), and said I would have to re-check at HND. I suggested that she speak to her supervisor, who came over and said that both boarding passes could be issued at HEL. I just wonder what the issue was that the agent had in mind?

On arrival at HND (after a 13 hour flight (on which mask wearing was enforced), transit passengers were made to remain seated while arriving passengers deplaned. Then the transit passengers were deplaned and pretty much escorted to transit security and on to departures area. It was all very well organised and executed, but was a little overkill as can be the way in Japan.

Then a lovely few hours in the First Class Lounge (mostly sans mask) and on to Sydney. Overall an OK journey, but the mask wearing was a bit tedious and the PE service just basically economy (plastic everything). The seats were fine though.

Yes, there are no problems through transiting on one ticket, especially with JAL/ANA. Just have to wait a few more minutes before deplaning. Have done HND a few times.

What if technically you're a transit passenger, but have a long layover at HND and plan to visit a couple spots in Tokyo before your next flight? Is it wrong to assume that one can just deplane with the arriving passengers?

I haven't tried but now it is probably ok.
My partner tried last time when it was still restricted entry and she was chased down by JL staff, but she has a Japanese passport so they let her through. I would say now it's fine, you'll just have to mysos etc. Might be worth letting the cabin staff know so they can flag it to the ground staff. Country is a stickler for rules etc.

MySOS (soon to be replaced by Visit Japan Web) is not required, but you need either proof of triple vaccination, or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours before departure to Japan.

Actually there is nothing to stop you from getting off the plane immediately. I saw a bunch of transit passengers doing this when we arrived at HND last week. They either ignored or couldn't hear/understand the announcement by the cabin crew telling them to stay seated.

Out of curiosity, I asked the FA before disembarking NH11 yesterday at NRT and was told both transit and arrivals leave at the same time.

It is really a mix of the three, transit passengers first, transit passengers last, or no order announced. Though my experience with last has mainly been on flights where there probably were no connecting passengers, or at least very very few. JAL generally while taxiing to the gate announces that they will be getting instructions on disembarkation order from the ground staff.

I would expect NH11 to have a fair bit of connecting passengers. It is easier with US arrivals in Narita though, as the connecting passengers are just sent directly to the departure area, and thus will generally not mix with the passengers entering Japan on the arrivals level. Separation happens already at the jetway.

which airport is better for intl->domestic connection, NRT or HND?

will be on ANA for both on single ticket, multiple options for 80 min, 120min, 150 min connections, possibly 1 checked bag



thinking NRT should be better, b/c ANA int'l lands T1, customs/immigration, then its a short walk on the same floor to checkin for domestic (same terminal)
while HND likely has to transfer terminals?

In terms of shared terminal, Narita for sure. But for frequencies and options for domestic destinations, Haneda for sure. Narita only had a very limited domestic schedule