Haneda Long Transfer
 

Hi,
I have made plans for a trip to Tokyo and Manila. I have a 9 hour and 25 minute transit at Haneda and I have separate tickets for LAX-HND (United) and HND-MNL (JAL). Is there anything near Haneda to do? I'm arriving at 4:30pm and my JAL flight leaves at 1:50am. How much free time would I realistically have, considering I have to go through passport control and get baggage, then make it back to the airport in time to check in for the flight to MNL?

You can take the train from HND and be in several different places within 15 minutes depending on what you want to do. You could probably be anywhere within the Tokyo metro within 30 minutes. Just be careful to return before midnight as trains may no longer travel late at night. Maybe even plan to get back by 10:30pm just to be safe. Don't bring any bags with you, put them in a locker at the airport or train station so it's just you with your passport and valuables. Since it's 4:30 pm you will catch rush hour traffic when you arrive so be prepared for some packed trains.

I was thinking to maybe return by 10, yes. My dad had told me the metro stations have restaurants inside, is that all metro stations or just the main ones? Well, we arrive at 4:30, so by the time we clear passport control and get our luggage, it might be... maybe 6?

If United does not through check your bags to your JL flight to Manila, then as soon as you come out of passport control/customs formality (which will be 2nd floor of the terminal), go up to departure check-in area (3rd floor of the terminal) immediately, check-in with JAL and drop off your luggage for your Manila flight, then head out to the city.

What do you want to do in the city? Have a dinner? Look at sites?

No, it's two separate tickets. I know for sure that I will need to clear entry formalities and check my bags in with JAL. Any sites close to Haneda? Maybe dinner also. But I will be coming back to Tokyo for 6 days after 3 days in Manila, so if there isn't too much to do in the Ota/Haneda area, then I'll see it when I come back from the Philippines.

Take Keikyu Line from Terminal 3 of HND and Kamata is about 8 min., Shinagawa is about 20-30 min. and Kawasaki is about 15-20 min. All these locations have a lot of restaurants right near the station.

I think you will have a plenty of time to go to Ginza or Shibuya if you want. Ginza and Shibuya will be slightly further than above three locations.

Generally the major JR rail stations have restaurants inside the fare area, or just outside fare area in the station (Shinagawa/Tokyo station/Shinjuku/...) usually there will be department stores nearby too, see depachika: https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-dri...d-halls-tokyo/

The subway/metro? Not as much in the station, but there definitely will be restaurants/"fast food"/fast casual within walking distance of any subway stop

Have you or your dad been to Japan before? Thinking about souvenirs/donquojite versus Tokyo station/daimaru

You have enough time to take a train into central Tokyo and back, but if you don't feel like doing that, you can walk to Haneda Airport Garden from the international terminal. It's a kind of mall with shops, restaurants, and an onsen (hot spring) where you can get fresh or take a nap.
https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/han...t-garden/69831

To be honest, I don't think there's enough to occupy you for 9 hours there. If I were you, I'd head into town, have dinner, come back to the airport, and then visit the spa at Haneda Airport Garden at the end of the evening.

Not sure what your interests are, but you could take the train to Shinagawa, transfer to Hamamatsucho, walk to Zojoji Temple and then up to Tokyo Tower to see the city at night. There are restaurants everywhere, but not so much in the metro stations. Anyway, coming from Haneda you will be taking surface trains which allow you to see the city much better as you move about.

Just take the monorail from HND to Hamamatsucho (the end of the monorail route). No transfer is required. Very simple.

Absolutely, and from a transportation only perspective I agree. I would still consider the train as more of an experience of life in Japan.