Tokyo Haneda 7 hour layover

[lufcbrown]

Hi,

In October i arrive in Tokyo Haneda airport having flown from Sydney. I then have a domestic flight from Haneda to Osaka although have a 7 hour wait. I have done a fair bit of research but am pretty confused with what is available. What do people recommend as the best thing to do with regards to lounge/hotel use?

I notice there is a hotel which i think you can use by the hour but their website is unclear. At this stage i am only flying economy but have requested business upgrades with Qantas so may have a lounge that way. At this stage I'm just trying to work out what my options are with paid lounges/hotels.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

You could certainly head into the city, although I would limit yourself to visiting just destination only in the time you got.
It would be quite tight but doable.
Great way to beat Jet lag.

The imperial Palace or Roppongi Hills ( one of a few observation decks in Tokyo) come to mind that shouldn't take too long to get to from HND.
You would take the Monorail and then the subway for a few stops.

I've only flown into HND domestically and not out of HND, although the airport lounges are supposedly quite good being the main domestic hub airport for Both JAL & ANA.

I would point out though for travelling between Tokyo and Osaka Kensai it is substantially much quicker to take the Shikansen than to fly. The reason for this is the time it takes to transit between the Kensai and the city centre itself.
If flying into Osaka -Itami this airport is a lot closer to Osaka CBD and will shave down transit time.

 

[lufcbrown]

Thanks for the advice. The reason why i asked about airport facilities is that later in our trip we have a week in Tokyo so wasn't too fussed about about leaving the airport boundaries. I'm never usually one for booking a long transit but the cost of the flights were that good i couldn.t really turn it down.

You could certainly head into the city, although I would limit yourself to visiting just destination only in the time you got.
It would be quite tight but doable.
Great way to beat Jet lag.

The imperial Palace or Roppongi Hills ( one of a few observation decks in Tokyo) come to mind that shouldn't take too long to get to from HND.
You would take the Monorail and then the subway for a few stops.

I've only flown into HND domestically and not out of HND, although the airport lounges are supposedly quite good being the main domestic hub airport for Both JAL & ANA.

I would point out though for travelling between Tokyo and Osaka Kensai it is substantially much quicker to take the Shikansen than to fly. The reason for this is the time it takes to transit between the Kensai and the city centre itself.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

The domestic terminal for JAL is big so if you stay at the airport and don't have lounge access you will still find plenty of Food & Bev options.

 

[cosi]

Why the wait and long layover?

Most domestic connections are on the hour.

 

[ozcos]

I'm looking for simillar advice so resurrecting this thread.

I have a potential 13 hour layover in TYO - arriving 9am at NRT and departing QF26 10pm from HND. I will be coming off an overnight from Europe. I will be free during the day but expect to need to attend some conference calls from around 4pm onwards.

Any suggestions as to what to do?

Im thinking of maybe finding a hotel closer to HND where I can get a "day room" rate - any suggestions? It would be nice to be able to check in, nap if I need, then go exploring and back in the room for calls, then to the airport.

Alternatively, if I decide to stay "awake", I could store my luggage somewhere for the day, check in early for the flight, and use the lounge for the conference calls. Is there anywhere in the lounge or airport where I could do this and not annoying everyone in the lounge?

By the way - I'm QF Plat so have access to the first class lounge.

Of course, any other thoughts welcome.

 

[Cynicor]

Tokyo has heaps of storage lockers everywhere, so I would take a regular train into the city, find a stop that gets you to haneda and store the luggage there for retrieval later.

Try not to bring anything too big to maximise chances of finding a locker. I would then hit the town, you'll get in around 11 or 12.

If you have never been before I would find a decent lunch and then wander one of the smaller areas. What do you like? Asakusa for a touristy but nice temple. Yoyogi Park and Harajuku would work.

Head back in just before its time for you to work, I guess, if you planned on working in the lounge. Otherwise retreat somewhere quiet, take your calls and hit somewhere for dinner then get to haneda. Definitely wouldn't spend too long in the airports.

 

[Conrad_S]

As an alternative suggestion consider one of the Narita hotels like the Radisson or Hilton. Go there direct from flight and have a shower and a nap. Overnight rates can be close to $100 aud. Free bus to and from Narita airport and city. In the afternoon check out the Naritasan temple and adjacent Park. They are excellent and not as crowded as the main Tokyo ones. Get the train from Narita or the bus from the hotel in the early evening to Tokyo station and transfer to Haneda.
The first class lounge at Haneda has little phone rooms in the hallway leading into the lounge and a separate work type lounge area. There seem to people that make extended business phone calls in the lounge area anyway.
The hotel that operates at the airport (Royal Park) may have day rate rooms at its Shiodome site. It is next to shimbashi station and one stop from the monorail terminus.

 

[ozcos]

Thanks to you both for the great suggestions and info. I think I might head to Hilton Narita and shower, nap and then play it by ear from there. Good to know about the phone rooms in the lounge - that's what I was hoping for.

 

[illumination]

Sorry guys, also doing a mini resurrection.

In relation to the storage lockers, I know some of you have said "try not to have too much" but this won't be an option for me (I'll have a full sized suitcase + cabin bag). My question is will I be able to find a locker for the big sized one as well?

 

[Cynicor]

Maybe. Google for siZes, big ones go first.