Where to photograph aircraft at Tokyo Haneda, the airport I grew up next to. The best spots, when to go, and how the wind changes everything.
--:-- in Tokyo ·
Weather data by Open-Meteo. The runway setup and Fuji chance are estimates. Air traffic control decides which runways are used.
Pick a wind direction to see which runways are in use and which spots work best.
North wind: arrivals on 34L and 34R, departures from 34R and 05. Runway 04/22 is not used.
South wind (outside 15:00–19:00): arrivals on 22 and 23, departures from 16L and 16R.
South wind, 15:00–19:00: arrivals on 16L and 16R over central Tokyo, departures from 22, 16L and 16R. Runway 05/23 is not used.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Each terminal has a free rooftop deck. Terminal 1 is the JAL side, Terminal 2 the ANA side, and Terminal 3 is international.
Terminal 1 is best from sunrise to noon and is also great at blue hour. Terminals 2 and 3 are better in the afternoon. At night all three are great, and Terminal 1 has the most light.
When it rains, go to Terminal 1: part of the deck has a roof.
Great for aircraft with Mt. Fuji in the background, in the morning and at sunset on clear days when Fuji is visible.
Aircraft are washed here every night, from about 2:00 to 5:00.
A guided tour of ANA's maintenance hangar, with aircraft just metres away. Highly recommended, but places are hard to get.
Face-to-face with departures from runway 22. Very nice for afternoon departures after 15:00 when the wind is from the south.
Another great spot for runway 22 departures, on the roof of Haneda Innovation City. With south wind outside 15:00–19:00 you get runway 22 arrivals here instead.
There's always something interesting parked here, often a JAL A350-1000, and close-ups are possible.
Popular, but honestly not worth the effort: it's hard to get to and the views are average. Go only if you're already nearby.
Views across the water to runway 34R departures with north wind, or runway 22 arrivals with south wind. Good light from the afternoon to sunset.
Across the Tama River in Kawasaki: aircraft taxiing to runway 05 and arrivals to 34L. A fence blocks some angles toward runway 05.
A quiet path along the Tama River with arrivals to runway 34L.
JAL's museum and hangar tour, the counterpart to ANA's. Free, but you need to reserve in advance.
Runway use depends on the wind and on air traffic control, so treat this as a guide rather than a timetable. Stay on public paths, respect fences and follow staff instructions.