Planespotting Tokyo Haneda — RJTT
Haneda is Japan's busiest airport and one of the friendliest anywhere for spotters: all three terminals have free rooftop observation decks with lens-sized gaps in the mesh, and locals listen to scanners openly. Four runways surround the terminals — 16L/34R and 16R/34L running north-south, 04/22 and 05/23 crossing at an angle — and their use follows the wind. In northerly flow, the usual pattern in winter, arrivals come in on 34L and 34R while departures use 34R and 05. In southerly flow, typical in summer, arrivals land on 22 and 23 and departures use the 16s, except between 15:00 and 19:00, when arrivals swing onto 16L and 16R across central Tokyo. The traffic is unlike anywhere outside Japan: domestic trunk routes flown with 777s, 787s, 767s and A350s, and Haneda's growing long-haul network on top. Winter brings the clearest air, sometimes with Mount Fuji behind the runways.
- NUM511 FA8X 7 100 ft
- AAR178 A333
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Conditions right now
Runways
- 16L/34R RWY 34R 3,368 × 60 m · 11,050 × 197 ft asphalt
- 16R/34L 3,005 × 60 m · 9,859 × 197 ft asphalt
- 04/22 2,503 × 60 m · 8,212 × 197 ft asphalt
- 05/23 2,503 × 60 m · 8,212 × 197 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 08:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody50%
- Widebody45%
- Bizjet3%
- Turboprop2%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Terminal 2 Observation Deck
The ANA terminal's rooftop deck looks straight across 16L/34R, so it sees every movement on that runway plus the ANA apron below. The Terminal 1 deck on the JAL side is the morning alternative, facing 16R/34L.
- Getting there
- Landside rooftop of Terminal 2, follow the signs; Keikyu or Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Terminal 2 / Terminal 1-2 station. Free; usually about 06:30–22:00 — check the airport website. Free shuttle buses link the terminals.
- Best time
- Afternoon light; the runway is backlit until around 11:00. Use the T1 deck in the early morning instead.
- Lens
- Under 50 mm for the apron, 300–600 mm (full frame) for the runway.
Terminal 3 Observation Deck
The international terminal's deck faces the T3 apron with the domestic ramps in the distance; 34L arrivals in northerly flow and 16R departures in southerly flow pass in front. It is reported to stay open around the clock, which makes it the place for night shots.
- Getting there
- Terminal 3, landside, follow signs to the observation deck; Keikyu or Monorail to Haneda Terminal 3 station. Free.
- Best time
- Afternoon and night; mornings are backlit.
- Lens
- Wide angle for the apron, longer lenses for the runway and remote stands.
Jonanjima Seaside Park
An artificial beach and lawn on the island north of the airport, directly below arrivals for runway 22 and beside the climb-out of 34R. Aircraft on the 22 approach come over low enough to fill the frame with a modest zoom.
- Getting there
- Bus 森32 (Jonanjima loop) from JR Omori, Keikyu Heiwajima or Monorail Ryutsu Center station to Jonanjima 4-chome — roughly hourly. Toilets and vending machines, no shop.
- Best time
- 34R departures in the early morning; 22 arrivals (southerly flow) from afternoon to sunset.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm for 22 arrivals, 200–500 mm for 34R departures.
Keihinjima Tsubasa Park
A small waterfront park on the next island south of Jonanjima, with a similar view of 34R departures and 22 arrivals and good overhead shots in northerly flow.
- Getting there
- Bus 森24, 森36 or 森46 (Keihinjima loop) from JR Omori, Heiwajima or Ryutsu Center to Keihinjima 3-banchi or Keihinjima Kaijo Koen — infrequent. A taxi from the terminals takes about 15 minutes but can be hard to find for the return.
- Best time
- Afternoon to sunset.
- Lens
- 150–400 mm for 22 arrivals, 200–500 mm for 34R departures.
Ukishima Town Park, Kawasaki
On the Kawasaki side of the Tama River mouth, south of the airport, the reopened park looks over aircraft taxiing to runway 05 and arrivals on 34L. A fence spoils some runway 05 views.
- Getting there
- Bus for Ukishima Bus Terminal from JR/Keikyu Kawasaki station to Ukishimacho-koen; use the front entrance. Toilet but no shop — buy food at Kawasaki station.
- Best time
- Afternoon to sunset.
- Lens
- About 250 mm for a 777, 450 mm for a 737.
Haneda Innovation City rooftop deck
A free roof deck — with a foot bath — on an office complex beside the old runway 04 threshold. It overlooks heavies taxiing to the international ramps after landing on 22, and 16R arrivals in the distance.
- Getting there
- Keikyu or Monorail to Tenkubashi station, then walk to Zone E of the complex and take the outside stairs to the roof. Shops and toilets in the building.
- Best time
- Noon to sunset in southerly flow; heat shimmer limits 16R shots in summer.
- Lens
- 100–400 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
JAL and ANA run Haneda's domestic network with 777s, 787s, 767s and JAL's A350-900s, plus 737s and A320neo-family jets from them and Skymark, Air Do, Solaseed and Starflyer. International traffic adds the A350-1000 and 777-300ER on long haul, United, Delta, American, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Qantas, Turkish, ITA and others, plus a dense Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Southeast Asian mix. Government and VIP aircraft use stands by the old runway 04 end, and Japan Coast Guard aircraft are based on the field. Cargo is mostly in passenger bellies; pure freighters are rare here compared with Narita.
FAQ
What's that plane over Tokyo Haneda?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B aircraft around Haneda and Tokyo Bay with type, registration and route. Free and in the browser — handy for checking what's next on the 22 approach.
Are the Haneda observation decks free?
Yes. All three terminals have free rooftop decks with gaps in the mesh for lenses. Terminal 3's deck has long been open around the clock; hours can change, so check the official site.
Which runways does Haneda use?
In northerly wind, arrivals land on 34L/34R and departures use 34R and 05. In southerly wind, arrivals use 22/23, except 15:00–19:00 when they switch to 16L/16R over the city. Spotterra shows the active flow from the METAR.
Can I use a scanner at Haneda?
Listening is widely done by local spotters on the decks. Check Japanese rules on radio reception before you bring one.
Spotterra watches the sky over Tokyo Haneda
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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