Tokyo’s original airport
Haneda opened in 1931 as Tokyo Airport on a small piece of land in Tokyo Bay. After World War II it was taken over by US forces and returned to Japan in 1952. When Narita opened in 1978, Haneda became mainly a domestic airport, but a new international terminal in 2010 and the fourth runway, Runway D, built partly on a pier structure in the bay, brought long-haul flights back. Today Haneda is once again the preferred Tokyo gateway for many international travellers.
What you’ll see on the live cams
The Japanese broadcaster cams show the domestic terminals, where JAL (Terminal 1) and ANA (Terminal 2) park their fleets nose to nose. Aircraft push back, taxi and depart in a steady rhythm from early morning to late at night. Spotters love the special liveries that ANA and JAL fly on domestic routes. The bayside WanganGo stream adds a calmer view with the city skyline, and the 3D radar stream lets you hear Tokyo approach and tower controllers.
Four runways in the bay
Haneda’s runways form two pairs: A (16R/34L) and C (16L/34R) run north–south, and B (04/22) and D (05/23) run diagonally. In northerly winds, aircraft land on 34L/34R and depart from 05 and 34R. In southerly winds, a newer route introduced in 2020 brings afternoon arrivals over central Tokyo onto 16L/16R.
Best times to watch
- 07:00–09:00: the first departure wave of domestic flights.
- 17:00–20:00: evening peak with aircraft returning to Tokyo, and the aprons lit up.
- Winter mornings: the clearest air and the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji.
