A difficult birth
Narita International opened in 1978 after more than a decade of conflict. Local farmers and activists protested the seizure of land around Sanrizuka, and the opening was delayed for years by clashes with police. Some plots of farmland still sit inside the airport boundary today, which is why the second runway is shorter than planned and has a bend in its taxiway.
What you’ll see on the live cams
Narita handles most of Tokyo’s long-haul flights to North America and Europe, plus a large share of Japan’s air cargo. The cams on Runway A catch everything from ANA and JAL 777s to Nippon Cargo Airlines’ 747-8 freighters, one of the last fleets of the Queen of the Skies. Low-cost carriers have their own Terminal 3, so you’ll see plenty of ZIPAIR, Jetstar Japan and Spring Japan too.
Runways
Narita has two runways: A (16R/34L), 4,000 metres long, and B (16L/34R), 2,500 metres. A third runway, C, is under construction, and Runway B is being extended, as part of a major expansion. Most widebodies use Runway A.
Best times to watch
- Morning (07:00–10:00): arrivals from North America and departures to Asia.
- Late afternoon to evening: departures to North America and Europe.
- Spring: cherry blossoms at Sakuranoyama, visible from the south cam.
