Today I rode out to Haneda Airport.
I’d visited once by bike shortly after moving, but the atmosphere of the airport island (deserted, staff-only feeling, strict security vibes) got to me and I turned around. That’s the main memory.
Information on cycling access to Haneda is sparse online, so I figured I’d document it here.
There are three approaches to Haneda Airport by car:
- North: Bay-Shore Road (Wangan-doro)
- South: Shuto Expressway
- West: Tenkubashi
But both the Bay-Shore Road and the Expressway prohibit bicycles, so the only option is the Tenkubashi route.
Other modes like bus and Tokyo Monorail exist but are irrelevant for cycling.
So I took the Tenkubashi route.
For anyone else planning to cycle to Haneda, here’s a more detailed map:
Cross Tenkubashi and follow Route 8 toward the airport.
The photo below faces northwest from Point C (going in, you’re heading from the background toward the foreground).
After a left curve, a tunnel appears underneath the runway (Point A).
On a bike it feels a little intimidating, but you gather your nerve and push through.
Inside the tunnel.
Cars passing through (especially trucks) are incredibly loud.
Exiting the tunnel brings you into the area full of JAL and other airline buildings.
This was where I gave up last time and turned around.
In the photo below (hard to read, but), riding on the left sidewalk takes you automatically left; the right sidewalk lets you go straight or right.
At least the route shown on the second map above was cycleable.
Getting all the way out here by bike must be too much effort for most, because I saw almost no cyclists or pedestrians.
There also weren’t many spots to actually watch takeoffs and landings. (That was the whole point — disappointing.)
The passenger terminals have observation decks, but there’s apparently no bicycle parking.
So instead: zone out staring at the sea.
————————————-
Haneda is apparently expanding its international terminal. A new international wing was under construction.
The next time I come, this whole area will probably look quite different.
I’ve been trying to get a cycling-enthusiast colleague to come along, and he’s interested in a central Tokyo route. Looking forward to that one.