Making a stopover in Haneda with Japan's borders still closed

We recently published the ranking of the world's best airports e Tokyo Haneda came in second place, just behind Doha: the capital of Qatar and the best airport in the world.

I honestly don't understand what's so special about it. this airport, but maybe it is only Terminal 3 that is "normal." This airport for years has been Tokyo's "secondary" airport and dedicated only to domestic flights, whereas now competes with Narita due to its better location than the Japanese megacity, partly due to the fact that the government has authorized international flights. Something like what happens at Linate and Malpensa.

In the past I had flown to the other stopover, ITA AIrways should also arrive here sooner or later, provided that Japan resolves to open its borders: Currently, it is only possible to enter Tokyo and the rest of the Rising Sun nation on a business visa, and there are not yet even any hints as to when travel will be allowed to the rest of the travelers.

At the moment, therefore, few operational flights and many canceled flights, few passengers around and everything, or almost everything, desolately closed, at least in Terminal3 the one where all intercontinental flights are concentrated.

Of course, the situation is not that of being inside a military hospital, as had happened to me When I transited last summer to Singapore, and fortunately the lounges are open, but there is really nothing to do.

The stores, except for a couple, are closed and do not seem to even have plans to reopen anytime soon since they are just sealed.

In ten days I am leaving for my first world tour.

The long corridor is a string of downed shutters. This is probably not the case at Terminal 1 where domestic flights are concentrated, but here the scenario reminds me of that of my first trips at the beginning of the pandemic.

I spent almost 12 hours in ANA's lounge., a Japanese member company of the Star Alliance because of my Gold status, but in this case it would have come to my aid Priority Pass as well since in recent months the carrier has decided to open the doors also to holders of this card, probably to collect a few extra yen.

• round the world tour

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