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- Review: Haneda Airport Transit Hotel
- Review: ANA Business Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport
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- Review: Lufthansa Business Lounge Munich
- Review: Lufthansa A320neo Business Class
- Review: The Langley, Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel
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- Review: Andaz Tokyo, A Hyatt Hotel
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I had a roughly 15 hour layover at Haneda Airport, as I was arriving from New York at around 9PM, and was departing the next day to Munich just after 12PM. Even though 15 hours is a reasonable amount of time to go into the city, I decided to stay at the airport so that I could visit the ANA Lounge right at 5AM the following morning (when it opened), allowing me to review it before it fills up.
So for my stay I booked the Royal Park Transit Hotel at Haneda Airport, which is the only airside transit hotel at the airport (meaning you don’t even have to leave the terminal or go through immigration).
In this post:
How To Book Haneda Airport Transit Hotel
The Royal Park Hotel is the property located on the premises of Haneda Airport. However, there’s an important distinction to understand. The main part of the hotel is located landside (prior to security and immigration), as is the norm for airport hotels.
However, the Royal Park Hotel Haneda also has a transit section. In other words, they have a separate part of the hotel that’s located airside (past security and immigration).
I once had a layover at Haneda and made the mistake of booking the Royal Park Hotel that’s landside, which isn’t nearly as convenient. This time around I booked the airside hotel.
As far as I can tell, there’s no way to directly book the transit hotel online, so the best way to book is by calling the hotel, which was an adventure. I don’t remember the last time I’ve made a hotel booking by phone, especially with a language barrier.
The entire process took about 15 minutes (about half that time was spent repeatedly phonetically spelling out my name).
How Much Is The Haneda Airport Transit Hotel?
As you might expect, you pay a premium for the convenience of staying airside. The transit hotel can be booked in blocks of six hours. For my stay I booked a double room for 12 hours (which is all they had available), and the rate was 21,000JPY (~192USD). Obviously that’s not cheap, though the time savings and transit costs are potentially significant compared to some of the other options.
Below is their pricing, per a display on the check-in counter.
Haneda Airport transit hotel rates
Royal Park Haneda Airport Transit Hotel Review
There’s not all that much to say about the property, so let me share how I got to the hotel, what my room was like, and the free lounge that all guests have access to.
Getting To The Haneda Airport Transit Hotel
After arriving from New York I first had to clear transit security, which took virtually no time. You do need a boarding pass to go through transit security, though there’s also an airline transit counter right before the checkpoint, should you still need it printed.
Haneda Airport International Terminal
Once through transit security the signage was excellent. I headed in the directions of gates 105-149, and there was even specific mention of the transit hotel.
Haneda Airport International Terminal signage
At the top of the escalator I headed in the direction of gates 113-149.
Haneda Airport International Terminal signage
It was a roughly three minute walk…
Haneda Airport International Terminal
…and then I saw a sign leading to the transit hotel, right near gate 114.
Haneda Airport transit hotel signage
That required just going up an escalator.
Escalator to Royal Park Transit Hotel Haneda Airport
Entrance to Royal Park Hotel Haneda transit area
The lobby of the transit hotel is small, and there was no one manning the desk, so I had to ring the little bell they had on the desk. The check-in process took just a few minutes.
Haneda Airport transit hotel lobby
Haneda Airport Transit Hotel Room
My room (#527) was just down the hall from reception, at the very end on the right.
Haneda Airport transit hotel hallway
Haneda Airport transit hotel room exterior
The room is advertised as being 18 square meters (~195 square feet), and I’d say it felt even smaller than that. The room featured an entryway with the bathroom on the right, and the rest of the room straight ahead.
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel room
The room had a large and firm bed with just two pillows (which is fine since I was alone, but if I were with Ford I wouldn’t have been happy about only having one pillow each).
Haneda Airport transit hotel room
Across from the bed was a TV, as well as a little stool that could be pulled out if you want somewhere to sit (I guess?), though it didn’t look particularly comfortable.
Haneda Airport transit hotel room
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel room
Next to the bed was another one of these stools. I’m not sure how you’re practically supposed to use that?
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel room
The bathroom was back by the entrance, and featured a sink with barely any separation from the toilet, as well as a shower/tub combo.
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel bathroom
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel toilet
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel shower
Toiletries were in reusable containers.
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel toiletries
There was a laminated sheet in the bathroom telling you everything you could possibly want to know about the water supply at the airport as well…
Haneda Airport Royal Park Transit Hotel water tank explanation
Haneda Airport Transit Hotel Lounge
The hotel has a complimentary “lounge” for guests (if you can even call it that), located next to reception, with seating for about 20. This is the only real shared facility of the transit hotel (there’s no gym or pool or anything), so it’s nice that they have at least somewhere to sit.
Haneda Airport transit hotel lounge
Haneda Airport transit hotel lounge
Haneda Airport transit hotel lounge
Haneda Airport transit hotel lounge
There are even complimentary snacks and drinks, but don’t get too excited. There’s a coffee machine, hot water machine, pitchers of orange juice and water, and some candy, snack mix, and instant noodles. That’s it.
Haneda Airport transit hotel lounge
Haneda Airport transit hotel snacks
Haneda Airport transit hotel snacks
Haneda Airport transit hotel drinks
Royal Park Haneda Transit Hotel Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a convenient place to get some rest at Haneda Airport, the transit hotel is your only real option, and rooms can be booked in blocks of six hours.
Ultimately the hotel is pricey and pretty no frills, but what you’re paying for is the convenience. For my purposes I was happy with this decision — I managed to get about five hours of sleep, and headed back into the terminal well prior to the crack of dawn.
How can I book Haneda Airport International Terminal Airside Hotel online. My flight ANA arrives Haneda at 0600 AM and next flight to San Francisco departs at 1055 PM.
@Tom
when arriving in HND the last time (at 9.30pm) it took me almost an hour to get through immigration. Not what I would call a "breeze"...
It is possible to make a reservation online for the transit hotel - I just did so.
https://www.the-royalpark.jp/the/tokyohaneda/en/transit/
Scroll to the bottom and click on "view plans". I was able to book a room for 6 hours for 12,000 JPY.
I received a confirmation number and email at the end of the booking.
The one peculiar feature was that the confirmation includes cancelation penalties, but also that no credit card is required to hold the reservation.
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The review has persuaded me to go land-side for a transit stop, either the land-side version of this hotel, or even take a hotel shuttle for a stay of 12 hrs or more.
+1 for JAL City hotel - decently priced and easy access to HND. Can't say it was super memorable, but for that matter most airport hotels are not.
I have stayed at the Royal Park for 1 month while on business. The shops and restaurants in the terminal are very convenient. Then I moved 10 min away to the JAL City hotel for 1 month, this is where you can find the real authentic restaurants and markets within easy walking distance. I preferred the JAL City over the Royal Park.
I agree with @TLS.
Japanese hotels are getting more and more expensive, and the unit bath (even Westin Nagoya used it in normal rooms!) is definitely depressing.
This hotel featuring a normal module bathroom is a saving grace imo.
@Tim, agree the Strings is nice. Actually where I normally stay for business. Just a bit further out and sometimes the IC is a bit pricier than I'd like. But preferable if the price is good. New club lounge going in there (or maybe is there already), which I'm mixed on as may just increase the rates.
When I just need a bed for several hours and don't have points options then the Kamata...
@Tim, agree the Strings is nice. Actually where I normally stay for business. Just a bit further out and sometimes the IC is a bit pricier than I'd like. But preferable if the price is good. New club lounge going in there (or maybe is there already), which I'm mixed on as may just increase the rates.
When I just need a bed for several hours and don't have points options then the Kamata hotels work great. Have done that a few times now. Not a room I'd want to hang out in, have a second person in or even have a large piece of luggage in, but they're good for crashing for a night or two solo for a layover or if planning to be out most of the day.
What sort of views did the window offer (in any)?
Also, how is sound-proofing in the room?
@Abe I did just that last May and stayed at Intercontinental ANA Strings hotel at Shinagawa station. Only a 20 minute train ride from HND and well worth it. Very nice hotel with lovely bar & restaurant. Worth getting into city even though I had early morning flight.
@TLS
You sound like you've never spent over 5 digit yen a night (over $90), if you actually did, then you've gotten ripped off. Just pay up and stay at places like Ritz Carlton Kyoto, and stop complaining.
I've stayed at a hotel like what you've described, although room only for 5,000JPY (less than $50) in Kameido, Tokyo. It even had a mini fridge and a microwave. An absolute steal, I don't think I...
@TLS
You sound like you've never spent over 5 digit yen a night (over $90), if you actually did, then you've gotten ripped off. Just pay up and stay at places like Ritz Carlton Kyoto, and stop complaining.
I've stayed at a hotel like what you've described, although room only for 5,000JPY (less than $50) in Kameido, Tokyo. It even had a mini fridge and a microwave. An absolute steal, I don't think I can ever find such deals in a world class city elsewhere. In Kamata, which is a short train ride away from Haneda, there are also a bunch of great cheapies like that.
Stayed recently at HND landside Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyo (Domestic terminal) for approx. $160 (regular room rate; for me, ckin-ckout was almost 24 hrs) . Picked up checked bag and re-check next day. Short (7 min), free shuttle bus Intl-Domestic. Very similar amenities and had a window! Both terminals offer a wide variety of food options. Intl terminal has an observation deck.
This looks like a typical, small hotel in Japan. At least it didn't have the "single piece" bathroom made out of plastic. Most hotels I've stayed at in Japan haven't been what I'd call comfortable. The breakfast options are also less than exciting in most hotels there, but I guess it had something to do with me not being interested in fish or natto for breakfast...
How timely! I have a fifteen hour layover here in July.
About those stools... they look like storage trunks... in scary movies. I don’t think I can stay there alone. What if there’s a dead body or something like that in there? ;)
Does anyone expect the Four Seasons in a transit hotel? The whole if not all of your time will be spent sleeping.
If you feel like spending another 10-15 minutes you can take the Keikyu line a stop or two to get to some quite cheap business hotels. Sameish room but $50 and some bars, restaurants and signs of life on the streets.
@Tahsin
The Hilton Narita is not landside. It is an off-airport hotel that requires taking a shuttle.
@Tennen, you’re right, I guess I saw someone post about NRT on a comment which made me think of that option for some reason.
@Ben
you should have called the Amex platinum concierge and they would have taken care of your hotel reservation in no time.
Immigration and security are a breeze at Haneda so I don't really see the point in spending more to stay in the crappier "half" of the Royal Park.
I do wonder how the hotel staff move back and forth between airside and landside however.
I love business hotels in Japan. Even though this one was small and basic airport transit hotel, it still had pjs, slippers, and several amenity items in the bathroom.
I want a wooden water tank for tasty water
@Tahsin, wrong airport and different prefecture. Lucky was transiting Haneda, not Narita.
If you're connecting to a domestic flight at HND the next morning, is there any advantage to staying airside since they leave from a different terminal?
I thought I was looking at a US Hampton Inn standard room. Spot on.
There is also a - by the hour rental capsule hotel in another terminals. Capsule beds, showers, about $10 US dollars per hour. If you just need to lye flat for a couple of hours it will do! You do have to exit the terminal and transfer to the other terminal. The information booth helped me find this.
I have learned from experience never, never, never (again - never) to stay in hotel near an airport. These hotels are depressing, generally located in the middle of nowhere with nothing interesting around them. Even if I arrive at a destination late at night and even if the destination is only for transition I will always prefer a hotel within the nearby city to an airport hotel.
There is a Hilton Narita that is landside, that can be booked for 20,000 points a night, which is roughly $100 if you buy Hilton points on sale, paid cash rates hover around 15,000 yen. Seems like a good option for Hilton loyalists.
Ben, you are 'roughing it' these days...This transit hotel looks no better than a Holiday Inn.
What about dining? Did you go back to the terminal?
I stayed once in a 'capsule hotel' at NRT, for the experience.
I've stayed on the landside of this hotel before, when I arrive by train from some other city the night before, and have an early morning flight out of HND.
Would it be possible, if I had checked bags, to check in the night before and drop my bags, then go through security/immigration and use the transit-side hotel? I wonder if they'd actually let me check my bags and go through immigration the evening before...
I've stayed on the landside of this hotel before, when I arrive by train from some other city the night before, and have an early morning flight out of HND.
Would it be possible, if I had checked bags, to check in the night before and drop my bags, then go through security/immigration and use the transit-side hotel? I wonder if they'd actually let me check my bags and go through immigration the evening before my flight.
I actually don't mind the landside version of the hotel. Rooms aren't much bigger, but the airport itself has some nice food options.
No idea there was an airside version of this hotel, thanks for this review. I've stayed in the landside version twice now and found it comfortable and convenient and not too pricey. The staff are also happy to hold your bags if you choose to do a quick trip into the city.
This hotel looks pretty depressing to me. It seems like it has been designed to have no human interaction.
Lol about the language barrier.
Carlos Ghosn who escaped Japan mentioned in his interviews that he and Kelly could not understand the "translator" assigned to them by the prosecutor. His request to change translator were systematically denied.