Tokyo’s Haneda Airport district, set on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay with a backdrop of snowcapped peaks, is full of surprises.

Haneda is the main airport hub of southern Tokyo. This ultra-modern transportation facility in Tokyo Bay is a destination in itself. Let Robohon, the airport’s charming robot, translate for you or guide you around the airport, enjoy the views from the huge open-air observation deck, visit a ramen bar for a delicious lunch and shop for souvenirs and anime gadgets.

The domestic airport looks like an elegant, cozy shopping mall, contrasting nicely with the bright white halls of the international passenger terminal.

Everyone loves visiting the atmospheric Edo Ko-Ji alley above Haneda's modern check-in area. The hall was made to look like a city street from the Edo era, complete with lanterns and wooden shop fronts. To get there, you have to cross the airport’s internal wooden bridge, known as the Haneda Nihonbashi Bridge. The period street has a range of packaged food and souvenir shops for those flying home from this airport.

While you could easily spend a half day here, you don’t have to limit yourself to the airport alone if you aren’t in a hurry to catch a plane. Nearby, the Jonanjima Seaside Park overlooks Tokyo Bay and is a good spot for a picnic. Visit the Ikegami Honmonji Buddhist Temple to admire its five-story pagoda and watch the worshippers come and go.

The waterside park is home to Senzokuike Park, which has a large pond with swan paddle boats and landscaped gardens. You can even stay here for a romantic night of camping under the stars in summer. There are plenty of hotels around the airport if you fancy a more luxurious stay.

The main advantages of flying out of, or into, Haneda instead of Tokyo's Narita airport is that it’s fast and cheap to get to from the city. From Tokyo Station, take the Negishi line or JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Hamamatsucho and then switch to jump on the Tokyo Monorail to the Haneda Airport International Terminal. The trip takes about half an hour. This being an airport, you can also pick up or drop off a rental car here and there is no shortage of taxis that can take you to the center of Tokyo.