When you arrive in Japan late at night, you often find yourself stuck at the airport without any public transportation options. For example, at Haneda, the last train and monorail leave around 11:45 PM. However, there are alternatives to taking an expensive taxi.

Staying a Night at an Airport Hotel

Booking a hotel near the airport can be a good option after a long flight, especially if you arrive late at night or are traveling with a baby. There are many hotel options, but the best choice is staying at a hotel directly connected to the terminal. These options are often more expensive and limited, but considering that many off-airport hotels don’t run shuttles 24 hours, this is a better option.

Several airports have hotels directly connected to or within walking distance from a terminal. New Chitose (Sapporo), Haneda, Chubu (Nagoya), Kansai, and Hiroshima airports have such hotels. Although they are more expensive than typical airport hotels, the convenience of having a hotel within a few minutes’ walk cannot be beaten, in my opinion.

New Chitose (Domestic and International terminals are connected):

• Domestic Terminal: Air Terminal Hotel (in terminal)
• Domestic Terminal: New Chitose Hot Springs (in terminal)
• International Terminal: Portom International Hokkaido (in terminal)

Haneda:

• Terminal 2: Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu (in terminal)
• Terminal 3: The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda (in terminal)
• Terminal 3: Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport (connected via walkway)

Nagoya (Chubu):

• Centrair Hotel (in terminal)
• Comfort Hotel (connected via walkway)
• Toyoko INN No. 1 (walking distance)
• Toyoko INN No. 2 (walking distance)
• Four Points by Sheraton (walking distance)

Kansai:

• Hotel Nikko (connected via walkway)

Hiroshima:

• Hiroshima Airport Hotel (walking distance)

Staying at an Airport Onsen and Spa

This might be the most unique aspect of select Japanese airports. Haneda and New Chitose airports have 24-hour public onsens on site. You can use these facilities to relax until the first train to the city. Both airport onsens have indoor and outdoor baths, saunas, and shower areas. The onsen at Haneda has a 24-hour restaurant, while the onsen at New Chitose airport has a 24-hour relaxation room with reclining seats for sleeping and 11 individual rooms with beds (for an additional charge). Nagoya’s Chubu airport also has an onsen facility, but it does not operate 24 hours. These facilities are extremely popular among travelers and locals, so weekends and holidays tend to have waitlists.

• Haneda: Izumi Tenku no Yu (Inside of Villa Fountain Hotel by Terminal 3)
• New Chitose: New Chitose Hot Springs (Free if you stay at Air Terminal Hotel)
• Nagoya (Chubu): Sola Spa Bath Fu no Yu (does not operate 24 hours)

Stay at Hourly Rate Capsule Hotels

There are several hourly rate rooms you can use at Narita, Haneda, Nagoya (Chubu), and Kansai airports. These hotels or cafes allow you to rest on an hourly basis, making them great for people who just want to take a shower and a quick nap. Costs tend to be much cheaper than a regular hotel as long as you don’t stay too long. Hourly hotel chains like First Cabin (Haneda and Kansai), Nine Hours (Narita), and TUBE Sq (Nagoya) offer rooms with beds, but showers and toilets are not equipped in each room (or pod).

• Haneda: First Cabin
• Narita: Nine Hours
• Nagoya: TUBE Sq
• Kansai: First Cabin

Stay in Nap Rooms (No Beds)

Haneda’s Royal Park Hotel has nap rooms that you can use on an hourly basis. Each room comes with a sofa and a shower room, but no bed. Kansai airport has a unique location called cafe lounge “Nodoka.” This place is unique because you can choose either a nap room with no bed or a tent on the floor.

• Haneda: The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda Refresh Room (Terminal 3)
• Kansai: Cafe Lounge NODOKA

Taking the Night Bus to Select Destinations

If you are traveling to Shinjuku (Higashi Shinjuku station), Ikebukuro, and Yokohama station, there are several buses operating after midnight. Since the pandemic, night bus services have been cut significantly, but lately bus operators are restarting late-night services. For now, night buses are only available on select routes, but I assume service will gradually return to 2019 levels.

Taking a Taxi

Taking a taxi is the last option, but the line is often long after other public transportation options are unavailable after hours. I would recommend reserving one before your departure.

Conclusion

Arriving in Japan late at night is not ideal, as most public transportation does not run 24 hours, often requiring an expensive taxi ride to the city. However, with options such as airport hotels, onsen facilities, hourly rate capsule hotels, and night buses, you can find comfortable and convenient alternatives to make your late-night arrival more manageable and enjoyable.