6 h
A taste of Tokyo
- If you're visa-free: Keikyu to Shinagawa, then the Yamanote line to Shibuya.
- The Shibuya scramble crossing and Hachikō.
- Straight back to Haneda.
Tokyo layover: can you leave Haneda Airport?
Haneda is the Tokyo airport to have a layover at: it's close to the city, and trains reach Shinagawa in under 20 minutes. Most Western, Korean and Singaporean passports are visa-free. Indian and Nepali travellers need a visa to leave the airport.
Rules researched 28 Oct 2026. Always confirm with the official source and your airline.
Can you leave? Rules by passport
| Passport | Can you leave? | What to know | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| United Kingdom | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days, extendable to 6 months under a bilateral arrangement. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Germany | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days, extendable to 6 months under a bilateral arrangement. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| France | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Italy | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Spain | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Netherlands | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Other EU / Schengen country | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. All 27 EU countries are on Japan's visa-exemption list, generally for 90 days. Austria and Ireland can extend to 6 months. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Australia | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Canada | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| New Zealand | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Japan | Yes, you can leave | You're home. Japanese citizens walk straight out through the automated gates. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| South Korea | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| Singapore | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free. 90 days for a short-term stay. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
| India | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | Visa needed before you fly. Japan abolished its separate transit visa on 1 July 2026, so to leave the airport you need a short-term visa, applied for through the embassy or VFS. A shore pass is only granted at an immigration officer's discretion, so don't count on one. | Zurich Kotak: Japan transit visa for Indians abolished (1 Jul 2026) |
| Nepal | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | Visa needed before you fly. Nepal isn't on Japan's visa-exemption list. Apply for a short-term visa through the Japanese embassy before you travel. | MOFA Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) |
Other passport? Check the official source above, then use the checker for the time maths. Spotted a change? Tell us.
Just changing planes? Do you need a visa at HND?
International-to-international connections at Haneda don't involve immigration, just a transit security check, so no Japanese visa is needed.
Changing terminals
International flights use Terminal 3 and part of Terminal 2. Between them, a connecting shuttle bus runs airside, followed by transit security. Narita is a different airport: moving between Haneda and Narita means entering Japan.
Going on to a domestic flight
Connecting to a domestic flight means clearing immigration and customs at Haneda and collecting your bags, so you need a Japanese visa if your passport requires one. Allow about 80 minutes.
Separate tickets (self-transfer)
On separate tickets you usually have to collect your bags and check in again, which means entering Japan: Indian and Nepali passports need a visa.
How long to allow
Allow at least 75 minutes international to international, and 80 minutes international to domestic.
Airport transit visa by passport
None of the 16 passports we cover needs a visa to change planes airside at HND, on one booking with your bags checked through. Entering the country, for a terminal change through immigration, a domestic flight or separate tickets, follows the rules in the table above.
Sources: ANA: Haneda connection guide
How much time will you really have?
40 minto get through immigration and out
30 mineach way to the main sights
2 hback at the airport before departure
5.5 hminimum layover for 90 minutes outside
Trains stop around midnight and start again after 5 am. On an overnight layover, plan around that or take a taxi.
Getting to Tokyo
| Option | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keikyu line to Shinagawa | About 13–20 min | Around ¥300 | Connects to the JR Yamanote line for Shibuya, Shinjuku and Tokyo Station. |
| Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho | About 15–20 min | Around ¥500 | Change to the JR lines. Good for Ginza and Tokyo Tower. |
| Taxi | 25–40 min to central Tokyo | Fixed fares to many areas, roughly ¥7,000–10,000 | Useful very early or late, when trains don't run. |
At the airport
- Left luggage and coin lockers in every terminal.
- Edo-style shops and restaurants airside in Terminal 3.
- An observation deck with views over the runways and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.
Layover plans for Tokyo
Times assume you can leave the airport with your passport. Pick the plan that fits your layover, not your hopes.
10 h
Asakusa and the river
- Keikyu line (some trains run through) to Asakusa.
- Sensō-ji temple and Nakamise street.
- Lunch, then back via Shinagawa.
16 h
Add Shibuya and Shinjuku at night
- Everything in the 10-hour plan.
- Shibuya crossing and Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho for dinner.
- Back on the train before midnight.
24 h
A night in Tokyo
- Hotel near Shinagawa or Hamamatsucho.
- Tsukiji outer market for breakfast, then Ginza or the Imperial Palace gardens.
Stopover packages. JAL and ANA don't run formal stopover schemes, but adding a few days in Tokyo to a multi-city ticket is often cheap.
Tokyo layover questions
Can I leave Haneda Airport on a layover?
It depends on your passport. United States: yes, you can leave; United Kingdom: yes, you can leave; Germany: yes, you can leave; France: yes, you can leave; Italy: yes, you can leave; Spain: yes, you can leave; Netherlands: yes, you can leave; Other EU / Schengen country: yes, you can leave; Australia: yes, you can leave; Canada: yes, you can leave; New Zealand: yes, you can leave; Japan: yes, you can leave; South Korea: yes, you can leave; Singapore: yes, you can leave; India: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Nepal: only with a visa arranged before you fly. Check the table on this page and the official source before you fly.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport in Tokyo?
About 5.5 hours or more. You need around 40 minutes to get out, 30 minutes each way to the main sights, and should be back 2 hours before departure.
How do I get from HND to Tokyo city centre?
Keikyu line to Shinagawa: About 13–20 min, Around ¥300. Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho: About 15–20 min, Around ¥500. Taxi: 25–40 min to central Tokyo, Fixed fares to many areas, roughly ¥7,000–10,000.
Do I need a transit visa for Tokyo (HND)?
International-to-international connections at Haneda don't involve immigration, just a transit security check, so no Japanese visa is needed. None of the passports we cover needs a visa to change planes airside here.
Do I need a visa to change terminals at Haneda Airport?
International flights use Terminal 3 and part of Terminal 2. Between them, a connecting shuttle bus runs airside, followed by transit security. Narita is a different airport: moving between Haneda and Narita means entering Japan.
Do I need a visa to connect to a domestic flight in Tokyo?
Connecting to a domestic flight means clearing immigration and customs at Haneda and collecting your bags, so you need a Japanese visa if your passport requires one. Allow about 80 minutes.
Can I self-transfer at HND on separate tickets without a visa?
On separate tickets you usually have to collect your bags and check in again, which means entering Japan: Indian and Nepali passports need a visa.
Sources
Researched 28 Oct 2026. Rules change, so open the official page before you fly.