Terminal 1 gets its first major expansion since it opened 33 years ago.

The summer travel season might be winding down, but there are still big things in store for Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Next month brings with it the opening of the new Terminal 1 North Satellite, the first large-scale expansion to the terminal since its original opening 33 years ago in September of 1993.

This extension attached to the north side of Terminal 1 uses a unique and stylish hybrid design, with its lower section built with a conventional steel frame while the upper floor (the part that that travelers will pass through) makes use of wood from Japanese cedar, oak, and larch trees. The result is bright and inviting, and Haneda Airport says the hallway even evokes the fragrances of a Japanese forest.

The North Satellite will have six fixed boarding bridges, eliminating the need to transfer passengers by bus between the building and their aircraft. These, too, have the woody aesthetic found elsewhere in the new concourse.

The North Satellite will also house a combination cafe/lounge, called the Forest Lounge, for holders of affiliated credit cards such as UV Mastercard and UC Visa. Beverages and dessert items can also be purchased by non-cardholders as takeaway items.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling with young kids who need to burn off some energy rather than rest and recharge, the North Satellite has a play area, with some of its equipment made with materials recycled from plastic drink bottle caps collected at the airport.

Note, though, that since the North Satellite is an extension with no dedicated street entrance of its own, it will take a little more time to walk to its gates than those elsewhere in the terminal. According to Japan Airlines estimates, it’s roughly a 15-minute walk from Terminal 1’s security checkpoints to the end of the new expansion.

There are ways to make the journey a little speedier, though, such as moving walkways and the new model of autonomous mobility device “iino,” which can carry four people and is free to use between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

▼ Yes, even the iino has a woody look to it.

The Terminal 1 North Satellite’s first commercial flights are scheduled for September 1. As Haneda’s Terminal 1 is for domestic routes, you won’t be passing through it on your flight into or out of Japan. However, with many of Japan’s great rail pass deals of yesteryear no longer being offered and several of the country’s bullet train-connected sightseeing spots becoming increasingly congested, there’s never been a better time to explore alternate ways of getting around the country and visiting its less-touristed regions, and domestic air routes can be a great way to do that (especially if it gives you the opportunity to ride the Pokémon Jet Red). Just make sure you check in for your flight early enough to comply with Haneda’s new luggage rules.

Source: PR Times, JAL, UC Card
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times, JAL
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