Tokyo's Impressive Airport Remains Unrivaled as the World's Foremost Cleanliness Champion
Haneda Airport, Tokyo's international hub, has once again been crowned the world's cleanest airport for the tenth consecutive year, as announced in the Skytrax 2025 World Airport Awards. Despite serving over 90 million passengers annually, the airport has consistently excelled in maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
At the heart of this achievement is the unwavering commitment to cleanliness and hygiene. Haneda's terminals, from floors and seating to public areas and washrooms, have been meticulously maintained, reflecting the airport's dedication to maintaining very high hygiene standards.
The airport's extensive cleaning efforts involve over 500 cleaning staff, who strive to create a spotless environment for passengers. This rigorous cleaning protocol is complemented by high-tech cleaning robots, manufactured by Cyberdyne Inc. and Amano Corporation, which can vacuum carpets, sterilize floors, and even have optional UV sanitizers and sprayers for additional disinfection.
Beyond cleanliness, Haneda emphasizes safety, comfort, and accessibility. The airport has won top honours for its facilities for passengers with restricted mobility for seven straight years, reflecting a comprehensive approach to user-friendly and inclusive service.
The airport's observation decks in each terminal, allowing passengers to watch planes taking off and landing, are a testament to its passenger-centric approach. However, as of this writing, the observation deck in Terminal 3 is temporarily closed.
Haneda's consistent top ranking aligns with Japan's broader reputation for cleanliness and meticulous attention to detail in public spaces. Other Japanese airports, such as Chubu Centrair International, Narita International, and Kansai International, also rank highly in cleanliness globally, underscoring this national standard.
Sapporo's New Chitose and Osaka Itami airports also appeared on the list of cleanest airports serving 25 million passengers and under, further highlighting Japan's commitment to cleanliness in its airports.
The staff's dedication to maintaining cleanliness is attributed to a sense of pride in one's work and a cultural emphasis on responsibility, as seen in Japanese schools where students clean their own classrooms daily. This cultural ethos extends to Haneda Airport, where the staff work tirelessly to maintain the airport's pristine condition.
The airport's convenience is another factor in its popularity. Located within Tokyo city limits, Haneda provides a more convenient access compared to Narita Airport. In 2010, Haneda Airport opened a new international Terminal 3, expanding its capacity, and in October of the same year, its international terminal capacity was expanded further.
The JR Yamanote Line and Tokyo Monorail can get passengers to Haneda in about 45 minutes from Shinjuku, while the Narita Express takes an hour and a half or longer to get from Narita Airport to Shinjuku.
The airport's passenger-friendly facilities extend beyond cleanliness. Haneda Airport features robot-enabled information counters and a branch of the Henn na Hotel, which has a front desk staffed by robots, nearby. The fourth floor of the airport houses the Edo Kōji, a 17th-century-themed Japanese market for shopping and dining.
In the 2025 World Airport Awards, Singapore's Jewel Changi ranked as the best airport overall, but Haneda placed at number three. The awards are derived from extensive customer satisfaction surveys involving over 575 airports worldwide, with results gathered online from August 2024 to February 2025.
In conclusion, Haneda Airport's decade-long reign as the world's cleanest airport is due to its stringent and comprehensive hygiene practices, passenger-centric facilities, dedicated cleaning workforce, and Japan’s cultural emphasis on cleanliness and hospitality.
Technology plays a significant role in maintaining Haneda Airport's high cleanliness standards, with high-tech cleaning robots manufactured by Cyberdyne Inc. and Amano Corporation aiding the over 500 cleaning staff.
In addition to prioritizing cleanliness, Haneda Airport also focuses on providing a comfortable travel experience, offering robot-enabled information counters, a branch of the Henn na Hotel with robot-staffed front desks, and a 17th-century-themed Japanese market on the fourth floor.
