Japan, also known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun', features renowned natural wonders, modern cities, fascinating traditions, and delectable cuisine. Also known for its wonderful culture and friendly people, the island nation is sure to be on every individual’s travel bucket list. With so much to explore and discover, Japan is the ideal destination for families looking for a fun getaway.
While the country is made up of a predominantly Buddhist population, and Islam is a minority religion, Muslim-friendly facilities in Japan can certainly be found, albeit in small numbers. But how accommodating to Muslims are Japan's airports? Read on to learn more about the facilities for Muslims offered at the busiest airports in Japan.
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Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport, located in Ōta, Tokyo, is one of the two main airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. Handling over 72 million passengers in 2014, Haneda Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, and not just in Japan. The airport services numerous domestic and international locations and thus sees passengers from all over the world. It, therefore, tries to cater to the needs and wants of most passengers, by offering a variety of facilities.
Muslim travelers will be pleased to know that there are prayer facilities at Haneda Airport. The prayer room in Haneda Airport is situated in the international terminal departure area, on the third floor, and has an area for ablution. Although the airport has numerous restaurants and cafés, there are no known Halal restaurants in Haneda Airport. Muslim passengers will however find restaurants serving suitable seafood and vegetarian dishes.
Narita International Airport, or Tokyo Narita Airport, situated in Chiba Prefecture, is the second international airport to serve the Greater Tokyo Area. While it is said to be the second-busiest in Japan, after Haneda Airport, there are slightly more Muslim-friendly facilities at Narita International Airport. Passengers will be able to find a multi-faith prayer room at Narita International Airport. The prayer facilities in Narita International Airport can be found in both, Terminals 1 and 2, before and after Passport Control.
Unlike Haneda Airport, there are also Halal restaurants at Narita International Airport. The restaurants serving Halal foods at Narita International Airport are; Homemade Udon Noodles KINEYAMUGIMARU in Terminal 1, TENTEI in Terminal 2, and LA TOQUE also in Terminal 2.
Another of Japan’s busiest airports is Fukuoka Airport, in Hakata-Ku, Fukuoka. While not as busy as the above-mentioned airports, Fukuoka Airport sees its fair share of domestic and international passengers, and thus offers a variety of facilities and services. Muslims will be able to find a prayer room at Fukuoka Airport. Located in the International Terminal Building 4F, the prayer room also has an area for ablution.
Passengers will however not be able to find any Halal restaurants in Fukuoka Airport, but there are sure to be eateries serving vegetarian and seafood options.
New Chitose Airport is Hokkaidō’s largest airport and serves the Sapporo metropolitan area. Also home to domestic and international terminals, the New Chitose Airport offers a plethora of facilities and services. The prayer room in New Chitose Airport is located in the International Terminal Building, on 2F. While Muslims can use this prayer facility, it is also meant to be shared with those of other faiths.
Finding Halal food will however not be as easy to find, as there are no known Halal restaurants in New Chitose Airport.
Situated on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, is Japan’s Kansai International Airport. While the airport offers domestic and international flights, it is smaller than the airports mentioned above. Because of the increase in the number of passengers from Muslim countries, there has been an effort to increase the number of Muslim-friendly facilities at Kansai International Airport. There are 3 prayer rooms at Kansai International Airport. They are all located in the Terminal 1 Building, on 3F, and in the International Departure areas. Ablution areas in all three prayer rooms are also available.
Muslim travelers will also find Halal food at Kansai International Airport, at three restaurants. In the near future, due to the airport adopting a ‘Muslim-friendly’ policy, there are sure to be more Halal restaurants at Kansai International Airport.
