Airline Terminal Information

This is the terminal information display showing which airlines use which areas at Narita Airport Terminal 1.

ANA operates from the South Wing of Terminal 1.

Departure Lobby

This is the departure lobby of the International Terminal 1 South Wing in May 2021. At that time, most international flights were canceled, so there were hardly any passengers in sight.

Check-in Counters

Here is another view of the departure lobby. You can see ropes in front of the check-in counters, indicating that they were closed and not in use at the time.

Security Check Entrance

This is the entrance to the security screening area just before departure. There were still security officers present, but very few passengers going through. The screen displays the message “Get ready to fly again.”

At this time, it truly felt like an age of uncertainty — filled with sadness, nostalgia, and anxiety about the future.

ANA Check-in Counter

This is ANA’s check-in counter. Since only a few flights operated each day, it was closed when I visited around 10:30 a.m.

Departure Information Board

This is the international departure information board from that day. I took this photo at 10:48 a.m., and as you can see, almost all flights were canceled.

Out of the 25 flights displayed, 11 were marked “Canceled.”

Heading to the Reception Floor

The reception desk for this special in-flight dining event was located at the domestic departures counter on the first floor — the same level as the international arrivals lobby — so I headed downstairs.

Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were scheduled for July–August 2021, “TOKYO 2020” posters were wrapped around the pillars here.

Event Check-in Desk

This is the check-in desk for the in-flight dining event “Restaurant FLYING HONU,” set up in the domestic departures area.

Check-in time was between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.

Items Received After Check-in

Here are the items I received after checking in:

Departure Gate

This is the departure gate for boarding the Airbus A380. It’s part of the domestic departures area.

For the event, the flight was symbolically designated as “Flight 2029, departing at 20:10 for Honolulu.”

Domestic Departure Information Board

This board shows the scheduled domestic departures. Most flights were canceled, but ANA’s low-cost subsidiary Peach Aviation still had flights scheduled to Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Kansai.

Souvenir Shop

This is the souvenir shop inside the domestic departure area. Many of the items were themed for the in-flight dining event.

Boarding Gate

It was time to board, so we proceeded to the aircraft. Transportation to the plane was by bus.

View from the Bus

From the bus, the Airbus A380 came into view.

Aircraft (Front View)

The bus approached the aircraft. This is ANA’s first Airbus A380, which began service on the Honolulu route in May 2019. The aircraft is painted in a blue livery inspired by the Hawaiian sky.

It was my first time seeing an A380 this close, and I was thrilled.

Aircraft (Rear View)

This is the rear view of the first aircraft. This A380 served as the “Restaurant” for the in-flight dining event.

Jet Engine

A close-up of one of the jet engines.

Boarding the Aircraft

I took this photo as we disembarked from the bus and boarded the plane.

At the bottom of the boarding stairs, ANA chefs, cabin attendants, and pilots were there to greet us. Guests could also have commemorative photos taken here if they wished.

Boarding Stairs

These are the boarding stairs leading up to the aircraft. The risers are marked with “ANA.”

Stairs to the Upper Deck

This photo was taken right after boarding.

I climbed this large staircase to reach the upper deck, where the Business Class seats for this event were located.

Upper Deck Entrance

This is the entrance area to the upper deck.

There’s a door leading upstairs, and beyond it, the First Class bar counter can be seen.

Bar Counter Decoration

On the First Class bar counter, there were decorative flowers and cards featuring the turtle mascot “Honu.”

First Class Lavatory Door

The exterior of the lavatory door in the First Class section.

First Class Seat

On the way to my Business Class seat, I passed through the First Class area. This is a photo of one of the First Class seats taken at that time.

Business Class Seat

This is one of the Business Class seats.

Neighboring Seat

This is the Business Class seat next to mine. The blue partition between seats can be lowered — perfect for those traveling together as family, couples, or friends.

Message Card

On the side table was a handwritten message card that said, “Thank you for boarding today. Please enjoy your time at Restaurant HONU.”

“Honu” means “sea turtle” in Hawaiian.

Passengers Seated

Most passengers had taken their seats by this time.

Welcome Drink

A tablecloth was laid, and the menu was placed on top. For the welcome drink, I chose champagne.

In May 2021, alcohol service in Tokyo restaurants was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, but in Chiba Prefecture, it was still allowed until 8:00 p.m. So, since this was a daytime event, champagne service was permitted.

Drink Menu

This is the drink menu. There was a wide variety to choose from — champagne, red wine, white wine, beer, cocktails, whisky, spirits, shochu, sake, and soft drinks.

Japanese Meal Menu

The Japanese meal menu.

Western Meal Menu

The Western meal menu.

Amuse-bouche

The amuse-bouche served first.

Service Cart

This is the cart used to serve the in-flight meals. Everything was neatly and functionally organized.

Western Appetizer

The appetizer for the Western-style meal.

Red Wine

Red wine was served — Château Pey de Pont 2014 from France.

Champagne

In addition to the red wine, I was also served champagne. I even took a photo of the bottle.

Bread

ANA’s original bread — *Yomogi Focaccia* (mugwort focaccia). It was served with olive oil.

Appetizer and Bread

The appetizer and bread served together.

Main Course (1)

The main course.

Main Course (2)

The steak photographed from another angle. It was topped with a coarse-grain mustard paste.

Dessert

The dessert.

Premium Economy Class

After finishing the in-flight meal, passengers disembarked from the aircraft. On the way out, we were given a guided tour of the inside of this first A380 aircraft.

These are the Premium Economy Class seats located at the rear of the upper deck, just behind Business Class.

Economy Class Seats

This is the Economy Class section on the lower deck.

ANA introduced “Couch Seats” in the Economy Class of the large A380 aircraft. By raising the armrests and leg rests (the red straps), passengers can convert three or four seats into a flat bed. Seats with green headrest covers are designated as “Couch Seats.”

Couch Seats

This photo shows the Couch Seats from the front. The last four to five rows in the Economy Class cabin, distinguished by their green headrest covers, are equipped with this couch feature.

Standard Economy Class Seats

These are the standard Economy Class seats, which are not Couch Seats. Because the Airbus A380 itself is a large aircraft, even the regular Economy Class offers generous legroom — a seat pitch of 86 cm (compared to 81 cm for Couch Seats).

[*Editor’s note: Seat pitch refers to the distance between one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it — typically measured from backrest to backrest. On standard domestic flights, Economy Class seats generally have about 79 cm of pitch.]

Cabin Door

This is one of the aircraft doors. The jump seat (foldable seat) used by the cabin crew is also located here.

Galley

This is the galley — the onboard kitchen area where meals and beverages are stored and prepared. This event provided a rare opportunity to observe such facilities up close.

Despite the limited space, the galley is ingeniously designed for functionality, efficiency, and ease of use by cabin crew members — showcasing sophisticated aviation engineering and design ingenuity.

Service Cart

One of the service carts stored neatly within the galley area.

Disembarking from the 1st Aircraft

This is the front section of the first A380 aircraft where we enjoyed the in-flight meal.

Farewell Send-off

The cabin crew from the first aircraft waved goodbye as we boarded the bus heading to the second aircraft.

Farewell to the 1st Aircraft (1)

This is the first aircraft where I enjoyed a blissful time dining on board. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience.

Farewell to the 1st Aircraft (2)

We’re now moving from the first aircraft, where we enjoyed our meal, to the second aircraft for the cabin tour.

Aircraft Flying Overhead

This photo shows a plane flying overhead just after we disembarked from the first aircraft.

Front View of the 2nd Aircraft

For this event, ANA’s second Airbus A380 was open for a cabin tour.

The first aircraft, where we dined, featured a blue livery inspired by the Hawaiian sky, while this second aircraft is painted in an emerald green color representing the Hawaiian ocean.

Jet Engine

This is a side view of the second aircraft’s jet engine. It was manufactured by Rolls-Royce.

Diagonal Front View

The second aircraft photographed from a diagonal front angle.

Entrance Door of the 2nd Aircraft

This is the inside of the entrance door of the second aircraft being toured. The color theme here is also emerald green.

Door Hinge Area

This is the hinge area at the base of the aircraft door.

Entrance to the Cockpit

The staircase leading up to the cockpit.

Cabin Door

This door is located at the front of the Economy Class section. You can also see the jump seat (foldable crew seat) used by the cabin attendants.

Storage Box near the Door

This is a storage box located near the third door of the aircraft.

Emergency Exit Door

The emergency exit door.

Jump Seat

The jump seat (foldable seat) used by cabin crew members.

Rear Stairway to the Upper Deck

There are two stairways connecting to the upper deck inside the aircraft, and this one is located at the rear. The rear stairway is narrower and more compact in design compared to the front one.

Economy Class Cabin

This is the Economy Class cabin on the lower deck of the second aircraft.

Economy Class Seats

A photo of the front-row seats in the lower-deck Economy Class section.

Cabin Interior View

This is another view of the Economy Class cabin. The ceiling lighting glows in rainbow colors, creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

Full View of the Seats

This photo shows a wider view of the Economy Class seating area.

FLYING HONU 2nd Anniversary

This is the commemorative poster placed on the Economy Class seats.

This marks the second anniversary since the first FLYING HONU entered service. The poster explains that “Honu” means “sea turtle” in Hawaiian.

Couch Seats

This photo shows four Economy Class seats converted into a single flat bed, known as a “Couch Seat.” The armrests are raised, and the leg rests are lifted to align with the seat level, forming a comfortable sleeping surface.

Wood-Grain Design

This is the galley wall. Its distinctive feature is the elegant wood-grain finish.

Ovens and Other Equipment

This is a view of the galley (kitchen area). Normally, passengers can’t see inside, so it’s fascinating to observe the various types of specialized equipment installed here.

Upper Storage Shelves

The upper section appears to contain shelves for storage boxes. A thermometer is visible in the back right — perhaps part of the heating control system.

Bread Warmer

This device labeled “BREAD WARMER” is used for warming bread before serving.

Another Galley Corner

This is another section of the galley. It appears to include ovens for reheating food and coffee makers.

Coffee Maker

This equipment seems to be a coffee maker.

Meal-Heating Equipment

This appears to be a machine for heating in-flight meals.

Microwave Oven?

Judging by its shape, this may be a microwave oven.

Upper Deck Galley

This is the side view of the galley located near the narrow staircase leading up to the upper deck.

Oven for Heating Meals

The door is labeled “OVEN,” so this is clearly a device for heating in-flight meals.

Coffee Maker

This appears to be another coffee maker.

First and Business Class Galley

This is the galley used for First Class and Business Class meal preparation and service.

Beverage Refrigerator

Inside the galley, there is a refrigerator used as a bar counter for storing beverages such as soft drinks and beer for in-flight service.

Screen beside the Galley

This screen was located beside the galley in the First Class area.

Curtain (1)

This curtain was used to cover the equipment inside the First or Business Class galley.

Curtain (2)

This is another partition curtain found in a different section of the galley.

Notepad and Other Items

Inside the galley, there were items such as a notepad, a mirror, and a phone. A foldable work table is also installed here for crew use.

Premium Economy Class Seats

These are the Premium Economy Class seats located on the upper deck. The generous legroom in this section makes it exceptionally comfortable to sit and relax.

Seat Pitch and Spacing

This top-down view shows the ample seat pitch of the Premium Economy Class, providing a very comfortable amount of space. The seat pitch* is 97 cm. You can also see the silver bottle holder attached near the seat.

[*Editor’s note: “Seat pitch” refers to the distance between the back of one seat and the back of the seat in front of it.]

Cabin Space

This is the Premium Economy Class cabin. The space between the sections with the aircraft doors is noticeably wide, adding to the overall sense of openness.

Premium Economy Cabin

A view of the Premium Economy Class cabin. Each seat is equipped with a large, sturdy table for added convenience.

Space Between Seat and Window

This is the space between the Premium Economy seat and the window. There is a small storage compartment where passengers can place bags or personal items, allowing for a relaxed and organized seating experience.

Cabin Lighting

This photo shows the rainbow-colored ambient lighting taken from the Business Class section. The soft gradient illumination creates a calm and elegant atmosphere inside the cabin.

Business Class Seat

A close-up shot of one of the front-row Business Class seats. The seat design provides both privacy and a sense of openness, with refined details typical of ANA’s long-haul configuration.

Cabinet

This is the cabinet located beside the window at the Business Class seat, offering practical storage for small personal items and amenities.

Business Class Cabin

The forward area of the Business Class cabin features sleek white cabinets on both sides, giving the space a bright, premium look and enhancing the clean design aesthetic.

Fully Flat Bed

This is the Business Class seat in its fully flat bed position. The pouch placed on top of the seat is the amenity kit provided to Business Class passengers, containing in-flight comfort essentials.

First Class Seat (1)

This is a First Class seat in its fully flat bed position.

The light blue and charcoal-colored bags placed beside the pillow are the amenity kits provided to First Class passengers, containing luxury skincare and comfort items.

First Class Seat (2)

Another First Class seat shown in the bed configuration, offering a spacious and private sleeping area for passengers.

Seat Storage Area

The storage compartments around the First Class seat provide ample space for personal items, designed for both convenience and elegance.

Private Suite

This is the private suite area of the First Class seat, offering complete privacy with a fully enclosed design for a luxurious and peaceful flight experience.

Seat Features

Features and controls that come with the First Class seat, providing a variety of adjustable options for maximum comfort and convenience.

Seat Door

This sliding door completes the private suite, allowing passengers to enjoy an exclusive, enclosed space during the flight.

Lavatory

The lavatory for First Class passengers is more spacious than those in other cabin classes.

It is also stocked with premium Shiseido “The Ginza” skincare products, including high-end lotion and emulsion.

First Class Bar Counter

This is the bar counter located within the First Class area, elegantly designed to complement the luxurious atmosphere of the cabin.

Full View of the Second Aircraft

After finishing the tour inside the second Airbus A380, we boarded a bus to return to the terminal.

Two ANA Airbus A380s

This photo was taken from the bus heading back to the terminal. The aircraft in the back is the first A380, while the one in the front is the second aircraft.

Apron Area

The apron area, captured on the way back to the terminal by bus.

Corridor and Wall Art

While walking through the terminal, I found this corridor decorated with dynamic artwork that extends across the wall, almost like a single large canvas.

With the Three Turtles

Before leaving the terminal, I took a commemorative photo with the three sea turtle mascots, each representing one of ANA’s Airbus A380 aircraft.

Domestic Arrival Lobby

After thoroughly enjoying the two Airbus A380 aircraft, it was time to head home.

This photo shows the overall view of the domestic arrival lobby.

International Departure Lobby

I went back up to the third floor, where the international departure lobby is located, to take this final shot.

Exiting from the Arrival Lobby

Finally stepping outside from the arrival lobby, I was greeted by a bright red “TOKYO 2020” display.