Departure Lobby

This is the domestic departure lobby at Haneda Airport Terminal 2.

International Flight Signboard

ANA’s international flights from Haneda depart from both Terminal 3 and Terminal 2. This is a signboard in the domestic lobby of Terminal 2, showing directions to the international departures area.

Diamond Member Exclusive Counter

As a Diamond Member, I proceeded to the exclusive check-in and security screening counter designated for Diamond status passengers.

Flight to Osaka

Today’s flight to Sapporo New Chitose was scheduled to depart from Gate 64 at 10:00 AM, so I went to check the gate area. At that time, the 9:00 AM flight to Osaka Itami was still using the gate.

This is the aircraft departing for Osaka Itami. Since this flight departs at 9:00 AM and my flight to Sapporo departs at 10:00 AM, there’s only a one-hour turnaround time at the gate—quite a short interval!

Sakura Anpan and Curry Bread

I entered the ANA Suite Lounge, which is available exclusively to Diamond Members. Here's what I enjoyed:

I tried both the Sakura Anpan and the Curry Bread, and they were absolutely delicious!

Mini Baum Roll

As a limited-time offer, they were also serving a sweet treat called Mini Baum Roll.

Alcohol Corner

This is the alcohol selection area, featuring a variety of drinks:

Breakfast I Had

I enjoyed a light breakfast with bread and drinks:

The breads were toasted before eating, making them warm and even more delicious!

Heading to the Boarding Gate (1)

After enjoying breakfast in the lounge, I made my way to the gate.

At Gate 64, the flight to Osaka Itami (seen on the left in the photo) was being pushed back. Right after that, the Boeing 787-10 was scheduled to pull into the gate from the right side.

Heading to the Boarding Gate (2)

Here, the Boeing 787-10 is just about to enter Gate 64.

Heading to the Boarding Gate (3)

The Boeing 787-10 is approaching the boarding bridge. The aircraft bound for Itami is still parked in the back on the left. Once the 787-10 is fully docked at the gate and clears the space, the Itami-bound plane will be able to proceed straight ahead.

The Aircraft

I was also able to get a view of this Boeing 787-10 from the opposite side.

Preparing the Commemorative Gifts

While I was waiting in the Diamond Member lane, I saw ANA staff in the back preparing the commemorative gifts to be handed out for the inaugural flight. Boarding began around 9:40 AM.

Commemorative Gift Bag

This is the gift bag containing the commemorative items. Each passenger on this special inaugural flight to Sapporo received one at the boarding gate.

Just Before Boarding

At last, the boarding bridge was connected to the Boeing 787-10. Between the front and rear bridges, the ANA logo was clearly visible.

Time to Board

Finally, it was time to board! I was just about to enter the aircraft through the forward door.

Premium Class Latest Model Seat

On this flight, I was seated in 2D, which is the front row center seat in Premium Class.

This is ANA’s latest Premium Class seat design, also used on the 787-8, 787-9, and 777-200 aircraft. It was my first time sitting in this type of seat.

Premium Class Seat

The seat pitch in Premium Class is 50 inches (127 cm). It’s incredibly spacious, providing plenty of room for a comfortable experience.

For reference, 25 years ago, ANA’s long-haul international Business Class had the same seat pitch of 50 inches. With this space on a domestic flight, even VIP travelers should be able to relax in complete comfort.

New Seat Features

Personal Light

The headrest is designed to cradle your head, and each side features a personal reading light for added comfort.

Neighboring Seat

Here’s a look at the seat next to mine. The personal monitor is 15.6 inches, touchscreen-operated, and its angle can be adjusted. For passengers in the front row, the screen is mounted on the wall in front of them, while for those in other rows, it’s on the back of the seat in front.

Armrest

This is the armrest on the opposite side of my seat.

Control Remote

The remote control allows you to operate your personal monitor, adjust the overhead lighting, and control the headphone volume.

Wallpaper

This is the personal monitor at my seat, with a simple and sleek wallpaper design.

Lavatory

Here is the lavatory. Since I used it before takeoff, I may have been the first passenger to use the lavatory on this inaugural flight! (laughs)

Inaugural Flight Commemorative Gifts

These are the commemorative items I received in the gift bag during boarding:

Before Departure

We were about to depart for Sapporo. The flight path was displayed as a straight line on the screen.The flight time was 1 hour and 15 minutes.

When traveling from Tokyo to Hokkaido, flying is usually the most practical option, as the land routes like railways are not as convenient for this distance.

Sakura-Colored Lighting

Right before takeoff, the ceiling lighting changed to a cherry blossom pink color. The cabin crew explained that this sakura-colored lighting was introduced for the first time on ANA’s Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

Beautiful Weather for the Flight

As we flew past Nikko, home to the famous Toshogu Shrine, the in-flight beverage service was about to begin. Since I was seated in the middle, I couldn’t see the view out the window, but I was told that it was a clear day, with no clouds in sight. It was such beautiful weather that the ground was visible all the way to Hokkaido, making it a truly pleasant flight.

Beverage Service

Since the flight time is short, drinks and meals are served directly to each seat from a cart like this. As this is Premium Class, there’s an extensive selection of beverages available. In Economy Class, there are usually about five or six drink options, but Premium Class offers a wide variety, from alcoholic beverages to soft drinks. On the Sapporo route, which is a major domestic line, there are also more Premium Class seats available, so the cart is stocked with an impressive selection.

They offer sake, beer, highballs, shochu, red wine, white wine, sparkling water, sparkling wine, and 100% pure orange juice, among others.

Menu

This is today’s Premium Class menu.

In-Flight Meal

As the flight departed at 10:00 AM, a breakfast service was provided:

In-Flight Meal (Close-Up)

Here’s a close-up of the two sandwiches, soup, and jelly set.

Soup and Jelly

The sweet flavor with a hint of cherry blossom aroma made this sakura jelly incredibly tasty—I’d love to have it again someday!

Nose Section (1)

As expected on this memorable inaugural flight, many passengers asked the cabin crew to fill out their flight logs (pilot logbooks). At one point, a cabin attendant was carrying a stack of about ten logbooks, which shows just how special and exciting this flight was for aviation enthusiasts!

After arriving at New Chitose Airport, I was able to take a photo of the cockpit of the 787-10 I had just flown on—something I wasn’t able to do back at Haneda, so I was glad to get the chance here.

Nose Section (2)

I took another photo of the cockpit from a bit farther away, capturing a wider view of the nose section of the aircraft.

The Aircraft (1)

After disembarking and entering the terminal, I took a photo of the Boeing 787-10 from inside the building, looking out toward the aircraft.

The Aircraft (2)

While I was in the terminal, a staff member kindly told me, “You can take pictures from here,” and I was able to capture a great shot of the Boeing 787-10 from an excellent angle.

ANA Executive Speech

After disembarking the aircraft, a commemorative ceremony for the inaugural flight was already underway in the arrival area. There wasn’t a ceremony at Haneda, but they held one here at New Chitose Airport instead.

The speaker was likely an executive from ANA.

There was also a large presence from the media, covering the event.

Media Coverage

As you can see, there were many cameras and media crews covering the ceremony.

Since I had a connecting flight to Fukuoka later in the evening, I stayed inside the terminal and was able to witness the event. Passengers whose final destination was New Chitose Airport had to exit the arrival area and likely didn’t get to see the ceremony.

Since there was no event held at Haneda, I initially thought there wouldn’t be a ceremony at all—so this was a pleasant surprise!

Speech from the Airport Operator President

A speech was given by what appeared to be the President of Hokkaido Airports.

Commemorative Photo (1)

After the speeches, they took a commemorative photo with four people: the ANA executive, the President of Hokkaido Airports, and two ANA staff members.

The ANA staff member in front was likely the coordinator overseeing the event.

Commemorative Photo (2)

The coordinator instructed them how to hold the placards for the photo.

Commemorative Photo (3)

The media crews were taking photos during the session.

Commemorative Photo (4)

They were directing their gaze to the left, toward one of the cameras during the photo session.

Ceremony Concludes

The ceremony came to an end.

Seafood Bento

Right in front of where the ceremony was held, there was a shop selling Hokkaido seafood dishes. As you’d expect in Hokkaido, they offered a variety of sushi, rice bowls, and bento boxes featuring seafood delicacies like salmon roe (ikura), crab, squid, and sea urchin (uni).

The selection was incredible!

Preparing Commemorative Gifts

This was for the return flight to Haneda, which was also the first Boeing 787-10 flight from Sapporo New Chitose to Haneda. The staff were preparing the commemorative gift bags to be handed out to passengers as they boarded.

Backdrop Screen

The backdrop screen used during the earlier ceremony was still set up at the boarding gate.

Boeing 787-10

After seeing the boarding process for the Haneda flight, I decided to stay and watch until the 787-10 departed. I kept my eyes on the aircraft the entire time, observing its movements.

Preparing for Pushback

The 787-10 was just about to be pushed back. The towing vehicle positioned at the nose of the aircraft was getting ready to push the plane backward from the gate.

Standing next to the aircraft were ANA staff (in light blue uniforms) and media personnel (wearing yellow vests), likely capturing the moment the aircraft started to move.

Pushback

Finally, the aircraft began to move. The pushback process had started, with the white towing vehicle slowly pushing the 787-10 away from the gate.

Continuing the Pushback

The aircraft was being steadily pushed back, gradually moving farther away from the gate.

Farewell Send-Off

As the plane turned sideways during pushback, the ANA staff and media personnel moved closer to the aircraft once again to wave goodbye and give it a proper send-off.

Ready for Departure (1)

With the tow vehicle detached, the plane was now in position and ready to depart. A maintenance staff member, wearing an orange safety vest, stood alone in front of the aircraft and bowed deeply toward it.

Ready for Departure (2)

Still bowing, the person in the orange vest then opened both arms wide as part of the farewell gesture. At the same time, the group of ANA staff in light blue uniforms and media personnel in yellow vests lined up and waved as they sent the aircraft off warmly.

A Peach Aviation aircraft passed by in the background during this moment.

Finally Ready for Departure

The Boeing 787-10 was finally preparing to depart from New Chitose on its inaugural flight to Haneda.

Everyone Waving Goodbye

As the aircraft began taxiing forward, the staff gathered to warmly send it off, waving until it was out of sight.

Heading to the Runway

The aircraft turned onto the taxiway, making its way toward the runway for departure.

The maintenance staff member in the orange vest, having completed his role, was also heading back.

Plenty of Facilities

Since I had a connecting flight to Fukuoka from New Chitose Airport, I was able to participate in the commemorative ceremony for the inaugural flight and also watch the first Haneda-bound flight depart.

With about five hours to spare before my flight to Fukuoka, I decided to pass through security and explore the terminal.

New Chitose Airport offers a wide variety of attractions, including numerous shops, souvenir stores, and even a Doraemon museum. There are also plenty of amusement facilities, and to top it off, there's an onsen (hot spring). Since Hokkaido winters can be quite harsh, it’s fantastic that the terminal has so many indoor facilities to enjoy. It’s an airport where you won’t get bored, no matter how long your layover.

This photo shows an airplane sculpture inside the terminal.

Departure Lobby

This is the domestic departure lobby. As you’d expect from the home of Shiroi Koibito, there are plenty of places selling these famous cookies.

JAL Cabin Crew Uniforms

There are two fascinating museums at New Chitose Airport that aviation enthusiasts will enjoy:

I visited the Airport History Museum. This display showcases historic JAL cabin crew uniforms through the years.

Air Nippon Badge

Air Nippon was once a subsidiary airline of ANA, which merged with its parent company in 2012. This badge was created to commemorate the airline's 30th anniversary in 2004 and features the Air Nippon livery.

JAL International Flight Amenities

These are some of the amenities JAL provided on its international flights from the 1960s onward:

View from the Observation Deck

This is the view from the observation room on the top floor of the domestic departure terminal at New Chitose Airport.

Lounge Entrance

After spending about an hour walking around the terminal, I headed into the ANA Suite Lounge at New Chitose Airport.

Recycled Bag

On display was the ANA Upcycled Bag, made from repurposed uniforms previously worn by ANA ground staff—those who handle tasks like baggage transport, aircraft cleaning, maintenance, and refueling. These bags are available for purchase by lottery.

Soup Machine

This is the soup dispenser machine. With the push of a button, you can choose from three types of soup:

Bread Corner

These breads are from YOSHIMI, a company based in Sapporo that operates restaurants and produces food products. The selection includes:

Meal I Had

Here’s the meal I enjoyed in the lounge:

I spent a few relaxing hours in the lounge, enjoying the food, getting some work done, and taking it easy. Before I knew it, it was already time to board!

Boarding in Progress

It was 5:18 PM, and since the scheduled departure was 5:40 PM, the display already showed "Now Boarding."

The Aircraft

The plane heading to Fukuoka was a Boeing 737-800.

Boarding Bridge

I was on my way to the boarding bridge to board the aircraft.

View of the Aircraft

From near the entrance of the plane, I took a look at the entire aircraft.

Premium Class Seat

For the return flight to Fukuoka, I was able to reserve a Premium Class seat once again.

Here is a photo of the Premium Class seat on this flight.

In-Flight Meal (1)

This is the in-flight meal, served in an eco-friendly paper box as part of ANA’s commitment to sustainability.

I also enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine and some Japanese sake.

In-Flight Meal (2)

Here’s the meal with the lid opened. Everything was delicious and beautifully prepared.

In-Flight Meal (3)

The Japanese meal was incredibly tasty. The menu included:

After-Meal Sake and Nuts

After the meal, I enjoyed Japanese sake and nuts, along with a refreshing hand towel.

The sake was Dewanoyuki Junmai "Yuki".

Over Yamaguchi Prefecture

Time passed quickly as I relaxed with my meal and drinks. When I checked the in-flight map, we were already flying over Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Arrival at the Airport

I arrived at Fukuoka Airport and was just about to head toward the arrival gate.

JAL Airbus A350-900

While walking down the corridor toward the arrival gate, I spotted a JAL Airbus A350-900, Japan Airlines’ latest domestic aircraft, featuring the oneworld alliance livery.

Boeing 787-8

Parked right next to it was a JAL Boeing 787-8 as well.