If you have the opportunity to board a plane during the summer holidays, it's a good idea to check in early and make the most of your time at the airport. Haneda Airport is home to a wide selection of trendy shops, allowing you to spend quality time without having to walk around under the scorching sun, so you can relax and enjoy a meal or a beauty treatment.

First, we recommend "Hitoshinaya," a must-stop for those arriving at the airport for their first morning flight. Located on the second floor north wing of Terminal 1, this restaurant opens from 5:30 a.m. and boasts an unusual layout, combining three restaurants—"Asagohan," "Hitohachi," and "Surinagashi"—under one roof.

Asagohan, as its name suggests, serves delicious breakfasts. Menus include the salmon set (926 yen), meat set (1,389 yen), and fish set (1,667 yen), which feature a main dish served with white rice, miso soup, and a side dish, as well as white rice porridge (695 yen).

"Suri-nagashi," named after the menu item, is a Japanese-style potage made with dashi and seasonal ingredients. It's available as a la carte (556 yen), or as a set meal (834 yen) with gomoku chirashi (seasonal vegetables and their signature omelet) or white rice (with pickles).

"Hitohachi" is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant where you can enjoy dashi sauce and other ingredients in one bowl, with dishes such as rice eggplant with dashi sauce (880 yen), grilled Sangen pork koji with dashi sauce (1,204 yen), and deep-fried conger eel with wasabi powder and dashi sauce (1,389 yen).

All of these restaurants pursue the delicious flavor of dashi, the foundation of Japanese cuisine, so the moment you take a sip, you'll feel tension release deep within your body and your mind gently soothed. The soup stock is made with five different types of fish: tuna, horse mackerel, skipjack tuna, mackerel, and sardines. As soon as you step through the noren curtain, the aroma of carefully selected ingredients simmering gently fills the air, creating a truly relaxing experience. Next up is Air Terminal Grill Kihachi, a stylish restaurant perfect for lunchtime. While watching the planes take off and land, you can savor Kihachi's signature sweets and seasonal dishes. A must-try lunch menu item is the classic steak set, "Australian Ribeye (120g) with Grilled Seasonal Vegetables" (1,806 yen). The set includes salad or soup, rice or bread, dessert, and a drink, making for a satisfying meal. The chef explains, "Many female customers look forward to the sweets included in the set, so we put a lot of effort into the desserts." This menu, made with plenty of seasonal ingredients, is delicious for both body and soul. *Kihachi menu prices are current as of August.

If you're planning a teatime getaway, we recommend the "Smooth and Sweet Mango Mille-feuille" (981 yen). This dessert, made with plenty of almonds, is so generous that everyone cheers as soon as it arrives at the table, yet its subtly sweet and gentle texture means it's easy to finish in no time. The fresh mango adds a nice accent, making it so delicious you'll want seconds. The fruits used change with each season, so don't miss that.

If you're looking for a meal just before departure, we recommend Rose Bakery on the Run at Isetan Haneda Store (Women's) Terminal 1, located near Gate 10 in the South Wing of the Departure Gate Lounge on the 2nd floor of Passenger Terminal 1. Enjoying fruit salad yogurt, fruit salad granola, or other healthy sweets while waiting for your flight is a blissful experience. Their most popular carrot cake is available exclusively at the airport, also sold whole, making it a perfect souvenir. Takeout is available for ¥463 (a single piece) or ¥1,667 (a whole cake). The single-piece cake is cut into squares for easy portability, making it a perfect conversation piece!

If you have more time, why not try the nail salon "uka," also located in the "Isetan Haneda Store (Women's) Terminal 1." Their menu offers a variety of quick and easy treatments, including "Color Change by VINYLUX: A New Manicure That Dries in 8.5 Minutes" (20 minutes for ¥2,000) and "Men's Nail Care for Busy Businessmen" (30 minutes for ¥3,000).

On the other hand, if you're short on time and want to take care of yourself, try "Sky High fly by," located right next to Gate 10. There are many healthy juices on the menu made only with fresh vegetables and fruits, such as "Essential Greens" (1,019 yen), which uses seven kinds of vegetables including spinach, celery, and cucumber, and "ACE" (787 yen), a blend of orange, carrot, and lemon, so you can choose a drink that suits your physical condition and skin condition that day. For an additional 139 yen, you can also add superfoods such as maca, spirulina, and goji berry.