Japan is a country often revered for its overall cleanliness, with streets generally free of litter, public places well-maintained, and tidiness deeply rooted in societal norms like the "shoes-off in the house" culture. This reputation for keeping things clean was affirmed in the results of Skytrax's 2024 World's Cleanest Airports report, which saw Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) take out first place on the top 10 list.
The report is based solely off passenger feedback, with survey results collated from August 2023 to March 2024. Respondents from over 100 countries took part in the study, and all survey entries were screened to ensure no duplicates or ineligible responses were included. The survey was also available in three languages—English, Spanish, and Chinese—allowing for a greater representation of participants.
The results from Skytrax noted that while airport cleanliness has always been something travelers looked for, this has become an even more important consideration since the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic showed just how quickly viruses can spread in crowded and enclosed spaces, and since airports are major transit hubs with high foot traffic and people from various locations, they can be particularly susceptible to viral transmission.
It wasn't just Haneda Airport that received praise for its cleanliness, either. Three other Japanese transit hubs made the cut, with Chubu Centrair Airport (NGO), Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), and Kansai International Airport (KIX) coming in at 5th, 6th, and 7th place respectively.
How do you rate the overall cleanliness of Japan's airports compared with other places you've traveled to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
