Enjoy Authentic Japanese Udon Before Leaving Japan!
If you’re flying internationally from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, why not enjoy one last Japanese meal before your flight?
This time, we visited Tsurutontan, a popular Japanese udon restaurant located in Terminal 3.
Tsurutontan is famous for its enormous bowls, thick and chewy udon noodles, and wide variety of dishes.
And the best part?
You can enjoy it before going through security and immigration!
[Tsurutontan restaurant entrance]
What Is Tsurutontan?
Tsurutontan is a Japanese restaurant chain specializing in udon noodles.
Udon is one of Japan’s most popular noodle dishes, made from wheat flour, water, and salt.
Unlike ramen, which usually has thinner noodles, udon is known for its thick, smooth, and pleasantly chewy texture.
But Tsurutontan has another distinctive feature.
The bowls are enormous!
Even an ordinary serving of udon arrives in a surprisingly large bowl.
It’s part of the restaurant’s unique presentation and makes the experience especially memorable.
If you’ve never tried Japanese udon before, Tsurutontan is an interesting place to start.
Where Is Tsurutontan at Haneda Airport?
Tsurutontan is located in Edo Koji (Edo Street), on the fourth floor of Haneda Airport Terminal 3.
Terminal 3 is Haneda’s main international terminal.
The restaurant is in the public area, before security and immigration.
That means you don’t need a boarding pass to visit, and you can eat here before checking in for your flight.
If you’re departing internationally, simply head upstairs from the third-floor departures lobby to the fourth-floor restaurant and shopping area.
Location: Haneda Airport Terminal 3, 4F, Edo Koji
Access: Before security and immigration
Best for: A Japanese meal before departure, or a meal with friends and family who aren’t flying
Our First Choice: Chicken Udon with an Onsen Egg
I chose a fairly traditional Japanese-style chicken udon.
The broth was soy sauce-based, with a familiar and comforting Japanese flavor.
Nothing overly complicated — just a good bowl of udon.
I also added an onsen tamago, or Japanese hot-spring-style egg.
An onsen egg is gently cooked at a relatively low temperature, giving it a delicate, silky texture.
It’s a popular Japanese topping that goes particularly well with noodle dishes.
For the noodles, I chose the thick version.
And that was a good decision!
The texture of the thick udon noodles was one of the highlights of the meal.
They were satisfyingly chewy, with just the right amount of firmness.
If you enjoy noodles with a substantial bite, I would definitely recommend trying the thicker option.
How Much Did It Cost?
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Udon | ¥1,480 |
| Onsen Egg Topping | ¥280 |
| Total | ¥1,760 |
Approximately US$11.00, using an exchange rate of ¥160 per US dollar.
Our Second Choice: Creamy Mentaiko Udon with Chicken
[Creamy mentaiko udon with chicken topping]
Our other choice was something completely different.
Creamy mentaiko udon!
Mentaiko is seasoned pollock roe, a popular Japanese ingredient with a savory, slightly salty flavor.
In Japan, mentaiko is often combined with cream to make rich pasta sauces.
Tsurutontan brings a similar idea to udon noodles.
Compared with the traditional chicken udon, this dish offers a richer and more filling experience.
We added chicken as an extra topping.
If you want something substantial rather than a light noodle meal, this is an appealing choice.
Add More Protein with Extra Toppings
One interesting thing about Tsurutontan is that you can customize your udon.
For example, if you’d like a more protein-rich meal, you can add toppings such as:
- Chicken
- Scallops
- Shrimp
You can also ask for certain ingredients to be left out.
For example, if you don’t like mitsuba, a Japanese herb with a fresh, distinctive flavor, you can request your udon without it.
It’s a useful option for international visitors who may not be familiar with every Japanese ingredient.
How Much Did It Cost?
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Creamy Mentaiko Udon | ¥1,680 |
| Chicken Topping | ¥350 |
| Total | ¥2,030 |
Approximately US$12.69, using an exchange rate of ¥160 per US dollar.
Which Udon Would I Recommend?
It really depends on what you’re looking for.
If you want to experience a classic Japanese udon dish, I’d recommend the Chicken Udon.
The soy sauce-based broth is simple and comforting, and the thick noodles have a wonderful chewy texture.
On the other hand, if you prefer something richer and more filling, the Creamy Mentaiko Udon is worth considering.
It’s a particularly interesting choice if you’re already familiar with Japanese noodles and want to try something different.
Personally, I really enjoyed the traditional chicken udon, especially the texture of the thick noodles.
And of course, both dishes came in those enormous Tsurutontan bowls!
Don’t Miss the Japanese Sweets!
After finishing our udon, we noticed something interesting.
Tsurutontan also sells Japanese-style sweets that make lovely souvenirs.
We picked up two:
Japanese Financier — a Western-style baked cake with a Japanese twist.
Kinako Warabi Mochi — a traditional Japanese sweet with a soft, chewy texture.
The beautiful Japanese-style packaging immediately caught our attention.
But how do they actually taste?
That’s a story for another article!
Final Thoughts
Tsurutontan is a convenient place to enjoy Japanese udon at Haneda Airport.
The enormous bowls are memorable, the menu offers both traditional and creative dishes, and the ability to customize your noodles is a nice bonus.
Most importantly, it’s located before security in Terminal 3.
So even if you’re not flying, you can stop by for a Japanese meal.
If you have some extra time before your international flight, why not try a bowl of udon at Tsurutontan?
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