Departure Lobby

This is the departure lobby of Terminal 1 at Narita Airport.

On March 16, 2020, just as the COVID-19 outbreak was beginning to spread, major reductions in international flights had not yet taken place, so the inaugural flight to Vladivostok proceeded as originally scheduled.

ANA Suite Check-in (1)

The entrance to the ANA Suite Check-in counter at Narita Airport. It is available to First Class passengers and ANA Diamond Service members.

ANA Suite Check-in (2)

This is the seating area inside the ANA Suite Check-in. You can sit back and relax before your flight.

Aircraft on the Tarmac

This is the view inside the terminal after completing immigration procedures. Since major reductions in flights had not yet begun due to COVID-19, many aircraft were still parked. Most are ANA aircraft, but you can also see a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 in the background.

Boarding Pass

This is the boarding pass for the inaugural Vladivostok flight on March 16, 2020.

Boarding Counter

Before heading to the lounge, I stopped by the boarding gate.

Since it was an inaugural flight, a signboard announcing the launch of the "Narita–Vladivostok route" was set up, and preparations for a commemorative ceremony were underway.

It’s a truly valuable photo.

Flight Information Board

Looking at the departure flight information board, you can see that many flights were canceled. Out of 35 scheduled flights between 11:00 and 14:50, 17 were canceled.

Amid this situation on March 16, with about half of the flights canceled, the inaugural Vladivostok flight still took off.

Commemorative Signboard

This is a celebratory signboard marking the inaugural flight.

Apron Area

The view of the aircraft parking area as seen from the window near the boarding gate.

Snack Corner

This is the snack corner inside ANA’s Suite Lounge.

Salads, Sandwiches, etc.

This is the salad and sandwich section of the lounge.

Meal I Had

Here is the meal I had that day.

Lounge Interior

This is the interior of the lounge. It was early in the morning, and I was the only guest there.

Inside the Lounge

A spacious and open interior.

View from the Window

This is the view of the aircraft parking area from my seat in the lounge.

Preparing for Departure

At the boarding gate, preparations for departure were underway.

Commemorative Gifts

These are the commemorative gifts that were handed out to passengers on the inaugural flight.

Exciting souvenirs for aviation enthusiasts.

Celebration Screen

An electronic display celebrating the launch of the Vladivostok route. The lower screen showed many Matryoshka dolls. This photo is also quite a rare one.

Ceremony

A ceremony at the boarding gate was about to begin.

Send-off

Since it was the inaugural flight to Vladivostok, ANA executives and ground staff came to see us off.

Commemorative Boarding Photo

I had a commemorative photo taken for boarding the first flight to Vladivostok.

Inside the Cabin

This is the view inside the aircraft cabin.

Exit Row Seat

On this day, I was seated in an exit row seat.

Airbus A320neo

This is the cabin before takeoff. It’s an Airbus A320neo, a newer model with reduced engine noise. Although it’s a small aircraft, the economy class seats are equipped with personal screens.

Send-off by Maintenance Crew

This photo was taken as we began taxiing to the runway. The maintenance staff also gave us a warm send-off.

In-flight Meal – With Russian Sweets

This is the in-flight meal. A special Russian sweet was included to commemorate the launch of the Vladivostok route. I enjoyed it with beer and red wine.

In-flight Meal – Chicken Curry Rice, etc.

I opened the lid of the main dish:

Boarding Certificate

Since this was the inaugural flight to Vladivostok, I received a commemorative boarding certificate.

Message on the Boarding Certificate

I also received a handwritten message on the back of the certificate:

“Thank you for boarding the inaugural flight on March 16, 2020!!”

Almost in Vladivostok

We were flying over the Sea of Japan and about to arrive in Vladivostok. The flight took approximately two and a half hours.

Russian Chocolate

I received some Russian chocolate.

Just Before Landing

We were approaching the Vladivostok area just before landing.

In-Flight Quarantine Inspection

After arrival, Russian quarantine officers boarded the plane. They didn’t conduct any specific checks on individual passengers. Although it was during the COVID-19 outbreak, there were no concrete restrictions or regulations in place at that time.

Vladivostok Airport (1)

A view of Vladivostok International Airport.

Vladivostok Airport (2)

Another view of Vladivostok International Airport. There were no surrounding buildings or notable natural features, giving it a very different atmosphere compared to airports in Japan.

Local Welcome

Since this was ANA’s inaugural flight to Vladivostok, we were warmly welcomed by locals dressed in traditional costumes and even a bear mascot. It was a heartfelt reception.

Decorations for the Occasion

In the arrival lobby, a celebration was held in honor of the first flight. There were festive decorations and sweets prepared for arriving passengers.

Guest Speeches

Officials from the airport management office hosted a welcome ceremony. The mayor of Vladivostok was also in attendance. We received a truly warm welcome. The painting in the background depicts one of the bridges in the city of Vladivostok.

Singer Performance

A female singer appeared and performed a welcome song for the occasion.

Tourist Information Board

This is a tourist information board featuring sightseeing spots in the city of Vladivostok.

Food Shop

This is a food shop inside the airport. It feels somewhat like a delicatessen, selling prepared dishes and snacks.

Souvenir Shop

A souvenir shop inside the airport, selling items such as Matryoshka dolls.

Welcome Board

This is another welcome board, celebrating the launch of the inaugural flight.

Departure Terminal

This is the interior of the departure terminal. It was extremely cold outside—around minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Inside the Airport Terminal

A view of the interior of the airport terminal.

To the Train Station

I headed from the airport terminal to the train station that connects to the city center.

Walkway to the Station

This is the moving walkway leading to the train station.

Ticket Counter

This is the train ticket counter. It’s not an automated machine—you buy tickets face-to-face, which feels a bit old-fashioned.

Train Ticket Gate

This is the ticket gate for the train.

Train to the City (1)

The train to the city has arrived.

Train to the City (2)

Boarding the train now.

Train to the City (3)

Inside the train bound for Vladivostok Station in the city center.

Train to the City (4)

View from inside the train while it’s in motion.

Vladivostok Station

I safely arrived at Vladivostok Station.

Inside Vladivostok Station

This is the interior of Vladivostok Station.

Outside Vladivostok Station

This is the view outside Vladivostok Station.