I try not to be too bossy when it comes to telling people how they should enjoy their airport lounge experience. However, I’m going to make an exception for the Japan Airlines First Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND).
95% of people seem to be using this lounge incorrectly, and it’s something I noticed again during my most recent visit, on my review trip to South Korea and Japan. Let me explain…
In this post:
People use the JAL First Lounge Haneda wrong
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda is a huge space, and it doesn’t really feel very exclusive or first class, for the most part, which is why I haven’t historically ranked it as one of the world’s best first class lounges.
The lounge is not just open to first class passengers, but also to oneworld Emerald members. Now, I’m hardly complaining about that, because oneworld Emerald status is how I got into this lounge during my most recent visit. 😉
Historically I just haven’t found this to be that great of a lounge. If you enter the lounge and turn right, you’ll be in the main part of the lounge. Honestly, this space is just okay, and is maybe on par with some of the world’s best business class lounges.
It has a good amount of seating, decent views, and access to a small buffet, plus an a la carte menu through an iPhone app. If you walk into here during peak hours, it’ll feel super crowded, and I can’t imagine anyone would be particularly impressed.
Now, in this area you’ll also find the RED SUITE (I’m not sure why they’re yelling), which has a cool design and lots of aviation memorabilia, but it’s still not my favorite part of the lounge.
YOU NEED TO TURN LEFT AT THE ENTRANCE, FOLKS!
Forgive me for yelling, but I feel like it’s necessary. 😉 Based on my experience when a vast majority of people enter the lounge, they turn right. As far as I’m concerned, most of the good stuff in the lounge is to the left.
Let me start with the catch — the space to the left is only open during certain hours, but it’s basically open when a vast majority of people visit the lounge, over the morning and late evening hours, which is when most international flights depart from the airport.
During my most recent visit, the lounge space to the right was uncomfortably busy. Meanwhile the space to the left had a total of 20 people in it, across two huge zones. I’ve now developed a system for my visits to this lounge.
Inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left is Sushi Tsurutei, which is the lounge’s sushi restaurant area. It’s a pretty, minimalist space, and most importantly, it’s quiet.
Best of all, there’s absolutely delicious Japanese food here. There’s a sushi counter, and then also a kitchen with curry and other specialties, in addition to a buffet. I may have accidentally over ordered during my recent visit, but I had both the sushi set and breakfast set, and YUM.
Once you have a full stomach, it’s time to head upstairs for some drinks, to JAL’s SALON. Once again, this is a large space, and it’s never crowded, in my experience.
The drink selection here is just awesome, and drinks are served by the lovely bar staff. While the coffee in the rest of the lounge is from machines, behind the bar there’s a hand drip coffee setup, where the bartender can make you the perfect cup of coffee.
Talk about beautiful presentation as well! Usually I like to put a splash of milk in coffee, but this coffee was so smooth that it wasn’t needed.
There’s also some excellent tea — I had an iced green tea, even served in a champagne flute!
The signature espresso martini, in celebration of the new Airbus A350-1000, is pretty epic as well.
If you’re a whisky fan, you won’t leave disappointed either…
Then once you have a full stomach and a bit of a buzz, it’s time to head over the massage chairs for some relaxation, also located in JAL’s SALON.
Bottom line
I’ve gotta admit, the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda has really grown on me. Back in the day, I thought it was kind of not-great… but that’s because I didn’t know how to use it correctly. If you turn right upon entering, the lounge is just okay, with the exception of the fun RED SUITE.
However, I absolutely adore everything in this lounge to the left, as you’ll find some of the best lounge food, cocktails, tea, and coffee, in Sushi Tsurutei and JAL’s SALON.
Now, perhaps writing this post is against my own interests, but I’m hoping that this gives other people the chance to enjoy this lounge as much as I do. My impression of this lounge has improved considerably over time, and the next time I update my rankings of the world’s best first class lounges, this one will make the list.
Am I the only one who loves the left side of the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda, while finding the right side to be kind of unremarkable?
And another thing you need to do when using this and any other lounge is not to shout around, not to move around furniture, not put feet or shoe on tables or any other furniture, and UUFH ( use your f***** headphones).
I'm writing this because this bad behavior is so evident in a polite environment like this one
I own the glass your espresso martini was served in. That’s a kimura glass, they retail for bout $60 a pop. Wow!
Been in both First and Business lounges at Haneda. Having just gone through Business a week ago I can say there is no comparison. Business is absolute garbage. First is hands down the winner
Had to do a double take to make sure this wasn't the first class terminal. Been awhile since Ben was this excited over a lounge.
Since many of us who are used to driving on the right, we tend to automatically go right. Just like if you want to rope drop at Disney, you go to the left to beat everyone else who go right.
If you look at the side of the road Japanese drive and walk on (in most places), it's opposite, so it makes sense that you should go to the left first. Thanks for the tip!
Useful article. Nice looking sushi. I should try once.
Lounge too small is problem of every lounges in HND, no matter ANA/JAL, domestic or international
Or maybe you're just too big? I find that only very fat American travelers have a problem with the size of things in Japan.
It's not even a matter of big or small. The lounges are just plain crowded.
ANA's HND Suite lounge crowding isn't too bad, tons of space and multiple floors, the NRT one is a completely different story though.
JAL does a good job of managing crowding in its T3 business class lounges with the overflow SkyView lounge.
I’ll be flying First Class on JAL from BKK-HND-JFK. Wondering if you recommend Cathay lounge at HND instead of JAL 1st class? Or maybe try both since I will have 14 hours?
Also, what are your thoughts on lounges at BKK. I head Sakura lounge isn’t great and mixed reviews on Cathay. Should I stick to Qatar? Or am I better off just using my PP and heading to Oman or Turkish? Thanks again for all the great content!
@ Jonathan -- If you have that much time, you might as well check them all out! The only reason to visit the CX lounge is for the views and the barista made cappuccinos. Otherwise, I think the JL F lounge is better.
In BKK, I think QR is the best option, but if you have a lot of time, you might as well check them all out. CX is probably the second best.
Awesome, thanks so much! I was also thinking about popping into the city for a few hours to grab lunch, but I doubt I will get a ton of sleep on the short redeye from BKK to HND, and I don't want to be so exhausted for the A350 main event that night.
Looks like a few commenters mentioned JL lounge seems to get really crowded... Do you think it would be difficult to find a comfortable and quiet spot in either JL or CX to take a nap?
The Qatar loungenin BKK is very good..One of the nicest showers in many a lounge visits
QR in BKK is solid. Good food, good shower, good service just expect the lounge staff to be a bit less attentive to you when they have Qatari VVIP (e.g. royal family) in the lounge.
I have a soft spot for JL curry though so I usually hop in JL lounge for a quick curry run.
For PP in BKK, Oman seems to have the best alcoholic selection, AF might worth a drop-by. Coral offers a free 15-min back and shoulder massage as well.
You think they would have a separate section for true F passengers - maybe waiter order service.
Randy, that would be fairly unusual. The BA Concorde Room is like that of course. But I cannot offhand think of another one. Presumably there is not sufficient demand for it.
Airlines want to reward total spend (i.e. status) over, say, a single flight in F paid for by credit card miles!
I would still go right and order food from the website with your phone. Then go to left and upstairs (or get a shower). Or go to the CX F lounge.
What CX F lounge? One does not exist at HND.
@ Jonathan -- Why go right instead of left, though, given that it's so much busier? You can also order the food to the left.
I love the dandan noodles at the CX lounge, but that's really the only reason to stop by there. I mean, it's a sapphire lounge.
The food options on the two sides of the lounge are identical. Everything you can order on the left side is also available on the right side. The app (web based app not iPhone app) has the full menu. The upstairs drinks menu is unique to JAL's Salon.
Sometimes they have some special food offering in the Salon as well, the caviar service was a memorable one. But it is quite rare for that to happen.
I really like this lounge! I don’t think it’s on par with La Premiere but it’s still pretty good! I like the foosball table in the red suite. I really think more lounges should consider gyms and game rooms!
In the first few pictures it looks like a high school cafeteria!
I will be there in February and hope to see it. Thanks .
Maybe I am missing something here, but is it just the food in that section that suddenly makes it one of the best first class lounges in the world?
For me it’s the amount of personal space - I’ve only been to this lounge once and it was super quiet… maybe 40 ppl in the entire lounge so the experience was amazing!
F&B always great but if you’re going on a long 1st class flight, you would probably want to eat onboard not in the lounge. Lounges should have comfortable bathrooms, showers and would love gyms/exercise rooms (are there lounges with exercise rooms?)
@ Julia -- It's that it's much quieter, plus the much better drink selection upstairs, which you don't get on the right side of the lounge.
I’ve been to this lounge 5 times within the last year. Yes , there’s an upstairs Shocker.
What about the next lounge over ? They have an outdoor rooftop. What is that lounge ? Amex centurion ?
Public observation deck. JAL first lounge is great, but given the observation deck and quality of the restaurants and shops, there are definitely awesome lounge alternatives.
@ D3Kingg Grounded -- Hmmm, the next lounge over from the JL F lounge? I didn't think there was one. There is the other "block" of lounges, where you'll find the two JL J lounges (the rooftop one is great), the DL lounge, and the CX lounge. This is also where the Amex lounge is opening in 2025.
Left side was closed for a couple years from covid on
Yeah even midway through last year the sushi restaurant had not yet reopened.
I've only been in this lounge once (and turned the wrong direction, apparently.) I sadly do more FC lounge visits to Narita. But helpful to know - thank you for posting!
Been there three times this year, absolutely fabulous. I also love that museum tucked in the corner.
The sushi is mind blowing, can’t believe they serve that quality at an airport lounge. One big perk being an emerald member.
All sushi in Japan is mind blowing if your baseline is non-coastal American Japanese restaurants serving crabmeat avocado rolls
For evening need to turn right first if you want to eat, where you can still order sushi, fortunately. Then go to the upstairs. That green tea is pretty epic, along with the sweet red bean candy they serve with it.
Also….you promised the biz lounge review!
They serve the perfect cup of coffee with chemicals, not dairy? No wonder they lost the war.
I didn't see where Ben mentioned anything about chemicals in his coffee. Do you know something about the coffee that they serve? By the way, are you a Trump voter?
@Fred - see the photo of the coffee and Ben’s comment:
“Usually I like to put a splash of milk in coffee, but this coffee was so smooth that it wasn’t needed.”
He may not be a Trump voter, but he is a bigot. Let him be…
@Fred Farkle
As if there's no freedom or right for him to vote for Trump.
You libs always brag about how much you love freedom and rights, yet you seem to plan on limiting that freedon and rights to yourselves and not even slightly spare that to your enemies - something straight out of North Korea.
No wonder why a lot of people are still gonna vote for Trump again, if the libs are like this then why not.
Of course everyone has a right to vote for whomever they want! And I will defend to within reason your right to do so.
But I also have the right to despise all republicans, actually trump voters or otherwise, because I consider you to be a selfish bloodsucking members of society, who live in fear of goblins such as immigrants, LGBTQ people, and generally the Other. I've spent enough time on this earth dealing...
Of course everyone has a right to vote for whomever they want! And I will defend to within reason your right to do so.
But I also have the right to despise all republicans, actually trump voters or otherwise, because I consider you to be a selfish bloodsucking members of society, who live in fear of goblins such as immigrants, LGBTQ people, and generally the Other. I've spent enough time on this earth dealing with ignorant fools, and people with selfish agendas, to want to have anything to do with them. In fact, after my parents pass, I will have zero republicans in my life, I will consider this to be a bitterwseet moment.
Good day, sir.
This is the definition of mental illness. I feel sorry for you and hope you have a therapist ready in about 3 weeks.
He posted a picture of it with the little plastic container of chemicals. I think that shows I'm too observant to be a Trump voter.
Here are the ingredients of that Sujahta Coffee Fresh in the photo: Vegetable Oil and Fats, Dairy Product, Sugar, Dextrin, Casein, pH Regulator, Emulsifier (derived from soy)
Literally everything you eat or drink ever is composed entirely of chemicals.
I am not an American, it’s amazing to see the horrible things you say about each other and then pretend your side is perfect even as you say them. Truly fascinating.