Review: Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda

Timely post, Ben. I'm currently in the lounge about to leave for JL2. I actually love the food spread here, and I prefer this lounge to the Cathay First lounges in HKG, though I realize that's probably a little controversial.

I spent 8 hours in the JAL Lounge at HND three weeks ago, en route from BKK to LAX. We were in the Business Class lounge but I explored the first class lounge (I am OW emerald, but the rest of the family is not, so I wasn't allowed to bring them in). I agree with all of your assessments. The lounge is beautiful. I was there around 10pm on a Monday night and it was very quiet. The one thing that was most surprising to me was that the food was essentially the same as the spread in the Business Class Lounge. Not bad (especially compared to most spreads at US airports), but once I saw what they had in Biz, I expected the First Class side to be a step up. Other than display, it was not.

A bit surprised you didn't check out the new CX lounge too.

No sushi/sashimi bar like at NRT? Terrible...The all you can eat maguro is the best part of the JAL lounge offering

I used the same lounge and found three different types of champagne in the three different areas! Tried them all!

I do wish they had a better selection of Japanese whi skies which are all the rage right now.

The shoe shine guy you refer to is a service from John Lobb the bespoke shoemaker from London. A pair will run you around $3000 and a year in the making. The service is really quite good....

In Japan punctuality is extremely important and the two minute delay borders on the sacrilegious.

NRT > HND
No sushi, no dice.

Agree that the food at HND first class lounge is underwhelming, especially the buffet. No waiters, either, so doesn't compare to something like QF first at LAX or even BA Concorde room at LHR. I did have the beef teppanyaki from the chef but I just found it to be fine, nothing special. I could easily see that beef being in a warmer on the buffet line and you probably wouldn't have thought it was anything special.

Agree with the previous poster that the buffet is exactly the same in the business class lounge in the other side, sort of confirming that there's not much that's first class about the dining in the F lounge. Too bad, because otherwise it's a nice lounge. I didn't like it as much as you did, Lucky, but it's certainly a fine place to wait for your flight.

Is there only one JAL first class lounge at HND? Compared to the three JAL first class lounges at NRT, I'd give a slight edge to HND due to the Red Suite and game room. On the other hand the JAL first class lounge in the NRT main terminal has a sushi bar, better beverages (surprisingly) and a shoe shine service. The JAL first class lounge in the NRT satellite terminal has a very nice dinning area. The dinning area in the main terminal is pretty ordinary.

The lounge reviewed here and the JAL F lounges at NRT are no Cathay Pacific Pier at HKG or Qantas F lounge LAX (as far as food anyway, decor in the Qantas lounge is average), but when flying business or coach as an EXP I have zero complaints with the JAL F lounges.

Regarding the shower rooms, I also thought it was odd that they had no toilet. I later went back to the Sakura Lounge next door to check their shower rooms, and those did have a toilet in them.

thanks for the review. have been wondering what the Haneda lounge is currently like. It has been hard finding info about it.

Another excellent and extremely thorough report as usual! I thought the lounge was nice and definitely agree about the food selection being somewhat underwhelming, but overall, it was a great lounge option for HND.

I reviewed it a while back here: http://goo.gl/DOf8JM

Why didn't you try and sleep in here and skip the hotel? (massage chair looks reclinable)

Hi Ben,

Good to see my frequent used Lounge in your reviews 🙂
Apart from the beef, if you fly in the morning, you get like egg pancakes from the grill.
Its somewhat underwhelming compared to what you had.

Cathay Business in Haneda, while the noodle bar is good, it lacks a shower. But understandably, you dont need a shower for a flight to HK from HND (3 hours or so).

Keep up the great work!
Happy flying and thanks for visiting Tokyo!

Came here to say the same as many others, the best part of NRT was the sushi bar. Those chefs rocked my world.

JAL First Class and Sakura Lounge Renovations at Haneda International Airport Main Building and alternative services
Thank you for your patronage of the JAL Group.

Please be advised that JAL First Class Lounge and Sakura Lounge located on the 4th floor in the Main Building of Tokyo (Haneda) International Airport will be undergoing renovations and will be closed from October 29, 2019 to the end of March 2020. During this period, Alternative lounge arrangement will be made and offered as follows.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this interruption of lounge service may cause and deeply appreciate your patience and understanding.

This extensive renovation, upon its completion, will allow us to provide enhanced levels of quality and comfort to our valued guests.

Construction Period
October 29, 2019 to the end of March 2020

Closed Lounges
First Class Lounge, Main Building 4th floor
Sakura Lounge, Main Building 4th floor
Alternative Lounges during Construction
Please refer to the alternative lounges and access eligibility during the construction period as below.

The renovated Sakura Lounge Skyview will open on October 29.

Eligible Guests Alternative Lounge Facilities and Service
First Class

JMB Diamond

JGC Premier

oneworld Emerald

Business Class

Sakura Lounge Skyview

On the 5th floor in the lounge area near the gate 114

Opening Hours : 06:00～02:45

・Toilets

・Changing rooms

・baggage lockers

・Shoe polishing service *1

JMB Sapphire

JAL Global Club

oneworld Sapphire

Premier Economy Class

Economy Class (Flex Y fare)

Sakura Lounge

Main Building 4th floor near the gate 112

Opening Hours :

06:00～12:00

21:00～01:30

・Toilets

・Showers

・Smoking room

・baggage lockers

SKY LOUNGE ANNEX

On the 4th floor in the lounge area near the gate 114

Opening Hours : 06:00～02:45

・Toilets

・Showers

・Changing rooms

・Smoking room

・baggage lockers

Shoe polishing service is available for First Class, JMB Diamond, JGC Premier and oneworld Emerald guests.

Can the Sakura Lounge be accessed upon arrival at Haneda from a business class flight or only on departure? We are hoping to travel in September 2021 and will be trasnferring form a business class flight to an intra-Japan economy flight.