JAL Sakura Lounge (Haneda) review: not worth it if you hate epic views and delicious curry
No, the JAL Sakura Lounge at Tokyo Haneda is not the most luxurious and exclusive Japan Airlines lounge at this airport. But you probably wouldn’t know that just by looking at it. It’s really nice.
Not only is the selection of food better than a lot of business class lounges I’ve been to recently, the views of the airport (and Tokyo Bay) from the large windows are nothing short of amazing. If you’re lucky, you might even get a glimpse of Mt Fuji as you shovel freshly prepared curry into your face.
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Location
You’ll find the Sakura Lounge about 3/4 of the way down Terminal 3 (turn left just after clearing security). The nearest gate is 114.
Note that the entrance probably won’t be obvious at first. You’ll have to go through a set of sliding glass doors to reach the escalator that leads to the lounge.
How to get in
The best thing about the Sakura Lounge is that they actually let JAL premium economy passengers in. You don’t even need to be flying business class. My JAL A350-1000 premium economy ticket to Los Angeles was all that was needed for them to wave me in.
You can also access this lounge if:
- You have JMB Diamond status
- You have JGC Premier status
- You have JMB Sapphire status
- You have JAL Global Club status
- You’re holding a ticket for JAL first class, business class, or economy class (Flex Y Fare only)
- You’re holding a ticket on any Oneworld airline for first class or business class
Layout
This is a two story lounge. The bottom level is larger (and has much better food). The upper level is smaller, but a much quieter place to hang out.
Right away you’ll notice that it’s a fairly compact layout, but it’s sectioned off and partitioned in a way that makes it feel larger than it actually is. The large wraparound windows amplify the feeling of being in a wide open space.
Unlike the open floor plan of the Haneda ANA Lounge, the main level of the Sakura Lounge is broken up into smaller rooms which surround the central food area. It feels cozy and quiet. Even at maximum capacity.
In comparison, I found the high-ceiling Sakura Lounge over at Narita Airport to be a more comfortable place to hang out. The one here at Haneda Airport has low a ceiling, which makes it feel slightly more cramped. But at least it’s not as claustrophobic as the Singapore Airport Plaza Premium Lounge.
Showers are available in this lounge. WiFi is pretty good, but it started slowing down a bit as the afternoon went on and more people arrived.
Food and drinks
Other than the notable lack of sushi, I have no complaints about the food available during my visit. Ok, yeah, some different dessert options would have been nice, but come on. The curry was excellent, and that’s all that mattered.
So yeah. About the alcohol. The selection of beer, wine, and liquor was fairly decent. All of it was self serve, so just take whatever you want (how much you want) without being judged.
Food quality was excellent. Nothing that I ate tasted like it was reheated leftovers.
Pros and cons
Japan Airlines always does a pretty good job with their lounges IMHO. None of them are flashy, but they’re all cozy and uncomfortable. This one was no exception.
Pros
- The fact that I was able to get in with just a premium economy ticket is a pretty big deal.
- High-quality food with excellent curry (at least by white boy standards).
- Lots of natural light, with incredible views.
Cons
- No noodle bar. There’s no made to order food at all for that matter.
- The good seats (near the windows) go fast.
- Not only that, the window seats are where most people congregate. Prepare to rub elbows with others as you attempt to get a glimpse of Mt Fuji.
