- Introduction: Zipping To Tokyo Via Mongolia
- Review: American First Class Boeing 737 (MIA-LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: VIP ONE Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Lufthansa Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Business Class Airbus A350 (JFK-CDG)
- Review: Air France HOP Business Class Embraer E190 (CDG-FRA)
- Review: Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 (FRA-UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 (UBN-ICN)
- Review: Seoul Incheon Airport Transit Hotel (ICN)
- Review: Oneworld Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN)
- Review: ZIPAIR Full Flat Business Class Boeing 787 (ICN-NRT)
- Review: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: TIAT Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
During my trip to Japan via Mongolia, I had the chance to check out a few lounges at Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3, prior to my Japan Airlines A350 first class flight to New York. I spent the most time in the Japan Airlines First Class Lounge, which is the lounge for first class passengers and oneworld Emerald members.
I hadn’t visited this lounge in many years, and frankly it was significantly nicer than I remembered. I really like this lounge, though I’m conflicted as to whether I just really like it, or love it.
On the plus side, this lounge is massive, and contains several distinct seating and dining concepts. The food and drink selection is phenomenal, the views are great, and the lounge has lots of amenities. At the same time, the lounge can get super busy during peak hours, and lacks the exclusivity or personalized service of many of the world’s top first class lounges. It’s definitely one of the better oneworld Emerald lounges out there, though.
Let’s get into the review, and then I’m curious to hear what y’all think of this facility.
In this post:
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda location
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda is located in Terminal 3, which is where all international oneworld flights depart from. The lounge is located near gate 112, just a short walk from immigration. When you clear immigration (or are in the center of the terminal), just turn left.
You’ll then see the entrance to the lounge on the left. The lounge is primarily located on level four, so you’ll need to go up one level either via the escalator or elevator.
There you’ll see the entrance to the lounge, which I find to be quite pretty, with its minimalist design.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda hours
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda is currently open daily from 6AM until 1:50AM. This covers virtually all the oneworld airline departures from the terminal. You can expect that the schedule will be adjusted if flight schedules change, as it’s normal for airlines to tweak lounge hours.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda entry requirements
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda is a standard oneworld Emerald and oneworld first class lounge. In line with oneworld lounge access policies:
- The lounge can be accessed by oneworld Emerald members traveling in any cabin on a oneworld flight
- The lounge can be accessed by any same day oneworld international first class passenger, not only on Japan Airlines, but also on airline partners
This lounge is absolutely massive, but can also get busy during peak hours (which would be early in the morning and late at night). I wouldn’t say it’s ever crowded, due to the size of the lounge, but at times it definitely feels more like a business class lounge in terms of the sheer number of people.
Presumably most of the passengers in the lounge are oneworld Emerald members and not first class passengers, given the relatively small Japan Airlines first class footprint.
I do find it interesting just how many oneworld Emerald members seem to pass through the airport, since I don’t find the Cathay Pacific First Lounges Hong Kong (whether The Pier or The Wing) to get this crowed.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda layout
Usually when I review lounges, I do one section about the seating and layout, and then one section about the food and drinks. I’m going to be approaching this review a little differently, as the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda is broken up into several different zones, each with its own food and beverage concept.
The lounge is spread across two levels, and features the following areas (don’t ask me about JAL’s capitalization choices with these various concepts):
- JAL’s Table is the largest part of the lounge, and it’s also the main dining area; this part of the lounge tends to get busiest, though frankly it’s also the part of the lounge that I’d most recommend skipping
- RED SUITE is a small area near JAL’s Table, and it’s probably the most elegantly designed part of the lounge
- JAL’s SALON is on the upper level, and is focused on serving Japanese artisinal beverages, from cocktails, to sake, to tea; note that this part of the lounge is only open over select hours, in the mornings and evenings
- Sushi Tsurutei is all about serving sushi, and almost feels like a restaurant; this part of the lounge is only open during peak periods, in the mornings.
A vast majority of guests in the lounge seem to go to JAL’s Table and RED SUITE, so if you’re visiting during a peak period, I’d highly recommend instead hanging out at JAL’s SALON or Sushi Tsurutei.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda JAL’s Table
JAL’s Table is the biggest part of the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda. When you enter the lounge, just turn right and walk down the beautiful hall, and you’ll find yourself there.
JAL’s Table is the primary dining area of the lounge, and it’s typically where you’ll find the most guests. I’ve gotta say, design-wise I don’t love this part of the lounge. It feels to me a bit like a (luxurious) cafeteria. with the heavy use of communal tables, plus the lack of variety in seating.
JAL’s Table has a larger counter where food is freshly prepared, and that’s complemented by a small selection of self-serve food, including things like mini sandwiches, soup, and pastries.
A majority of the food here is a la carte. Unfortunately there’s not traditional table service, but rather each table has a QR code that you have to scan to place your order, and then dishes will be brought to you. I was there over breakfast hours, and options included everything from a beef bowl, to vegetable penne, to a veggie burger, to beef curry, to eggs. You can find part of the menu below.
I decided to order the beef curry with rice as well as the granola with mixed berries and yogurt (a weird combo, I know!), and both were excellent.
In addition to the food, this part of the lounge has a large self-serve drink selection, including everything from liquor, to beer, to wine, to soda, to coffee, to tea.
While it’s technically not part of JAL’s Table, there are some additional seating areas around this section, including rows of seats facing one another, as well as some semi-private chairs in a quiet room.
This part of the lounge also has some private phone rooms, a smoking room, and lockers.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda RED SUITE
RED SUITE is located immediately next to JAL’s Table, and is the most elegant part of the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda.
This is a sanctuary that almost feels more like a cigar bar than anything else. In particular, I love how the room has a bunch of aviation memorabilia, so it’s worth a visit even if you don’t sit here. There’s also a foosball table.
While the RED SUITE doesn’t have any food, it does have a champagne and sake bar, which you can help yourself to (Joseph Perrier Brut is the champagne on offer in the lounge).
Over select hours (typically in the mornings and evenings), the RED SUITE also offers a complimentary shoe shine service, which I know many guests take advantage of.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda JAL’s SALON
JAL’s SALON is what I’d consider to be the bar area in the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda, though with a Japanese twist. This is located inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left, and then up a floor (on level five).
A vast majority of guests never visit this space (and presumably don’t even know it exists), which is great, since it means it’s typically empty. This area is only open over select hours, in the mornings and evenings.
I don’t find the design of this space to be particularly inspiring, as it mainly just consists of rows of seats in rows, as well as some communal tables.
The real reason to come here is because of the beverage selection, which is heavily focused on products from Japan. JAL’s SALON has everything from craft beer, to Japanese whiskey, gin, and other beverages. There’s also Japanese tea, and apparently a hand-drip coffee service (which I wasn’t aware of, but am now reading about on Japan Airlines’ website — I’m super bummed I missed it!).
While here, I indulged in a signature cocktail, the Kokutu Espresso Martini, which was celebrating the inauguration of Japan Airlines A350-1000 service (the flight I was on!).
This cocktail was excellent, and was presented on a tray in a cool glass.
In addition to the bar, JAL’s SALON also has a self-serve drink selection, with a coffee machine, beer machine, liquor, and more.
The fifth floor also has some massage chairs, available on a first come, first serve basis. Did you really pass through a Japanese airline lounge if you didn’t spend at least a few minutes in one of these? 😉
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Sushi Tsurutei
Sushi Tsurutei is probably my favorite part of the Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda. This place almost feels like a sushi restaurant, with the catch being that it’s only open in the mornings.
This is located inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left, and much like JAL’s SALON, a vast majority of people seem to miss this. Just as an example, when I visited around 9AM, nearly every seat was taken in JAL’s Table, while two seats were taken in Sushi Tsurutei.
Sushi Tsurutei has dozens of tables, with much lighter tones than the rest of the lounge.
The highlight of this space is the sushi bar, where you can have sushi freshly prepared for you.
There’s also a small self-serve buffet, with many of the same options you’ll find in the main part of the lounge.
Much like at JAL’s Table, food has to be ordered via a smartphone using the QR code on each table, and then the food will be brought to you. Below you can find part of the menu.
I ordered one of the sushi sets, and it was excellent. I would have ordered more, but I was trying to save my appetite for the feast I’d enjoy onboard my flight to New York.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda bathrooms & showers
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda has a couple of sets of bathrooms (one on the fourth floor, and one on the fifth floor), which I found to be spotless. The men’s room had sinks, urinals, and stalls, with the toilets having bidets.
The lounge also has several shower suites, which can be reserved through the lounge’s app (the same one through which you order food).
The shower suites are functional though perhaps not overly luxurious, and feature a sink, a toilet, and a walk-in shower, with toiletries in reusable containers.
Don’t forget to close the seat to the toilet lid, though!
Bottom line
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Haneda Airport is an excellent facility for oneworld first class and oneworld Emerald passengers. The lounge is huge and is spread across several distinct zones, with an impressive selection of food, drinks, and amenities.
I like this lounge a lot, particularly if you’re visiting over the hours where JAL’s SALON and Sushi Tsurutei are open. Those space have great sushi and cocktails, and are consistently quiet.
However, there’s no denying that this lounge doesn’t feel quite as exclusive or personalized as some other top international first class lounges in the world.
What do you make of the Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport?
I spent several hours in this lounge 2 weeks ago on a long layover. While the author's description of the food, drinks, and amenities are accurate, I was disappointed that the Salon on the fifth floor closed each day at noon. This felt very arbitrary, as the Salon level is far more quiet, comfortable, and easier to find a couch to nap on. I was in a restful slumber when an employee, with reliable Japanese...
I spent several hours in this lounge 2 weeks ago on a long layover. While the author's description of the food, drinks, and amenities are accurate, I was disappointed that the Salon on the fifth floor closed each day at noon. This felt very arbitrary, as the Salon level is far more quiet, comfortable, and easier to find a couch to nap on. I was in a restful slumber when an employee, with reliable Japanese efficiency, woke me at 11:55 am to tell me the Salon was closing soon and to head back downstairs. While I would not expect anything different from the rule following culture in Japan, I really could have used some extra sleep.
Unfortunately most of the food is unsuitable for coeliacs.
We found this a problem when we visited Japan as many dishes contain wheat or barley.
It looks as though coeliac disease is not known here or undiagnosed.
Red Suite shoe shine staff are super nice, and yes, they can help with cleaning and conditioning your sneakers, not only dress shoes.
Food quality is actually not as good as I expected, especially comparing to The Pier.
Fukucho Hattanso is an absolute banger of a sake.
Ben, I really like your reviews, but could you please tell us how you got Oneworld lounge access at ICN when you were flying ZIPair? A few of us really wonder how you did it. It'll be a very helpful tip for those who fly a non-Oneworld airline but want to access the lounge.
I have a feeling he will not tell us, which kind of speaks to how he did get in, if what others have said are true.
Yeah, what I guess is just booking a random Oneworld award flight and cancelling it after entering the lounge.
It may not be recommendable as a blogger.
Hi Ben, long time reader here and always a huge fan of your reviews and articles. For many of us who read this blog on our mobile devices, the number and placement of ads, quite frankly, makes reading this blog an incredibly frustrating experience. The pop up review videos are IMO unnecessary and banner ads and having to precisely tap on the ‘X’ very difficult and intrusive. I understand that this blog survives off ads...
Hi Ben, long time reader here and always a huge fan of your reviews and articles. For many of us who read this blog on our mobile devices, the number and placement of ads, quite frankly, makes reading this blog an incredibly frustrating experience. The pop up review videos are IMO unnecessary and banner ads and having to precisely tap on the ‘X’ very difficult and intrusive. I understand that this blog survives off ads and I don’t mind them at all in or as posts but having to close ad screen after ad just to read a single article makes me read fewer articles. Just something to consider for your mobile readers. Thanks
Ok I understand it now - 1st an initial review, then another review with the same stuff.
Have visited a couple of times in the past few months, and the RED SALON and Sushi Tsurutei were definitely my favorite places to sit. Luckily, it wasn't particularly crowded in either of those areas, even though the main sitting area had plenty of people.
Just spend 5 hours in the JAL F lounge last week. One thing to point out about the showers: You show showers 6 to 10, which have a toilet. However, showers 1 to 5 (not mentioned) do not have a toilet. There is one or two separate shared toliets in the walkway for showers 1 to 5. Unless you ask for one with a toilet, you will get on without.
Flight arrived at gate 112...
Just spend 5 hours in the JAL F lounge last week. One thing to point out about the showers: You show showers 6 to 10, which have a toilet. However, showers 1 to 5 (not mentioned) do not have a toilet. There is one or two separate shared toliets in the walkway for showers 1 to 5. Unless you ask for one with a toilet, you will get on without.
Flight arrived at gate 112 at 5:30am. Lounge doesn't open until 6am - so lots of people waiting for the lounge to open. By 9am the lounge was very crowded.
I find it tough to find a JAL F seat and I use point.me
I was just there 3 weeks ago and the lounge was great but it was empty at the time (5pm-ish). I was dreading the sushi but it was actually good (though not as good as in town). I don’t remember the Narita First Class lounge but Haneda’s was impressive.
The footfall in the lounge have dropped quite a bit compared to pre-pandemic. It seems that the OWE populations of the world have taken a hit.
Looking at the luggage tags people have on their luggage, I would say JAL and AA are the main drivers of OWE in the lounge. Also a decent population of BA Golds around the London flights. Or they are just the more likely people to use their status luggage tags.
The photo of the entrance with the Japanese art and red glass does no justice. The walk of tranquility. Land of endless sushi and real Luis Vuitton bags. I crushed 8 of those 200 ml Perrier bottles. Then board AA in J and sleep all the way for 9:40 hrs.
You drank almost half gallon of sparking water and sleep 9 hours?
There's plenty of endless sushi in Texas. Endless Texan roll, Cowboys roll, Maverick roll, Rockets roll, Astro roll, Rangers roll etc.
And who cares about real LV when you have the real Kardashians.
Everything is so tiny in Japan and very big in Texas.
Indeed. Look at how narrow those urinals are.
@Lucky, did you and Mr. Klint travel around the same time? He just posted his review yesterday :).
No, I'm just slow. ;)
Haha I was gonna say the same thing!
To vast number of OW emerald members is due to how easy to keep it once granted in JAL FF program.
If you don't fly enough to renew, you can keep your status by paying with points (2000 I think) which is a bargain.
It's almost a lifetime status !
There are additional ways though but only for japanese residents having JAL co branded CC.
You can retain quasi-lifetime OW Sapphire through the way you explained (JAL Global Club), but not OW Emerald.
In order to acquire OW Emerald through with JAL Global Club, you are required to earn 80,000 Fly on Point (JAL status point) through OW flights, and half of them must be earned by taking JL coded flight.
Or, you can have lifetime access card by accruing 2 million in-seat mile with JAL operated flight.
I spent a few hours in the Red room enjoying champagne last fall. Didn't see another passenger the entire time. I like this lounge, but to me the food was a bit of a miss (and I typically love Japanese food). I'd rank this behind Cathay's The Pier first class lounge in HKG. Fortunately I'll be visiting both in the coming weeks.
Was there massage therapist available for 10 minute massage when you visited? Or did they discontinue that service at this lounge?
@ JY -- Unfortunately that's no longer offered.
One disappointing thing about this lounge is the lack of a lounge chair or a bed. The lounge's great for dining and drinking but not for relaxing when you have a long layover.
I grab one of the leather chairs with ottomans that are in the back corners of Red Suite and take a nap. I’ve napped there quietly for a couple of hours. The room is quiet.
agree - some flights are 5 hours or more connect time. Like a very crowded restaurant. You order from the phone app you install on your phone.
They should add a cordoned-off area for FC customers with enhanced/more personalized service.
Otherwise, this lounges looks perfectly nice, and then some.