Lounge Review: Japan Airlines Lounges Tokyo (NRT)

I visited Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounge—an international business class lounge—and the JAL First Class Lounge at Tokyo (NRT) on a long layover while returning to the United States from Southeast Asia in March 2023. I’m writing about the two lounges together, since they’re co-located and I visited both at the same time.

My overall experience was good but not outstanding. Timing is everything, and Japan was one of the later countries to lift COVID-19 restrictions. I suspect that Japan Airlines lounges and the airport in general were operating at a different level than before the pandemic, and that operations likely have moved towards pre-pandemic service since my visit.

Japan Airlines Lounges Tokyo (NRT) Location and Hours

Both the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge and JAL First Class Lounge are located in the main terminal (terminal 2) in the same area, closest to gate 61 with entrances on the upper levels of the terminal.

The configuration is:

• The JAL First Class Lounge primarily occupies the fourth floor, except for the shower rooms, the JAL Salon and a smoking room on the third floor, as detailed in the lounge map.
• The Sakura Lounge seating areas are on the second floor, but the dining room is on the third floor, as detailed in the lounge map.

At the time of my visit, the website noted hours for both lounges as daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the lounges were open shortly after 7 a.m. when I arrived.

Japan Airlines Lounges Access and Entry Requirements

I entered the Japan Airlines lounge reception area at the shared entrance to the two lounges expecting to visit the Sakura Lounge, since I was traveling in business class. Initially, the lounge attendants directed me towards the Sakura Lounge, but within a few minutes, one of the attendants found me and told me I had access to the JAL First Class Lounge, due to my Emerald status (Platinum Pro® status through American Airlines). My American Airlines status was from a temporary status match and challenge extended to me as a result of having World of Hyatt Globalist status. I was tired and forgot about having elite status.

Japan Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, so it follows the Oneworld lounge access policy. General requirements to access either lounge include:

• A traveler must be departing on a flight that is both marketed and operated by a Oneworld member airline.
• A traveler must be flying in first or business class or have Emerald or Sapphire tier status through a Oneworld member airline.
  • Emerald status provides access to business- and first-class lounges.
  • Sapphire status provides access to business-class lounge access.
  • Flights in first class provide access to business- and first-class lounges.
  • Flights in business class provide access to business-class lounges.
  • A traveler qualifies for first-class lounge access based on either Emerald status or flying in first class.
• One guest, who must be traveling on a Oneworld airline, is allowed per Emerald and Sapphire elite member.

If you’re planning to enter the JAL First Class Lounge based on Oneworld Emerald status, it’s important to know which airline-specific statuses are considered Oneworld Emerald tier. Oneworld Emerald includes American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro® or AAdvantage Executive Platinum® status.  Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100 status also are Emerald tier. Japan Airlines JMB Diamond and JGC Premier status also qualify for access.

Access to the Sakura Lounge also is provided to Japan Airlines premium economy passengers and economy passengers with a flex Y fare, with some exceptions.

Japan Airlines Lounges Layout and Amenities

Sakura Lounge

The Sakura Lounge’s main level on the second floor contained multiple seating areas, beverage centers and limited self-service food stations. This level also contained the lounge’s facilities including restrooms, shower rooms, lockers and a business area. The lounge map noted a massage area, kids’ room, nursing room and smoking room, but I didn’t see these areas.

Seating areas included bar seating, areas with lounge chairs and small tables in groups or separated for privacy and areas designed for working, including private phone booths.

The dining area for the Sakura Lounge was one level above the rest of the lounge. I walked up the dramatic spiral staircase, but there also was an escalator. The seating on this level mostly was at dining tables, in contrast to the lower-level seating.

The overall layout of the lounge was fine, and the lounge was large. Furnishings and décor seemed a little bland. The lounge was nearly empty when I arrived shortly after it opened and when I did another walk around the lounge early in the afternoon.

JAL First Class Lounge

The JAL First Class Lounge was renovated in 2019. It seemed more stylish than the Sakura Lounge. Seating was comfortable, with a variety of seating areas.

This lounge also consisted of two levels. The third floor had facilities including restrooms, shower rooms, nursing rooms, lockers, a smoking room and a business area. There also was another bar and lounge area named JAL Salon that was closed when I walked past it. The fourth floor contained dining and lounging areas, with an emphasis on tables for eating.

As expected, the JAL First Class Lounge was smaller than the Sakura Lounge, but it had more than enough space for the number of guests. It was nearly empty early in the morning, got a little busier as the morning progressed and quickly emptied out again. Later in the afternoon, it got busy again, as people arrived for early evening flights. The lounge wasn’t crowded—compared to situations in some lounges where nearly every seat is taken—at any point during my visit.

I spent most of the day in the JAL First Class Lounge, but left during the early afternoon for a walk and briefly visited the Cathay Pacific Lounge, which also was nearly empty. The lounge occupancy level I experienced likely reflected flight schedules and reduced overall traffic at the airport.

Bathrooms and shower facilities

Both lounges featured public bathrooms separated by gender, as well as some individual handicap and family restrooms. The restrooms had fancy Japanese style toilets.

Visitors could reserve individual shower rooms on the app. The first-class lounge shower rooms featured a private toilet, sink and shower. Towels, a hairdryer and Predia branded shampoo, conditioner and body wash were available.

Food and Beverage at Japan Airlines Lounges Tokyo (NRT)

At the time of my visit, both lounges had extremely limited food available buffet style. Drinks were self-service, but most food had to be ordered on an app, which visitors could access by scanning a QR code. There seemed to be more food options available in the JAL First Class lounge compared to the Sakura Lounge. The emphasis on ordering food probably reflected operational changes instituted during the pandemic, as Japan Airlines lounge website pages reference more extensive food offerings being available buffet style.

Beyond that, there were areas that looked like they should be staffed bars, but no employees were there. I mostly looked at times when the lounges weren’t busy, so I’m not sure if this was due to the time of day or if bars within the lounges weren’t being staffed.

Sakura Lounge

Food and beverages available in the lounge via self-service included: hot beverages, cold beverages, alcohol, bread, pastries and packaged snacks. Alcohol included beer, wine, sake and other spirits.

“The Dining” menu was posted for items that visitors could order. The menu included about 10 items including a breakfast option, beef curry, pastas, salads and soups.

I didn’t eat or drink anything in the Sakura Lounge.

JAL First Class Lounge

Beverages and a small selection of canapés, pastries and snacks were available for self-service in the lounge. Non-alcoholic beverages included still and mineral water, soft drinks, juice, milk, tea and coffee. Alcohol included beer, wine, sake and other spirits. Premium beverages were supposed to be available in this lounge. Pre-pandemic reviews indicated that these tastings took place in the JAL Salon, which was closed during my visit.

More substantial food was available to order on an app accessed by scanning a QR code on the table. The items on the Sakura Lounge menu also were available in the JAL First Class Lounge, Additional options, notably made to order sushi, were only available in the JAL First Class lounge. The range of items available to order included:

• American and Japanese breakfast plates
• Beef curry
• Several types of soup
• Several types of salad
• A few meat and fish entrees
• Vegetable burger
• Several types of pasta and noodles
• Rice
• Bread items
• Fruit, granola and yogurt options
• Desserts including cake and pudding
• Sushi including red snapper, salmon, rolled egg and a vegetable roll

I had a large breakfast on my flight to Tokyo, so I wasn’t hungry when I first arrived at the lounge. For the first few hours, I just had coffee, water and a small pastry. The espresso drinks from the self-serve machine weren’t particularly good.

Service in the lounge was attentive and proactive. Knowing I would get beverage refills during the day, I had to protect my empty coffee cup and water glass from being removed. The staff served food ordered through the app quickly.

Staff notified me, and presumably other guests in the dining area, that sushi wouldn’t be available for a few hours (from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.). According to the lounge website, the sushi bar, called Sushi Tsurutei, closes daily during this period. Given this information, I ordered some sushi a little earlier than I originally planned.

The food I ordered was fresh and generally tasted good. The sushi was high quality, but choices were limited, and I wasn’t given any wasabi. I later noticed that someone else was served wasabi with his sushi. I also ordered and enjoyed a salad with lettuce, kale, cabbage, carrots and chicken later in the afternoon.

Summary

Grab and go food wasn’t available, and there were signs in the lounge noting “Please refrain from taking food and beverages out of the lounge.”

Overall, I thought the availability of sushi in the JAL First Class Lounge and the quality of items I ordered from the app were above average. I also thought that both lounges provided a variety of menu options to cater to different palettes.

The limited food options available for self-service represented an area for improvement. Given pre-pandemic offerings, I expect this area has changed or will change in the future.

How Much Time Would You Spend at Japan Airlines Lounges Tokyo (NRT)

As detailed below, I had a long daytime layover and spent more time at the Japan Airlines lounges than necessary. The ideal amount of time for me would be up to three hours in the Sakura Lounge and up to five hours at the JAL First Class Lounge or combination of both lounges.

Final Thoughts about Japan Airlines Lounges Tokyo (NRT)

My connection time between flights at Tokyo (NRT) was just over 10 hours. I spent most of the day at the JAL First Class Lounge, which was comfortable with good food and relatively empty and quiet most of the time I was there. Ideally, I wouldn’t spend that long in any airport lounge, but this was a pleasant environment for a longer than desired layover.

My overall impression of these two lounges was positive, but I wouldn’t purposely plan to travel through Tokyo (NRT) to visit Japan Airlines lounges or seek a longer than necessary layover to spend time in these lounges.

This article is part of a larger Trip Report on Southeast Asia, where you can learn about flights, lounges and hotels within this route.