Review: Japan Airlines First Class Lounge – Tokyo Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda Introduction

My flight from Singapore on Japan Airlines in business class arrived at 5:15am, which would give me a full day to enjoy the Japan Airlines first class lounge Tokyo Haneda. I had timed this flight strategically to have a day in Tokyo, though due to work commitments and lack of sleep, I decided to stay in the airport – and the Japan Airlines first class lounge provided the perfect space to spend the day working and resting!

The lounge doesn’t actually open until 6am, so once through transit security I made my way upstairs to the shared reception desk where I was invited to enjoy the business class lounge for 30 minutes or so until the first class side opened. The business class lounge was nice enough, though it did start to get fairly busy just after I arrived at 530am.

At 6am (on the dot) one of the reception agents came over and invited me to move over to the first class lounge. The first class area is on the opposite side, and is accessible to passengers flying in first class along with oneworld elites. Connecting passengers arriving on a long-haul first class flight and departing in business class will be eligible to enter using their boarding pass from their arriving flight, similar to the ANA first class lounge policy.

Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda

This. Lounge. Is. Stunning. While not overly flashy, or enormous, or full of frills, it has (almost) every amenity a good first class lounge should have, paired with phenomenal service and understated luxury. The entrance sets the stage with gleaming marble floors flanked by Japanese style partitions with a beautiful piece of art guiding you towards the lounge entrance.

The lounge is quite large, with two main seating areas on either side of the dining space, in addition to a small business centre, The Red Suite, showers, bathroom, massage area and a smoking room.

The entrance opens up into the dining area, which features warm earthy tones, lots of marble, and large windows spanning the length of the lounge overlooking the airside operations. There is a generous amount of seating in the dining area, and although it did get busy during peak times, finding a seat was never an issue. I loved the greenery in the lounge, which felt fresh and added a nice pop of colour amongst the muted tones.

The food selection was mainly self-serve, with a chef available during peak times for made to order dishes. While all of the food on offer was high quality and fresh, I found the selection a bit lacking for a first class lounge, especially compared to somewhere like the Qantas First Class Lounge in Los Angeles or the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.

I had the signature beef dish from the chef, along with a glass of red wine, and thought it was delicious (I wanted more but decided to save my appetite for the flight). I also had a glass (or two) of champagne while plane spotting!

Beverage options were plentiful, with a variety of soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits, sake, champagne, coffee and tea.

Just beyond the dining area was a long row of comfortable seats overlooking the airside operations – my favourite view. There was definitely no shortage of plane spotting, as Haneda is one of the busiest airports in the world! For those who want some really great spotting opportunities, check out the observation deck accessible through the terminal (you can see the observation deck in the picture below).

I had a lot of work to do, so I settled into a more quiet section of the lounge, just to the left of the dining area. The lounge is arranged with seating areas around the dining area, and I found the further you made your way from the food the quieter it became. I just want to mention again how beautiful this lounge is! Warm leathers, earth tones, and greenery – it was certainly aesthetically pleasing!

Just off the seating area was a more private section with daybed type seating and a small office area with computers and printers. Unfortunately the lounge doesn’t have private sleep rooms, and this is probably the best place to catch a bit of rest if needed.

I was feeling a bit groggy after my overnight flight and decided to use the shower rooms shortly after arriving. The reception counter is located just off the main entrance hallway with an attendant available by pressing a small button.

The shower room was small but functional, and featured high-end amenities by Shiseido. There was a small bench for changing, a single sink, and a couple of soft towels. One small complaint was the lighting, which was poor, and the lack of a toilet, which seemed a bit odd.

Additional amenities in the lounge include a massage area, with automated machines or short 10-minute services by appointment (I don’t actually like massages so didn’t partake). There’s also a small smoking room near the entrance, which was well-ventialted (no residual smell in the lounge).

The real highlight of The Japan Airlines first class lounge Tokyo Haneda is The Red Suite. Located at the far end of the lounge, The Red Suite is a collection of 4 small rooms consisting of a champagne and sake bar, a shoe shine service, a games room, and a library. The concept is unique, and I thought it was really fun. The only strange part is that nobody used it! I don’t know if it’s meant to be more of a display or museum, but I hung out for a bit and enjoyed it!

The champagne bar features a small seating area and Laurent-Perrier champagne along with a variety of sake.

The shoeshine room features some seating and a collection of Japan Airlines artifacts and art pieces. The room was staffed during peak periods in the morning and afternoon for complimentary shoe shining (a partnership with London based John Lobb – bespoke boot and shoe maker). I did find it a bit awkward when the shoeshine attendant wasn’t tending to someone, as she seemed eager to offer assistance.

On the other side of The Red Suite was a library and games room, which again, nobody used, but I definitely would have taken full advantage if travelling with someone! I loved the walls of the games room, which was a collection of vintage maps. How cool!

My flight ended up being delayed about 45 minutes, so I had more time to enjoy The Red Suite before boarding calls were made, at which point one of the front desk agents retrieved me for boarding.

Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport Bottom Line

I loved this lounge. I ended up spending about 12 hours here, and at no point was I bored or longing for more. I think the lounge strikes a good balance between offering a comfortable place to work, and an entertaining place to relax. The Red Suite is a unique offering and I spent a couple of hours there just admiring the art, and imagine it would be a really neat place to spend some time with travel companions.

The food and beverage offerings were adequate, though maybe a bit lacking compared to some other first class lounges, such as The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX or the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt. That said, I didn’t leave hungry (or thirsty), and everything I ate was tasty and fresh. I think this lounge would be perfect if it offered a private sleep room, which I would have used after coming off of a redeye flight with very little rest.

I’ve reviewed the Japan Airlines first class lounge at Narita Airport also, which was perfectly nice, but nothing compared to this! I would strategically route through Haneda in the future to experience this lounge again, and can’t wait to return!

Interested in experiencing the lounge for yourself? Consider applying for the MBNA Alaska Airlines Mastercard to earn 25,000 miles as a welcome bonus and start earning miles on everyday purchases for first class flights on Japan Airlines!

Have you been to the Japan Airlines first class lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport before? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below!