Review: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge, Tokyo Narita domestic terminal
By Chris C., January 21 2016
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Airport
Tokyo Narita
Alliance
oneworld
Airline
Japan Airlines
Cabin-class
Business
Notes
The Good
- Power points near most seats
- Quiet zones for uninterrupted work
The Bad
- No hot food, limited other food
- Looks just like any other JAL lounge
X-Factor
- Workstations with tarmac views
Introduction
Passengers who frequent Japanese destinations such as Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya will be familiar with the Japan Airlines domestic Sakura Lounge in Terminal 2 at Tokyo's Narita Airport: JAL's sole domestic facility for all eligible frequent flyers and connecting business class and first class travellers.
Inside the decor looks much the same as any of JAL's local lounges with the expected business amenities of free WiFi and easy access to power points, but when it comes to food and dining there's less to be impressed by.
Location & Impressions
After clearing security in the domestic zone of Narita's Terminal 2, take the escalator and look for this somewhat subtle door:
Once inside the lounge is broken up into several different 'rooms', each with very similar seating...
... and some with places to hang your jackets and coats:
Access
- Japan Airlines business class and first class passengers connecting to or from an international flight
- Jetstar Japan passengers booked on a JL flight number when connecting to or from an international JAL business class or first class flight
- Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers prior to JAL domestic flights (no access with Jetstar Japan, unless connecting as above)
- Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (JMB) Sapphire and Diamond and Japan Global Club (JGC) members of all tiers prior to Japan Airlines flights
- JAL Mileage Bank Crystal members redeeming 1,000 miles for a lounge coupon
- All other Oneworld Sapphire and Oneworld Emerald members prior to Japan Airlines domestic flights
Dining
We'll start by saying that if you were expecting food like you'd get in the Qantas Clubs in Australia or even the American Airlines Admirals Clubs in the USA, you'll be disappointed.
Instead, the only food here consisted of a few sandwiches in the fridge, muffins and packets of chips...
... although the beverage side of things was slightly more promising with a Scotch Whisky (Chivas Regal 12yo), saké...
... beer from an automated pouring machine, fruit juice, tea, coffee and soft drink:
As for any hot food or something more substantial, you'll find it for sale out in the terminal.
Work
While lacking on the food, JAL puts its best food forward in catering to productive business travellers with power points near almost every seat – most aside the cocktail shelves...
... some next to the seats...
... and others directly in front at the working benches, with a handy array of mobile phone charging cables provided in case you've forgotten to pack your own:
Much of the lounge is also designated as a quiet zone with 'no mobile phone' signage throughout, and while we safely ignored that rule as the only occupant in the lounge, the custom here is to take your mobile phone conversations outside or further away to avoid disturbing others who may be working.
The Sakura Lounge also offers usable WiFi plus TVs, but these were kept on mute during our visit with Japanese language captions enabled instead.
All that's missing are convenient USB power outlets which many modern lounges now provide, although with ample AC power points and mobile phone chargers at the ready, you'll shouldn't have much difficulty in topping up your battery.
Relax
Alongside the powered solo seats are plenty of comfy chairs facing each other for couples and colleagues travelling together and wanting to unwind with a refreshment...
... and if you head to the far right corner of the lounge, this row of chairs has much more space for your bags, bits and pieces – and of course, with cocktail tables:
Two massage chairs are also available which we found adequate but not so good as we'd use them again...
... while plenty of windows throughout the lounge welcome natural light throughout the day.
Visiting Japan on business? Also read:
- Road test: Japan's ANA Crowne Plaza hotels for business travellers
- Travel tip: the JR rail pass for business travellers
- Review: Japan Airlines first class lounge, Tokyo Narita
- Japan: to catch the plane or the bullet train?
- Travelling to Tokyo? Grab a Suica or Pasmo travel card!
- Review: Japan Airlines Sky Suite business class, Sydney-Tokyo
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 437
JL and ANA domestic lounges are all pretty average. Almost no food at all.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 May 2015
Total posts 9
Recently I have flew Qantas to Tokyo and JAL from Tokyo to Nagoya. If I think Qantas demestic lounge food is average. Then JAL domstic lounge doesn't really have food to offer you. I arrived JAL loungde around 6am. and I was looking around and around try to find some food for my breakfast. Very interesting thing is I found lots people bring their own food to lounge. Guess what I found? have a look those picture. their staff told me they don't serve breakfast.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
I'd expect to find more than that, food that was edible for any foreign passenger. BYO plastic Japanese stuff from some dispencing machine at the airport doesn't seem very nice at all.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2016
Total posts 33
JL Sakura Domestic lounges across the nation offer no food! You have to buy from the inside terminal once you have passed through the security. I was in Haneda Sakura lounge in July starved to death with no foods just crackers and drinks. I think it's a cultural thing. But the JL Sakura International lounge is amazing. Having said that ANA lounges are way better (Interntional Lounge).
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