Sakura Lounges are Japan Airlines’ trademark Business Class-tier lounges. For domestic services, these lounges are specifically available at Haneda (HND), Narita (NRT), Itami (ITM), Fukuoka (FUK), Sapporo (CTS), Naha (OKA), Okayama (OKJ), Kagoshima (KOJ), Hiroshima (HIJ), Matsuyama (MIJ), and Komatsu (KMQ). Being JAL’s main hub, Haneda has four domestic lounges – two of which are Sakura Lounge complementing two top-tier Diamond Premier Lounges. This is the review for the JAL Sakura Lounge South, which is the smaller of the two Sakura Lounges.

Lounge Access Rules

Passengers with a same-day reservation on JAL First Class (regardless of domestic or international) or international Business Class flight are afforded access. Passengers connecting from international JAL First Class and JAL Business Class flights are also eligible for entry. Note that passengers without status holding a domestic Class J ticket are not qualified for entry.

When accessing by status, passengers holding at least a JMB Saphire or JAL Global Club status are eligible for access. This also extends to Sapphire status holders with oneworld carriers, such as Cathay Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, or BA Executive Club Silver. Of course, access is also permitted to oneworld Emerald card holders.

In addition, it is possible to pay to use the Sakura Lounge for JPY3000, which can be reserved online from the flight reservation details screen (in Japanese only). After reserving, the payment will be done at the reception on the day of travel.

Location

Airside, this lounge is located near Gate 10 on the South Wing of Haneda Airport. It shares one common entrance with the JAL Diamond Premier Lounge, which is located a few steps away from the security checkpoint and the exit to the baggage claim. In case you are coming from the JAL First Class check-in counter and want to use this lounge over the Diamond Premier Lounge for some odd reason, it is also directly accessible past the private First Class security checkpoint.

JAL Sakura Lounge

As a rehash from the Diamond Premier Lounge Review: There are a pair of escalators at the entrance, which leads up to the common lounge reception desk. After independently scanning your boarding pass on the desktop scanner, it will beep and its screen will advise which lounge you are eligible to enter. Likewise, the reception associate will point you in the direction of either the Diamond Premier Lounge or the Sakura Lounge. Again, I had access to both by virtue of my Cathay Diamond membership and my JAL First Class boarding pass.

Lounge Seating and Amenities

The lounge is located down a corridor from the reception, opening to a well-lit windowed space. An artwork display that looks very similar to the one at the North Lounge welcomes patrons into the space.

The lounge opens into one long, window-lit room with seating on both sides after the entrance. Unlike the three other lounges, this one interestingly has a lot more semi-partitioned booths for seating. Whilst it does share common furniture and design elements with the other lounges, I wonder why such a design choice was used specifically for this lounge.

Sofa chair seating

Compared to the other three lounges, there is a comparatively limited number of sofa chair seating in this lounge. On both sides of the entrance is a small armchair seating area, wedged between the dining areas and the foyer. These chairs didn’t quite look very well-padded and interestingly did not feature power outlets.

A handful more armchairs is also available in the centre sections of the desk-cubicles. Whilst these ones did feature power outlets, I didn’t find the placement of the chairs to be particularly ideal.

Desk seating

In addition to the desk seats along the windows, there are several areas towards the left-hand side of the lounge featuring semi-partitioned desks and desk cubicles. I really quite liked the latter, as they allow for a good amount of personal space, even though they aren’t private. As expected, these desks are equipped with power outlets, in addition to a comfortable office chair. In fact, after second thought, these desks really do give a cubicle office vibe…

Cubicle seating

Finally, what’s most unique about this lounge is how nearly half of the space is occupied by semi-partitioned mini cubicles featuring sofa chairs. JAL’s website even dubs this as the ‘Private Lounge’ due to the high number of partitioned, individual seating available in these cubicles. Each cubicle space is equipped with a power outlet and a small side table, which makes it more suitable for relaxing than working. I think this area is particularly ideal for solo travellers looking to unwind before or after a long day.

Nap Area

Along the interior wall of the cubicle seating area are a handful of semi-enclosed napping booths, featuring a lounge chair with an ottoman. These booths are comparatively darker than the rest of the lounge, making them ideal for a short nap. A small side table and a power outlet are also provisioned in each booth.

Dining area seating

Finally, there are also two dedicated dining areas located in the middle section and on the far right-hand side of the lounge. The far right-hand side dining section is the main one of the two, featuring several proper dining tables in addition to hightop seating by the window.

The second dining area is a bit smaller but features the same spread refreshments available in the main dining area of the lounge. In addition to a few normal dining tables and the hightop bar seating in the centre, there are also tables with cushioned sofas by the window.

Telephone Booths

As is widely the case in Japan, making telephone calls in enclosed spaces are frowned upon. In fact, nodding to this cultural norm, signs advising that phone calls are not allowed are scattered all over the lounge. Instead, such calls are expected to be taken in enclosed telephone booths, which limit the amount of noise coming into the lounge. There are four booths at the Sakura Premier Lounge, spread along the interior wall of the lounge. Power outlets are similarly available in these booths.

Lounge Wifi

The lounge shares its exclusive WiFi network with the Diamond Premier Lounge, separate from the rest of the terminal. As such, there was no password for the network and the connection was fast and reliable as always.

Dining

As is the case with the Sakura Lounge in the North Wing, food is limited to three kinds of rice crackers (senbei) and hard candy, both of which are also available in the Diamond section. Due to the high number of people coming in and out, these snacks often run out. Thankfully, the lounge’s hawk-eyed attendants are always quick to replenish these items.

In terms of drinks, there are a few coffee machines, complemented by a Western and Japanese tea selection. A Tomato Juice and a soft drink dispenser are also available – both of which mimic the offering to those at the other lounges.

In terms of alcoholic drinks, there are similarly three types of beer available, although the options are a bit different and less premium. On offer included beers like Kirin Ichiban Shibori, and Sapporo Black Label, all of which are ordinary mainstream beers. Likewise available is the same bottle of Suntory Royal Blended Whisky offered at the North Wing.

Toilet

This Sakura Lounge, unlike its North Wing counterpart, only has a single pair of toilets. They are located on the corridor near the reception. Like all the other lounges, the toilet cubicles feature Toto Neorest washlets, which are a very nice touch. When I visited, the male toilet was expectedly clean and well-kept.

Overall

Overall, I had mostly the same impressions of this lounge as that of the JAL Sakura Lounge North. I think it is a decent-enough lounge with nice seating options and amenities that are arguably as good, if not better than the Diamond Premier Lounge. Sadly though, this lounge was also only endowed with a very limited food selection and the average drink selection. Whilst it is nice to have access to this lounge as a frequent flyer, I for one, would definitely not pay for access, given the limited appeal for me personally. After all, Haneda Airport already boasts one of the world’s best airport facilities.

Read more from this trip here!