Review: JAL Sakura Lounge (International – Main Terminal) at Tokyo Narita

Lounge Review: JAL Sakura Lounge (International - Main Terminal) at Tokyo Narita

Japan Airlines operates a pair of business class lounges in the international part of Tokyo Narita’s terminal 2. Before taking a flight to Delhi onboard JAL’s excellent business class on my way to Slovakia, I had the chance to visit the one located in the main terminal rather than the satellite building.

The lounge is easy to find since its well-marked entrance is located right past security and immigration. However, one might get confused since the title says “First Class Lounge” and “Sakura Lounge” – without mentioning business class.

JAL First Class Lounge and JAL Sakura Lounge Entrance

Entrance into JAL’s First Class Lounge and Sakura Lounge at Narita airport.

The simple explanation is that the reception – which was decorated with a nice Christmas tree at the time of my visit – of the first and business class lounges is shared, with the latter one being called Sakura Lounge.

JAL Sakura Lounge Reception

Reception of the JAL’s lounges decorated with a Christmas tree.

After presenting my boarding pass at the reception, I was directed to the right where a pair of escalators led downstairs into the business class lounge.

Escalators Leading into the JAL Business Class Lounge

Escalators leading into JAL Sakura Lounge.

Lounge Overview

Downstairs, the main part of the lounge was L-shaped with the stairs leading to the “corner of the L.”

JAL Sakura Lounge

View right after getting off the escalator.

On the right side, just past the escalators, there was a children’s room. And, there was also a number of phone booths ideal for making calls in private without disturbing other visitors. (Something I wish all the lounges had!)

JAL Sakura Lounge Narita Children's Room

Children’s room.
JAL Sakura Lounge Narita Phone Booths

Phone booths.

Continuing straight, led to a part of the lounge that was long and fairly narrow.

On the right side, there was a drinks and snacks area.

JAL Sakura Lounge Drinks and Snacks Area

One of the two drinks and snacks areas.

On the left side, there were large windows looking over a small part of the apron.

Windows Overlooking Apron

View of the apron.

Throughout the rest of that area, there was a variety of seating including lounging chairs facing the windows, rows of sofa chairs, as well as some larger sofas with coffee tables.

JAL Sakura Lounge Narita Seating

Overview of the seating area.
Reading Materials

Reading materials.
Sofa Chairs

Sofa chairs.
Chairs Overlooking Narita Apron

Chairs facing the windows.
Seating Area

The lounge offered a variety of seating.

At the very end of this part of the lounge, there was a smoking room, as well as a business center.

JAL Sakura Lounge Smoking Room

Smoking room.
JAL Sakura Lounge Business Center

Business center.

The business center was equipped with cubicles in which one could work on a laptop, as well as with desks with computers available for use.

Computer in Business Center in JAL's Business Class Lounge

Workstation.
Cubicles

Cubicles.

Going back to the escalators that led me into to the lounge and turning to the left instead of going straight, there was a cloak with lockers, a flight information display, as well as a rack with some Japanese and English reading materials.

JAL Business Class Lounge Cloak Room

Cloak.
FIDS and Reading Materials

FIDS and reading materials.

Then, there was a staircase that led to the upper level of the lounge – but more on that further down.

The part of lounge past the stairs was quite spacey, and featured some more seating areas ranging from rows of chairs in a “typical lounge arrangement” to more “living room-like” seating.

Staircase Leading to Dining Area

Staircase leading to the dining area.
Seating

Rows of chairs under the staircase.
JAL Lounge Narita Downstairs Seating Area

Main seating area.
Seating

More seating.
JAL Business Class Lounge Seating

Chairs with individual power outlets.

There was a drinks and snacks station in this area as well.

Downstairs Snack Area at Sakura Lounge Narita

The second drinks and snacks area.

And, in the far right corner of the area, there was a couple of counters with bar-height chairs.

JAL Sakura Lounge Narita Bar Counter

Area with counters.
JAL Business Class Lounge Bar Counter

Counter in the middle of the lounge.
JAL Sakura Lounge Counter Overlooking the Apron

Counter along the windows.

Finally, in the very back of this section of the JAL Sakura Lounge, there were more phone booths as well as reading materials – and also some semi-private rooms with massage chairs.

Reading Materials

Back side of the lounge with more reading materials and phone booths.
JAL Sakura Lounge Narita Massage Chair

Semi-private room with a massage chair.

Upstairs, there was a dining area which was significantly smaller than the seating areas on the lower level of the lounge.

View of Sakura Lounge Narita from Stairs

View of the main floor of the JAL Sakura Lounge from the staircase.
Upstairs Buffet Counter

Buffet in the upstairs dining area.

Besides the buffet counter – the contents of which I’ll talk more about in a bite – there were some communal tables as well as counters along the windows.

One thing that was immediately noticeable was how (over)crowded the area was compared to the downstairs lounging area.

I understand that they wanted to separate the dining part of the lounge from the general seating areas. But, I think it would have made more sense to have the dining area downstairs with more seating, and have a quiet relaxation area or something else upstairs.

JAL Business Class Lounge Dining Area

Communal tables in the dining area.
JAL Sakura Lounge Dining Area

Counters facing the apron.
JAL Sakura Lounge Tokyo Narita Dining Area

Unlike the lower level, the upstairs area was crowded.

Food and Drinks Selection

Food and drinks in the JAL Sakura Lounge at Narita airport could be found in three areas – in the two snack areas on the lounge’s lower level, and in the upper level dining area.

Starting with the snack areas, the only food available there were cookies, rice crackers, etc. That was not an issue though, since the dining area had a more extensive selection.

JAL Sakura Lounge Cookies

Cookies.
Snacks

Crackers and other snacks.

There were some cold items including bread and kinds of pastries, salads, yoghurts, and so on.

Bread

Bread.
JAL Sakura Lounge Pastries

Pastries.
JAL Sakura Lounge Tokyo Narita Salads

Salad.
Dressings

Yoghurt, fruit cocktail, etc.

Then, there were some Japanese options including mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) and tamagoyaki (Japanese-style omelette), as well as Japanese pickles.

Mentaiko

Mentaiko and tamagoyaki.
Pickles

Pickles.

Warm Western options included two kinds of soup, as well as scrambled eggs, sausages, and potatoes.

Western Soups

Ham and potato soup and tomato cream soup.
Sausages

Sausages and potatoes.
JAL Sakura Lounge Western Breakfast

Scrambled eggs.

Finally, warm Japanese options included miso soup as well as beef curry – JAL Sakura Lounge’s signature dish.

JAL Sakura Lounge Miso Soup

Miso soup.
JAL Sakura Lounge Japanese Meal Option

Curry rice.
JAL Beef Curry

Curry rice and miso soup.

As for drinks, there were soft drink and beer dispensers, as well as the obligatory coffee machines.

JAL Sakura Lounge Hot Drinks

Coffee and tea.
Soft Drinks and Beer

Cold drinks.

Besides beer, there were also bottles of liquor, sake, and wine.

JAL Sakura Lounge Tokyo Narita Alcohol Selection

Liquor.
Wine and Sake

Sake and wine.

JAL Sakura Lounge Tokyo Narita (International – Main Terminal) Summary

Overall, I found the lounge – especially the seating areas downstairs that were deserted during my visit – to be a pleasant place to relax before a flight.

At the same time, though, I wish the lounge was designed a bit better in terms of its dining. Having visitors only eat on the upper level might make the cleaning job easier for the lounge’s staff, but it certainly results in overcrowding of the upstairs area.

As for the food and drinks offered in the JAL Sakura Lounge, I thought they were adequate – although not exceptional. I most certainly enjoyed the curry rice, but I wished there were some more warm options. But then again, part of the problem might have been the fact that I visited the lounge in the morning.

Given that I expect to earn my one world status in February, I hope to have a chance to visit the lounge during lunch or dinner time again sometime soon.

 

Click here to read more JAL Japan Airlines flight and lounge reviews

 

3 thoughts on “Review: JAL Sakura Lounge (International – Main Terminal) at Tokyo Narita”

  1. Mohammad I. H. Reza

    I am (my family, 2 Adults and 3 children) travelling with JAL from Boston, US to KL, Malaysia through Narita, starting on 5 June at 13.30 from Boston and arriving at Narita on 6 June 16.30. My lay over time in Narita is almost 19 hours. We are Bangladesh Passport holder. I want to spend our time in Sakura Lounge. I am also a JMB Sapphire card holder (*EDITED OUT*). I am confused, whether I am eligible for getting a transit visa at the Narita Airport!
    Would you please provide me necessary info how I may take rest with my family in Narita at my long lay over time!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Get Your FREE "Four Ways to Try Business Class Without Breaking the Bank" Guide

No, I am not going to tell you how to fly in first class and sip Dom Perignon for free…

But, I am going to introduce you to a couple of ways you can experiment with to try a business class flight without having to spend thousands of dollars.

How Can I Help You?