Review: JAL Sakura Lounge at Sapporo New Chitose

Lounge Review: JAL Sakura Lounge at Sapporo New Chitose

With three days of spotting at snowy Sapporo New Chitose airport over, it was time to head back home. Since I flew back onboard JAL’s Class J just like on my flight to Sapporo, I will not be reviewing the return flight. However, below, I will take a look at JAL Sakura Lounge – the airline’s business class lounge at Sapporo airport.

After dropping my bags at the dedicated JAL Global Club (and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald) check-in desk, I passed through the dedicated (and deserted) security lane. The JAL Sakura Lounge can be found airside, a couple of steps to the right of the security check.

JAL Global Club Check-in Desks at Sapporo New Chitose

JAL Global Club check-in at Sapporo New Chitose airport.
JAL Global Club Security Check Lane at Sapporo New Chitose Airport

JAL Global Club security check entrance.
Sapporo New Chitose Airport Domestic Terminal

Signs pointing to the JAL Lounges at Sapporo airport.

Lounge Overview

The entrance to the lounge was shared with the first class JAL Diamond Premier Lounge, and right past the entrance there was a set of escalators leading to the second floor where the reception and the actual lounge(s) were located.

JAL Sakura Lounge and JAL Diamond Premier Lounge Sapporo Entrance

Entrance into JAL Sakura Lounge and JAL Diamond Premier Lounge.
JAL Lounges at Sapporo Airport

The lounges are one floor above departures level.
Decoration at JAL Sakura Lounge Sapporo Entrance

Decoration in the lounges’ lower level lobby.

As JAL puts it on its website, “going up to the lounge by escalator, calligraphic art by Ms. Sisyu, a famous Japanese calligraphy artist, welcomes you.” Besides the calligraphic art, the area where the escalator led also included a smoking room and the reception.

Calligraphy in JAL Sakura Lounge

Calligraphy on the second floor.
JAL Sakura Lounge New Chitose Smoking Room

Smoking room.
JAL Sakura Lounge Sapporo New Chitose Reception

Reception of Sapporo New Chitose’s JAL lounges.

Just past the reception, there were luggage lockers, as well as phone booths which can be found in nearly all Japanese lounges (and which help keep the actual lounge a quiet and relaxing place).

Each of the phone booths was decorated with a wall art which showed how much thought has been put into the little details when it came to the design of the lounge.

Lockers

Luggage lockers.
Phone Booths

Phone booths.

Then, there was a hallway where the restrooms could be found, and finally there was the main part of the lounge.

The right half of the lounge included a buffet area (with mostly just drinks, but more on that later). Besides the buffet counter, there was also a communal counter in the center and another counter along the lounge’s windows.

Separately, there was another seating area with another counter along the window, as well as some tables, benches, and chairs.

JAL Sakura Lounge Chitose Buffet Counter

Drinks and snack counter.
Seating in JAL Sakura Lounge at Sapporo Airport

Communal table.
Seating in Sapporo New Chitose JAL Business Class Lounge

Seating area in the back of the lounge.

The other half of the lounge included some more seating, as well as a copy & fax corner.

Seating

Communal table in the middle of the lounge.
Seating

Seating area in JAL Sakura Lounge.
Chairs in JAL Sakura Lounge

Individual seating in the lounge.
Copy and Fax Machine

Copy and fax corner.

Finally, in several places throughout the lounge, there were flight information display screens (something useful that many lounges don’t have enough of), reading materials, and various decorative elements.

Flight Information Display

FIDS and reading materials.
Decoration in Sapporo's JAL Business Class Lounge

Wall decoration.

Food and Drinks Selection

Similarly to all other domestic lounges in Japan (whether JAL, ANA, or credit card), there is not much to talk about in terms of food and drinks.

The only “food” in the lounge were rice crackers and candies.

JAL Sapporo Business Class Lounge Snack

Rice crackers and candies.

As for drinks, there was a soft drink dispenser, as well as tomato juice and milk in pitchers. Then, there was a coffee machine and a small selection of teas.

Drinks in JAL Sakura Lounge Sapporo

Soft drink dispenser.
Cups

Beer glasses, tomato juice, and milk.
Coffee

Coffee.
Tea

Tea.

Finally, there were automated beer dispensers that Japanese lounges are well known for. In fact, there were four types of beer to choose from. And, there was also Nikka Whisky.

Beer

Beer dispensers.
Whisky

Whisky.

JAL Sakura Lounge Sapporo New Chitose Summary

If there is one thing I like about JAL’s domestic lounges, its their decor. At the same time, though, that is about all that can be said about them – and this lounge was no exception.

While the seating was comfortable, and the lounge would provide for a decent working environment if that is something you are looking for, there was nothing to speak about in terms of refreshments.

But, then again, that is the case with all Japanese domestic lounges.

JAL Sakura Lounge New Chitose Map

JAL Sakura Lounge Sapporo New Chitose map.

 

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

 

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?