Review: JAL Sakura Sky View business class lounge in Tokyo Haneda Airport T3

This is our review of the Japan Airlines business class lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Japan Airlines operates three lounges at Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (the international terminal). There’s the First Class lounge as well as two Sakura (business class) lounges, both of which are in the same location with the Sky View lounge on top of the other.

As far as I’m aware both Sakura lounges are identical, with the exception of showers which are only available in the lower lounge (the non-Sky View one).

This article is part of my current Japan Airlines review series. Click here for my review of the new Japan Airlines A350 premium economy cabin. A business class review will run tomorrow.

Where is the Sakura Sky View lounge?

Finding the lounges at Haneda Airport isn’t the easiest; when I flew to Okinawa (see my The Ritz Carlton Okinawa review here) I ended up walking past the domestic lounge in Terminal 1 a couple of times before I spotted it. Fortunately, the Sakura lounges in Terminal 3 are a bit easier to spot:

If you’re flying JAL, you’ll want to turn left after security and follow the signs for ‘Lounges’. If you’ve missed the sign, head towards Gate 114.

Turn left and you’ll find a bank of escalators to the upper floors. Level four is home to the ‘standard’ JAL Sakura lounge. An attendant outside directed me to the Sky View lounge on level five, I assume because the first floor lounge was quite busy.

I did as I was told and headed up to the Sky View lounge!

JAL Sakura Sky View lounge access requirements

JAL’s Sakura lounges are for business class passengers, but you don’t need to be flying JAL to gain access. Here are the full eligibility reqiurements:

• JAL First Class, business class and premium economy passengers
• Any other oneworld business class passengers, including British Airways, Finnair, Cathay Pacific etc
• Anyone with oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status (the equivalent of British Airways Silver)

First Class passengers can use the Sakura lounges but you’d be silly not to head JAL’s First Class Lounge. Cathay Pacific also operates its own lounge in the Terminal, so that’s another option should you want to go on a lounge safari.

Economy passengers can get in too!

If you are on the JL41 flight to Heathrow which leaves early in the morning, everyone – even Economy passengers – can use the Sakura Lounge after 11.30pm. You cannot use the showers, however, and you are only allowed a restricted food and drink offering.

The lounge is open from 6am until 01:55am daily.

Inside JAL’s Sakura Sky View lounge

After scanning my boarding pass I had a quick wander around the lounge. This is a large space with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, so it’s wonderfully bright and commands good views of the airport from its fifth floor location.

The space is divided into numerous spaces, from dining areas:

…. to work areas:

…. to more relaxed areas:

It’s very spacious, and even at its busiest there were plenty of seats available, particularly away from the buffet.

If you like to watch the world go by then this row of seats along the main expanse of windows is for you:

There’s also a number of telephone booths should you need to take a call. I’m not sure what Japanese lounge etiquette is but I assume it is to be fairly discrete rather than taking calls in the main areas.

Food and drink in the JAL Sakura Sky View lounge

Having now been in a couple of JAL business class lounges I’ve come to realise that JAL does not focus on the food or drink offering. That said, as a lounge catering to international flights it is better than its domestic lounges, where you only get a selection of rice snacks to eat!

Drinks are all available to pour yourself; there is no staffed bar. This included a selection of five wines, from German Riesling to French Chardonnay to Chilean Shiraz and an Australian sparkling wine:

As you can see above, Japanese sake was also on offer, as were a range of local beers.

Spirits are also self-serve, with a focus (naturally) on whisky:

Juice and soft drinks were dispensed from a self-service machine, and there were also coffee machines available.

In terms of food, at breakfast time the main offering was a Japanese curry which smelled delicious. Proteins included grilled pacific ocean perch and Japanese omelette:

There was also a salad bar, miso soup station, some pasta and more.

I decided not to eat anything as I was excited to try the food onboard my flight and the lounge food seemed very average.

Conclusion

Japan Airlines has, unsurprisingly, a large lounge footprint at Haneda Terminal 3 with two business class lounges and a First Class lounge.

The Sakura Sky View lounge commands great views of the airport and is well designed with lots of different spaces. It’s modern, bright and airy, if a little plain – there’s not much branding here to make it clear this is a JAL lounge.

The food offering is decidedly mediocre, in my opinion, and does not match the quality of the food served on board. If you’re flying in business class I’d definitely save yourself!

The next article in this series talks about the business class product on the new Japan Airlines A350-1000 fleet – click here to read it.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.