The Diamond Premier Lounge at Haneda Airport’s Terminal 1 is Japan Airlines’ First Class lounge for domestic flights.
I’ve visited this lounge several times previously, but I finally had a chance to spend some quality time there and put together a review on a recent visit.
Let’s go over what you can expect from this place.
Diamond Premier Lounge Access
There are several ways to access this lounge:
- Fly First Class on Japan Airlines. Passengers ticketed in First on a same-day domestic or international flight have access. 1 guest allowed.
- Oneworld Emerald. Fly any same-day Japan Airlines flight. 1 guest allowed.
- JMB Diamond, JGC Premier. Fly any same-day Japan Airlines flight. 1 guest allowed.
Japan Airlines also has Sakura Lounges located next door to its Diamond Premier Lounges, which can be accessed with Oneworld Sapphire status.
Haneda’s Diamond Premier Lounge Review
Entry:
There are two of these Diamond Premier Lounges located inside Terminal 1. One on the North Wing side of the building, and another on the South Wing side of the building.
I arrived on the North Wing side of the building. It may be helpful to check in and go through a security lane on the side closer to where your flight will depart, but since my flight departed around the middle of the terminal, it didn’t really matter which side I entered through.
JAL First Class passengers can enter through a dedicated entrance:
After checking in and going through security through the dedicated space, a pair of escalators led me directly to the lounge.
Upon entering, you’ll first walk down a hallway and pass by a cloakroom, where you can place luggage and other large bags inside a locker while you enjoy the lounge.
Then you’ll find yourself in the main lounge area, with some modest decor and sweeping views of the ramp, taxiways, and runway 16R/34L.
Dining:
The dining area is located on the right side relative to the direction of entry.
As it is a domestic lounge, the food options are very limited. I was able to get a light breakfast in with what was offered, but I wouldn’t be able to get myself a full lunch or dinner here.
Some bread options:
Japanese onigiri (rice balls):
Miso soup, minestrone soup:
The selection of drinks was solid. I first spotted coffee…
…along with serveral selctions of Japanese beer:
More beers, juice, and a jug of milk were inside this fridge:
More soft drinks:
There were also several selections of tea bags next to a hot water machine:
I settled down with an onigiri (rice balls), a couple of pieces of bread, and a glass of milk. Given the limited selection and an upcoming meal on JAL First Class anyway, I was content with keeping it light.
Seating:
I sat down by the windows facing the ramp, and enjoyed myself some aircraft spotting while I ate.
In particular, I spotted a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 (JA02XJ) and a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-300ER (PK-GIG) in a retro livery, far behind it. I first thought it belonged to the Indonesian government!
This is a fairly spacious lounge for the traffic it gets. I’ve never seen this place packed.
There are plenty of single seats in addition to the ones I sat on by the window.
As you can see, power outlets were located at nearly every seat. This is an advantage of being inside a lounge, where you can effortlessly find a seat to charge your devices, instead of searching for one in the main waiting areas.
I also found plenty of table seating as well.
Flight information displays were located throughout the lounge. Important during the afternoon hours, when delays pile up.
Although not by the main dining area, I also found a small, self-serve wine station amidst the seating.
Other amenities:
Phone calls are asked to be taken inside the multiple phone booths located throughout the space. Overall, the lounge maintained a nice, library-like atmosphere when I was there.
A few massage chairs are located at the far end of the lounge. It was empty when I stopped by to take pictures, but I imagine it’s a nice option.
Although I didn’t use them during this visit, there are several shower suites located outside of the lounge, right by the reception desk when you enter the lounge. I believe they’re shared with the Sakura Lounge.
Concluding Thoughts
I was able to spend a little over an hour here during this visit, enough time to enjoy a light meal and relax. I had a good time before catching my flight.
The Diamond Premier Lounge is not necessarily a place you should go out of your way for, but it’s still a solid space to spend time at before a domestic flight. Though the food options are very limited, it’s at least nice to have something apart from the main waiting area near the gates, especially inside a domestic-only terminal.
All photos taken by the author.
