The JAL Diamond Premier Lounges are Japan Airlines’ domestic equivalent of their First Class lounges. These lounges are specifically available at Haneda (HND), Itami (ITM), Fukuoka (FUK), Sapporo (CTS), and Naha (OKA). Being JAL’s main hub, Haneda has four domestic lounges – two of which are Diamond Premier Lounges complementing two lower-tiered Sakura Lounges. This is the review for the JAL Diamond Premier Lounge North, which is the bigger of the two Diamond Premier Lounges.

Lounge Access Rules

The JAL Diamond Premier Lounges belong in the highest category of domestic lounges operated by JAL. As such, it is reserved for its top-tier frequent flyers and passengers flying on JAL First Class. Passengers with a same-day reservation on JAL First Class (regardless of domestic or international) are afforded access. Passengers connecting from an international JAL First Class are also eligible.

When accessing by status, passengers holding top-tier JMB Diamond or JGC Premier are eligible for access. This extends to Emerald status holders with oneworld carriers, such as Cathay Diamond, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, or BA Executive Club Gold.

Lounge Location

What I really liked about this lounge is the fact that there is no need to find it. At check-in at Haneda Airport, simply proceed to the intimate JAL First Class check-in room, corresponding to your destination. Since Hokkaido-bound flights depart from the North Wing, I headed straight to the North Wing JAL First Class check-in, which features a private security checkpoint. After check-in and security, there is a backdoor that leads immediately to the lounge! However, assuming that you are arriving on a connecting flight, you can find this lounge airside near the exits to the baggage claim. Note that this lounge shares a common entrance with the JAL Sakura Lounge North.

JAL Diamond Premier Lounge

There is a reception desk immediately after taking the escalators up from the lounge entrance. On the desk are a few self-service boarding pass scanners that will advise which lounge you are eligible to enter. Upon a successful beep, the friendly reception associate will point you in the direction of either the Diamond Premier Lounge or the Sakura Lounge. I had access to both by virtue of my Cathay Diamond membership and my JAL First Class boarding pass.

Lounge Seating and Amenities

After walking past a winding corridor, the space opens up to one large window-lit room separated into two sections. There is a prominent display of a beautifully stylised pine tree separating the two sections.

Library

Immediately to the left of the entrance is the ‘Library’, named so due to the display of books along the interior wall of the area. This area comprises a few rows of sofa chairs facing each other, in addition to semi-partitioned desk cubicles along the interior wall. There is also a number of high-top seating across from this area. Despite the name, as far as I was aware, the books on display appeared to be there more as decoration.

Desk seating

On the far end of the left-hand side is where the desk seating is located, along with several rows of sofa chairs. This area is particularly convenient for working as well as eating, especially if the small dining area is packed! During my visit, this area was also rather quiet, as most people clustered near the dining area.

I stayed here for much of my stay in the lounge since it was the quietest area. In particular, I also really enjoyed the views of the apron from the long table in this area. I also really appreciated that there are power outlets by virtually every seat, which is surely a thoughtful design choice by JAL.

Massage area

Towards the end of this area is a secluded room with three massage chairs in semi-private cubicles. These chairs are free to use and are complemented with a coat hanger. Also in this area are a couple of telephone booths, which I will talk about later in this review.

Dining Area

To the right-hand side of the entrance is another area with rows of sofa chairs, although much smaller. Noticeably, these chairs are suitable for dining, as they feature slightly higher tables. There is also a doorless room that also contains more chairs behind this section.

Finally, there is a proper dining area with a handful of dining tables and chairs at the far right-hand side of the lounge. This section is also consistently the most densely occupied area of the lounge, likely due to its proximity to the food spread.

Cloakroom

Near the reception area is a ‘cloakroom’ that is equivalent to luggage storage lockers at other lounges. The lockers are relatively large and could easily fit a cabin-sized carryon and heavier articles of clothing.

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 five booths at the Diamond Premier Lounge, including two by the entrance, two by the massage area, and one by the library seating. Power outlets are similarly available in these booths.

Lounge Wifi

The lounge has its own WiFi network separate from the rest of the terminal. There was no password for the network and the connection was fast and reliable. Very convenient, as always!

Dining

Food

The lounge’s entire food spread is concentrated in the Dining Area in the far right-hand corner of the lounge. Despite being the airline’s top-tier domestic lounge, the food options are quite limited to a few cold food items in addition to bowls of soup. During my visit between breakfast and lunch, there were a couple of pastry types, alongside some packaged rice balls. At 11.30 each day, the spread is stocked with JAL’s popular curry bread, which I quite liked.

In addition to this limited spread of bread-based food, there is also a soup machine that dispenses Asparagus Cream Soup and Miso Soup. This is also complemented by a selection of rice crackers (senbei) available on a table across from the machine.

Despite the relatively limited selection, I still enjoyed what was available, which I thought tasted reasonably good. In any case, I think the food spread is more appropriate as a light meal than a proper meal, the latter of which you will receive in First Class.

Drinks

Compared to the food selection, there was a much larger variety of drinks available. In addition to the usual coffee machines and tea selection, there is a soft drink dispenser featuring sodas, fruit drinks, and cold tea. Notably, there is also a tomato juice dispenser, which seems like an interesting choice to have. Finally, available is a bottle of Kirin Whisky, alongside four beer machines, each dispensing different kinds of beer: Suntory The Premium Malt, Sapporo Ebisu, Kirin Heartland, and Kirin Ichiban Shibori.

In addition, there is conveniently another beer machine (Asahi Jukusen) located behind the library area, alongside another coffee machine. An oshibori dispenser is also available in this area.

Toilets

Located in the corridor between the reception and the Diamond Premier Lounge is the toilets, which are separated by gender. The toilet features fully enclosed toilet cubicles with Toto Neorest washlets. When I visited, the male toilet was remarkably clean and well-kept.

Overall

Overall, I thought that the JAL Diamond Premier Lounge North at Haneda Airport is a completely nice and serviceable lounge. Since this is after all a purely domestic lounge, I didn’t have high expectations when it came to amenities and food. What I found during my visit echoes that expectation and in any case, I was completely satisfied with the lounge. In particular, I appreciated the thoughtful design of the space with the abundance of seating and power outlets. Whilst I wouldn’t arrive early to visit this lounge, it surely is nice to have access to.

Read more from this trip here!