Besides getting a Priority Pass membership for free with my Rakuten Premium credit card, I also get access to domestic credit card lounges. Before my flight to Sapporo at the end of last month, I had a chance to try one of those – the Airport Lounge in the north part of Haneda Airport’s terminal 2.
Besides being accessible to various credit card holders, it is also possible to pay 1,030 yen (approx. 8USD) to enter the lounge.
The lounge is located on the far left side of terminal 2, around gates 53 to 56 in the area of airport used by ANA, Solaseed Air, and Air Do. To get there, just walk towards gate 53 after clearing security, and you will see an escalator going up. Take it to the third floor, and walk one more floor up from there. Alternatively, you can take an elevator directly to the fourth floor.
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Lounge Overview
Right past the welcome desk, there is a map of the lounge.
Besides the welcome desk, the reception area is also home to a public phone, a pay-to-use copy machine, and a selection of reading papers. There is also a smoking room to the left of the desk.
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Behind the reception is a hallway. At its beginning, you can find food and drinks, as well as an entrance into a small “bar corner” with seven counter-height seats. There is a business center with two pay-to-use computers further down the hallway. Finally, the restrooms are at the end of it.
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The main seating area is located to the right of the reception, and is semi-circular. Sofa chairs are placed along the outer side of the semi-circle in sets of four, and lounging chairs are placed along the inner side – facing the windows.
The lounge also features a pair of pay-to-use (100 yen per 10 minutes) massage chairs.
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Great apron and runway views can be had throughout the seating area.
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Food & Drinks Selection
The free drinks selection in the lounge is poor. There is brewed coffee in a , and a hot pot for tea. The lounge has no coffee machine. There is also ice coffee and tea.
Soft drinks include a selection of juices (apple, orange, tomato), and a limited selection of sodas.
The free food selection is even worse than the drinks. At the time of my visit, a croissant and one type of bread were offered. There was also a sign next to them saying that due to limited supply, visitors should only take up to two of them.
Interestingly, after the lounge attendant saw that I was taking photos she seemed to have removed the sign – the second time I went to the food area, it was gone.
Besides the free drinks and food, there is also a menu of paid items including alcohol and snacks.
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Overall Thoughts
If for some reason, you get a free access to the lounge like I do with my Rakuten card, then there is not much to complain about.
However, paying your way into the lounge, even at the relatively low price is not worth it at all. For the price of entry into the lounge you could have a decent meal at one of the airport restaurants. And given the relatively comfortable gate areas at Haneda, the benefit of the (at best) slightly more comfortable lounge seating is marginal.
