Japan Airlines (JAL) announced it will reopen its renovated domestic lounges and a dedicated security checkpoint in the North Wing of Terminal 1 at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) on October 8, 2026.
The reopening completes the overhaul of the North Wing’s priority departure facilities, following the launch of new dedicated check-in counters on July 24, 2026.
As part of the update, JAL has renamed its Diamond Premier Lounge the JAL First Class Lounge. The same change will be rolled out progressively at New Chitose Airport (CTS), Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), Fukuoka Airport (FUK) and Naha Airport (OKA).
The renovation is part of a wider refresh of JAL’s domestic services that began in April 2026, aimed at a growing mix of business, leisure and inbound international travelers.
Separate zones for dining, rest and work
Both lounges have been redesigned around dedicated areas for dining, relaxation and work, so passengers can choose how to spend their time before a flight.
The company said that in the JAL First Class Lounge, seating capacity has increased by about 1.4 times. The dining area is built around a central island counter. The relaxation area has massage chairs and deep sofa seating, while the work area offers a mix of private booths, semi-private cubicles and open shared desks.
The lounge’s food menu changes throughout the day. Mornings and midday feature heartier options such as curry bread, sushi rolls and hot soups. Cakes and freshly baked scones are served in the afternoon, followed by small savory dishes in the evening, paired with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Gin pairings and regional art
The First Class Lounge also includes a new pop-up space highlighting regional Japanese food and culture. Its first feature pairs Suntory’s ROKU Japanese craft gin, named for the six Japanese botanicals in its recipe, with traditional wagashi sweets.
An art gallery in the work area will host rotating exhibitions on Japan’s regions and culture. The first, curated under the supervision of essayist Minori Kai, showcases vintage confectionery wrapping paper designs from across the country.
A family-friendly Sakura Lounge
The Sakura Lounge has also been divided into dining, relaxation, work and children’s areas.
The dining area has curved sofas and a refreshed drinks counter that now serves a savory dashi broth. The work area sits next to escalators leading directly to the departure concourse, and every seat has AC and USB power outlets.
A new kids area was designed with Bornelund, a Japanese company specializing in educational toys and play spaces. It gives children room to move and play while parents relax nearby.
The lounge also displays 15 artworks by artists affiliated with HERALBONY, a Japanese company that represents artists with intellectual disabilities.
Nursing rooms and app-based shower bookings
Across the lounges, JAL has added private nursing rooms for families traveling with infants. Shower rooms can now be booked through a smartphone, with waitlist notifications and QR codes used to unlock the rooms, replacing front-desk requests and physical keys.
The redesign also reuses materials from retired aircraft and the renovation itself. Aircraft window frames, seat upholstery and old hardware have been turned into furniture, art and interior finishes throughout the lounges.
Outside the lounges, the North Wing now has dedicated self-service bag drop machines to cut check-in wait times. New security lanes allow passengers to keep laptops and permitted liquids in their carry-on bags during screening.
JAL said renovations of the South Wing lounges, priority counters and security area will begin next, with details to be announced on its website.