What it is like on the new Amex Centurion Lounge in Tokyo

American Specific simply opened an almost 7,500-square-foot Centurion Lounge at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). With the opening nonetheless recent, I had the possibility to test it out firsthand on a latest journey to Tokyo.

The lounge has been within the works for the previous a number of years, however it was definitely worth the wait. Whereas it was fairly crowded, it wasn’t sufficient to place me off.

There’s a scrumptious collection of meals and drinks, in addition to showers and a wide range of different facilities.

This is what you possibly can anticipate once you go to.

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Centurion Lounge Tokyo facilities

This new Centurion Lounge is gorgeous and provides plenty of beautiful seating and lounging areas.

Happily, throughout my afternoon keep in September, I did not have to attend to enter. I did, nonetheless, need to get escorted to one of many few out there seats within the lounge that weren’t already occupied or reserved for these holding the invitation-only Centurion Card from American Specific.

Lots of the finest seats have been reserved for less than these with the black card.

The knowledge for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

I ultimately snagged a seat surrounded by different passengers at a counter going through the window (no complaints there). Once I left my seat, an attendant put up an occupied signal.

Regardless of the group, I cherished the lounge’s design, which pulls inspiration from Japan; Amex calls the pops of shade “Japanese blue.”

You may discover artwork all through the lounge, a lot of which was created by native artists.

Varied books and ceramics, together with items by Shimpei Mawatari (a potter primarily based in Hokkaido prefecture), fill the general public areas as properly.

There are two showers that lounge visitors can request entry to on the entrance desk. After making a request, visitors will obtain a buzzer that lights up when their bathe is prepared.

The bathe areas are stylish, that includes a predominantly black design, fluffy towels and facilities like shaving kits, toothbrushes and hair dryers.

There’s a bathe system with each a rainfall showerhead and a wand. As at different Centurion Lounges, the toilet options facilities by L’Occitane.

I waited half-hour for a bathe to open up, so if you wish to use one, remember to request it as quickly as you verify in.

Lastly, there are a few “telephone rooms” (because the lounge calls them), however they appear extra like superb locations for a fast nap or meditation session. They’re out there on a first-come, first-served foundation, and you may must request entry from the entrance desk. Inside, there are adjustable lights, and you may select from a collection of 10-minute “audio leisure experiences,” together with water, wind and birdsong.

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Centurion Lounge Tokyo eating and bar

The brand new lounge actually shines with regards to meals and drinks. American Specific employed chef Satoshi Ogino — who manages a number of Michelin-starred eating places, together with Akasaka Ogino in Tokyo — to assist with the menu.

Two cooks cook dinner in an open-concept kitchen, the place you possibly can order dumplings, sushi, ramen or beef sliders.

I attempted a scrumptious bowl of ramen and a beneficiant serving of sticky rice, and I appreciated the gorgeous presentation.

The ramen was particularly good — they made it shortly proper in entrance of me, and I loved consuming alongside views of the bustling airport.

There was additionally a big self-serve buffet with each Western choices and Japanese dishes.

Among the many choices have been a wide range of sushi, pickled seasonal greens, recent greens, miso soup, rice, noodles, tempura and wagyu beef curry.

Together with a soda fountain, there have been espresso machines and a faucet providing Asahi, a Japanese beer.

After all, the bar was the centerpiece of the lounge. Nicely-dressed bartenders have been available to combine up just about something you would think about.

There was a superb collection of top-shelf booze from Japanese and Western manufacturers, together with Belvedere vodka and Bombay Sapphire gin.

The intensive wine listing included an Italian Bellenda San Fermo prosecco, a Japanese Koshu, Shirayuri L’Orient white wine and a French Chateau de Champteloup rose.

I additionally appreciated that the bar had a collection of mocktails out there, together with a matcha-squash concoction and one thing the lounge referred to as L’ora del Te. I attempted the latter and located the combo of Japanese black tea and cranberry juice refreshing.

Again in a separate nook of the lounge, there is a full sweets station with a pleasant collection of desserts, together with Japanese wagashi treats.

Location of the Centurion Lounge at HND

The brand-new Centurion Lounge is in Terminal 3 on Degree 4F, not removed from Gate 114; it is an escalator trip up from the primary terminal at HND. Should you’ve been to one in all Japan Airways’ Sakura business-class lounges, it is in the identical part of the airport. It is also close to the one Delta Sky Membership exterior the U.S.

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Centurion Lounge Tokyo entry necessities

Entry necessities are the identical as at Centurion Lounges within the U.S. You possibly can enter if you happen to maintain The Platinum Card® from American Specific or The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific.

These with the private or enterprise model of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card may enter so long as they’re flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or -operated flight booked with a U.S.-issued American Specific cost or bank card.

As talked about above, the lounge tends to get very crowded, particularly when there are a number of flights sure for the U.S. on the identical time, so plan accordingly.

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Backside line

This new lounge is a knockout. It is trendy and comfy, with wonderful food and drinks choices. The ramen was an particularly appreciated contact.

Whereas it does not have all of the bells and whistles of the bigger Japan Airways lounges at HND, it’s a excellent spot to sit back earlier than a flight … so long as yow will discover a seat.

TPG has a complete information to your entire Centurion Lounge community in case you are hungry for extra.

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