The day we flew back was a rather hectic one for us, as my mother had to get stuff (long time readers know what that means) from a department store near where we were situated. We made our way to the airport at around 3 PM for our 6:00 PM flight.
Views upon Arriving Osaka Kansai Airport
We arrived at the airport at around that time, and made our way into the terminal towards check-in, which was quick.
Osaka Kansai Airport Exterior
The airport is airy and bland at the same time, resemblant to what I’ve seen at the check-in halls of Incheon Airport or Fukuoka Airport.
Osaka Kansai Airport Departures Check-in Hall
We got to the Cathay Pacific check-in counter, where the line was short for business class and Marco Polo Silver members. We were through in pretty much zero time, with the agent telling us that our seats were guaranteed.
Due to my mother and my own seats 18H and 18K being at the last row, they were assigned “priority seats” for disabled passengers in business class, so we would get knocked out of these seats if there were passengers that needed these seats during the flight. We struck lucky this time, which I definitely didn’t mind.
Cathay Pacific Check-in Counter Osaka Kansai Airport
Immigration was much less of a pain than it was on the way there, and we were through in 15 minutes, getting to the lengthy main terminal area (that doesn’t actually have any gates – all gates are a monorail ride away, with the “lower” gates in the north terminal and the “upper” gates in the south terminal). It sure shows the fact that Osaka Kansai Airport is the longest airport terminal in the world.
Osaka Kansai Airport Terminal Post-Immigration
While we were assigned gate 5, I wanted to check out the JAL Sakura Lounge, which was located on the other side, by gate 38. I asked quite a few people if I would be able to get back to the other side if I got to gate 38, who all said there would be service back to the main terminal, where I could walk my way over to the other monorail by gate 5 (in case you guys were wondering, they weren’t lying and there were no hiccups in terms of transport).
The monorail features unobstructed views of the tarmac, so I had a lot of fun there. Some planes featured included a Scoot 787-9, a Scoot 787-8 and some other aircraft.
Osaka Kansai Airport Monorail View
The monorail ride lasted all of two minutes, and soon I found myself near the end of the airport that normally seems to be used by Japanese airlines. While I was admiring the views from the side of the airport, I spotted a Japan Airlines 787.
Japan Airlines Boeing 787-8 Osaka Kansai Airport
The lounge was located in the south terminal opposite gate 38, and was open to a number of airlines, as well as oneworld airlines and affiliate partners.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Signage
The lounge looked modern even from the outside, something that definitely carried on through the entire lounge.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Entrance
Walking into the “hallway” led to automatic doors, of which the reception was situated. Thankfully this isn’t a Priority Pass lounge, so there wasn’t obnoxious signage that got half the world attracted to the lounge.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Entrance
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Entrance Signage
I walked past the doors and was welcomed by the friendly receptionist, who checked my boarding pass and granted me access. However, before I entered she said that there wouldn’t be a boarding call for my flight. The aged chairs situated by the side were the only aged furniture I saw anywhere in the lounge.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Reception
I made my way past the reception and into the main area, the dining area.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Area
While I’ve seen bigger lounges, the lounge was gorgeous. For an outstation lounge, it was incredibly modern, well decorated, clean and not crowded.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall
To the right was a seating area consisting of chairs facing one another, though these were comfy and not jam-packed at all. It felt incredibly spacious with lots of natural light facing the tarmac.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Quiet Room
The actual “middle part”, the dining hall, was the biggest area. It featured bar seating by the windows and two communal tables in the middle, as well as 1-1 seating by the side. Each seat featured a power port and it was just a nice, open space.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall
In the middle was also a chandelier of sorts that just made the area look more refined and spacious.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall and Chandelier
By power ports at every seat, I mean power ports at every seat.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall Power Ports
Meals were only allowed in the dining hall.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall Signage
They weren’t universal power ports, so I couldn’t charge my computer, though I still found it a really nice touch. There were USB ports that allowed me to easily charge my phone.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Dining Hall Power Ports
The actual food was great, ranging from soup to plenty of hot dishes. While I didn’t really have time (I was just here to check out how nice the lounge was, and not actually here for relaxation time), I did get some rice and JAL’s signature Sky Time drink, which was really weird (the only bad thing about the spread, actually).
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Food Spread
Yes, in addition to the fact that the spread was high quality, it was also really big.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Food Spread
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Food Spread Rice and Sky Time Drink
Past that the room was split into two. There was a smoking lounge – while the bar seats looked good, I wouldn’t want to spend any time there as a non-smoker (yes, even if I was an adult).
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Smoking Room
Then to the left was possibly my favourite part of the lounge, despite food not being allowed. It was a relaxation/nap room, and featured lots of comfy chairs lined up. The chairs were perfectly square, which was smart, so there’s technically capacity, while they’re perfectly trimmed and have awesome capacity. It was also pretty empty.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Relaxation Room
At the very back of the room were two massage chairs, which I definitely could use if I had more time.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Relaxation Room Massage Chairs
Apart from the three areas, there was also a business center connecting the relaxation room and the dining hall. While no computers were situated there, it seemed like a good place to work.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Business Center
I sat by the bar for the duration of my stay, where I saw one of China Eastern Yunnan’s newer 737-700s push back.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Tarmac View
Compared to the rest of the lounges, the bathrooms were rather shabby, actually, though still miles ahead of what’s offered in other lounges nowadays.
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Lavatory
Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Lavatory
I left the lounge at about 5 PM to be one of the first to board the plane, which worked out fine, as the road back to the train (as well as the train itself) was literally empty.
Osaka Kansai Airport Way Back to Main Terminal
The views from the train were, once again, amazing.
Scoot Boeing 787-9 Osaka Kansai
Cathay Pacific Planes Osaka Kansai
From there, it was off to Lounge Pacific for a short look.
Bottom Line: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge KIX
While the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge isn’t any competition for, say, the Cathay Pacific Pier Lounge, it’s a great outstation lounge that is an asset to Japan Airlines’ lounge repertoire. I can’t wait to return the next time I’m in the area.
Hi Alvin. I sure like the method of still pictures in your comprehensive and lengthy review of Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Osaka Kansai Airport. It is so much better than those people who turn on their video cameras for 20 minutes and bounce around here and there. Your method iw sell thought out. Keep it up.