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American Express is bringing the Centurion Lounge to Japan with the opening of its long-awaited outpost at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).
The 7,500-square-foot space opens this week and is in Terminal 3 near Gate 114.
Highlights of the new lounge include a Japanese-inspired design and a comprehensive selection of local food-and-beverage options.
When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight
Amex is teaming up with chef Satoshi Ogino, known for managing several Michelin-starred restaurants, including his own Akasaka Ogino, to design the food experience in the lounge.
Amex says that travelers can expect Japanese favorites, including sushi and ramen, and a buffet will offer both local and Western cuisine.
The bar will offer wines and cocktails, as well as a selection of Japanese beers, sake and shochu.
Better yet, there will even be a dedicated sweets bar where you’ll find an assortment of teas and traditional Japanese wagashi sweets.
Aside from the big investment in the dining experience, the lounge itself looks like it’ll be a beautiful space to relax in. The design is inspired by Japanese culture, and you’ll find pops of a deep indigo hue, dubbed “Japan Blue,” throughout the space, designed to represent tranquility and stability.
Amex even tapped local artists to curate some of its most signature pieces, including a reimagination of the signature Amex bulldog turned into a stunning textile by Saki Matsumoto.
Aside from these unique elements, this Centurion Lounge will have all the basics covered.
There are private phone rooms that double as meditation pods. There’s also a variety of seating options, including armchairs, high-top tables, dining tables and couches.
There’s even a private room with seating to accommodate families and small groups, equipped with a TV.
Those with the invite-only Centurion Card from American Express can relax in the lounge’s dedicated VIP room, which offers an even more exclusive design, its own beverage station and, best of all, fast-track access to the lounge.
The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
At just 7,500 square feet, this lounge will no doubt get quite busy, and I’d expect a waitlist to form during peak travel windows.
Of course, offering something is better than nothing, so I’m excited to check out this new Centurion Lounge the next time I’m passing through HND.
This space is Amex’s 30th Centurion Lounge, and it’s also the fourth in Asia, joining existing outposts in New Delhi, Hong Kong and Mumbai, India.
For more about the Centurion Lounge network, be sure to check out TPG’s comprehensive guide.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
