With the news of a Centurion Lounge coming to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) sometime next year, American Express is firmly planting its flag in the Land of the Rising Sun.
In a move first highlighted by One Mile at a Time, the new lounge will be located after passport control on the fourth floor of Haneda's Terminal 3, the airport's main international terminal. Since the lounge is after passport control, it will only be available to departing passengers.
While otherwise light on details, the press release promises “designs that incorporate Japanese traditions, artisan culture, and art, and will also offer food and beverages that allow customers to experience Japanese food culture.” Given the importance of tradition and culture in everyday Japanese life, it's not surprising to see both things mentioned as inspiration for the new lounge.
The new space at Tokyo-Haneda will be on the smaller side, coming in at just over 7,300 square feet, with enough space to accommodate 122 guests at a time. That seems especially paltry when compared to the last lounge the bank opened, a mammoth 26,000 square-foot space at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). But with far fewer premium cardholders traveling abroad, it will hopefully be big enough to avoid the overcrowding that's plagued Centurion Lounges across the U.S.
The primary gripe with Centurion Lounges is that as more and more travelers add Amex's pricey credit cards to their wallets – yes, fully encouraged by sites like ours – the experience inside has diminished. These days, it's not uncommon to see a long line out the door waiting to get in – and once inside, the lounges feel cramped and messy with picked over buffets and dirty dishes strewn about.
The news release didn't provide any clues for what kind of amenities we can expect with this new lounge – but in general, Centurion Lounges are a great place to relax, get some work done, or grab a bite to eat before a flight.
With Amex stating that there will be an emphasis on Japanese tradition and culture, one could expect a variety of traditional Japanese dishes like sushi and ramen on offer … and likely some western food choices as well. When it comes to drinks, it would be cool to see Amex stock the bar with different types of sake and Japanese whisky, to go along with tea, matcha, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
So why Tokyo? Well it's one of the biggest cities in the world for starters. But beyond that, Japan's rich culture has long made it a popular destination for travelers looking for a taste of Asia. And thanks to a strong U.S. dollar (or weak Yen), it's never been more affordable to visit than it is now.
It was especially interesting to hear President of American Express Travel, Audrey Hendley, attribute the new lounge to Japan's growing popularity among a young traevlers. As she put it, “Travel demand to Japan is on the rise, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, so the opening of a Centurion Lounge at Japan's popular travel destination, Haneda Airport, is a significant addition to American Express' global lounge network.”
When the new lounge at Tokyo-Haneda opens next year, it will be the bank's second in Asia, with the Centurion Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) opening more than five years ago. It's interesting to see American Express continue to expand its lounge network globally while competitors like Chase and Capital One play catch up closer to home.
If this trend continues, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see Amex open additional lounges at other Japanese Airports like Osaka or Kyoto.
How to Get In
While we don't have full access details just yet, getting into the new Centurion Lounge in Tokyo will likely look similar to other Amex lounges. Simply show your *amex platinum*, *biz platinum*, or American Express Centurion Card (invite-only), a boarding pass, and an ID.
You can also get into Amex Centurion Lounges with the top-tier *delta reserve card*, but there's a hitch: You have to be flying Delta that day – and you must have paid for your ticket with your Reserve Card, too. And if you're accessing with a Delta Reserve Card, you might even be better off dropping by the impressive Delta Sky Club at Tokyo Haneda instead.
Finally, Amex has surprisingly robust line-up of cards available exclusively in Japan. It's likely that the Japanese Amex cards that already include Centurion Lounge access abroad will get you into this new location as well.
Guests typically cost $50 apiece (or $30 for minors) unless you charged a whopping $75,000 per year to your Amex Platinum Card – but that isn't always the case with Amex's international outposts. We've found several Centurion-branded lounges around the world that still allow cardholders to bring in guests for free. Time will tell exactly what type of guest access is allowed at the new Tokyo-Haneda location.
Read our full guide to Amex Centurion Lounges!
Bottom Line
American Express is planning to open a new Centurion Lounge at Tokyo-Haneda airport at some point in 2025. This will be the bank's first lounge in Japan and should be accessible to Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders, as well as those with lounge access through a Japanese issued American Express card.
At just over 7,300 square feet the lounge will be on the smaller side, when compared to other Centurion Lounges, but should still make for a comfortable place for travelers to relax before a long flight back to the U.S.
