It’s not every day that you get to visit an International Arrivals Lounge. They are few and far between these days as airlines look to save on every dollar on expenses. On our ANA International Business Class trip across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, we had the opportunity to visit the ANA Arrivals Lounge at the Tokyo Narita International Airport in Terminal One.

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Review: All Nippon Airways (ANA) Arrivals Lounge, Tokyo Narita, Japan

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After getting off our All Nippon Airways ANA Staggered Business Seattle – Tokyo Narita flight, while we were on our way through Narita, we decided to check out the ANA Arrivals Lounge. Its unusual to get access to a great arrival lounge, so we were keen to take full advantage of the opportunity.

It’s located in the public Narita Terminal 1 arrival hall, after baggage collection and customs, tucked away in the corner by the Domestic Connections Desk. We were admitted thanks to the ANA Business Class boarding pass. 

Locating the ANA Arrivals’ Lounge:

The ANA Arrivals Lounge at Tokyo Narita is located on the international arrivals floor of Tokyo Narita International Airport. Like many other arrival lounges, it’s located after customs and immigration and is situated on the public side immediately to the far right after the immigration exits.

From the outside, the lounge is easily located with a plan but obvious entrance at the end of the arrivals hall.

Accessing The ANA Arrivals Lounge:

The ANA Lounge is designed for those travelers coming off ANA international flights or those connecting off an ANA international flight onto a domestic ANA flight one.

Persons with an ANA boarding card in First Class, Business Class are permitted to access the lounge with one guest permitted. If you are a frequent flier in the ANA Mileage Club at the Diamond (50,000 status miles per year), Platinum (100,000 status miles per year) or Super Flyers Club levels, you are also permitted to access the lounge with one guest. The lounge operates from 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM.

Unfortunately, travellers with Star Alliance Gold status aren’t permitted into this lounge. This is pretty consistent with arrival lounges. You have to be travelling on ANA metal in order to get access to this place.

Today’s access was granted courtesy of an ANA Business Class ticket.

Inside The ANA Arrivals Lounge:

We’ve been lucky enough to visit nice several arrivals lounges in the world. The Swiss Airlines Arrivals Lounge in Zurich comes to mind. Unfortunately, this was not one of those special places. The ANA Arrivals Lounge was a pretty plain, featureless room verging on boring and unexciting. 

The lounge was quite full. Initially I couldn’t really understand why. I figured it must be a few people waiting to catch later connections to Japan Rail (JR) trains or something. I later learned that the ANA Arrivals Lounge also doubles as a ANA Domestic Departure Lounge. This would explain why it was so busy.

There were a few work areas available, which were almost fully occupied on our visit.

Food and Beverage:

Although the décor was pleasant, the food and catering was minimal. There were some very simple food snacks available at the ANA Lounge, including small finger sandwiches. Unfortunately, there was no noodle bar (like upstairs in the ANA International Departure Lounge), and the only drinks on offer were fountain pop and the Kirin Lager Beer machine. It was nothing like our terrific Swiss Air Arrivals Lounge experience in November.

The sandwiches are pretty plain and basic. It’s perhaps a blessing and a curse at the same time. The tastes of comfort or blandness could be exactly what you are looking for.

At least there was a Kirin Lager tipping beer machine. It was probably the most unique part of the lounge visit.

The beer tipping machine tips the glass of beer to allow for a perfect pour of Kirin Lager Beer.

The Bottom Line: The ANA Arrivals Lounge

The ANA Arrivals Lounge is apparently designed as a quick visit facility. It ‘s a place to quickly recharge and snack up on a quick bite. It’s a far cry from the nicer ANA Lounge upstairs in the International Departure Terminal. The space is windowless and pretty plain inside, making for a pretty uninspiring environment. If you’re seeking a quick green tea or a Kirin Beer, this is a place to be. But only for about 15 minutes or so before you head onto your next destination.

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