Japan - 20+ hours in NRT -> Pull a Tokyo all-nighter?

( Yes... this is another "long layover in NRT" thread. I've read many of the other ones, but most are dealing with either day trips or spending a night in Narita city )
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As part of my upcoming honeymoon booking, we have a significant layover overnight in NRT. We arrive at around 2:30PM and depart the next day at 11:20AM. Since neither my wife nor I have been to Japan, we would really like to see Tokyo if we can. Unfortunately with the NRT Express train stopping service at around 8PM, it doesn't leave us much time in Tokyo after going through customs and travelling from NRT to Tokyo. This has led us to thinking about spending the night in and around Tokyo and taking the early morning train back to the airport. Through googling, I am thinking of something like the following:

- Arrive in NRT at 2:30 PM, freshen up, go through customs, and catch a Tokyo bound NRT Express train around 4PM
- Arrive in Tokyo at 5 PM, spend the next several hours doing some sight-seeing while places are still open and it's light outside
- Have a late dinner around 11PM-Midnight
- Spend Midnight - 5AM at a couple bars/kareoke bars/arcades (this is our biggest question mark right now....)
- Head to the Tsukiji fish market at 5AM for a sushi breakfast
- Find our way to a train station and take a 6:30AM train back to NRT

Any thoughts, criticism, or advice is greatly appreciated. Like I said, the midnight-5AM chunk is our biggest unknown at the moment. I'd like to plan as much of the night as I can in advance so that we have no surprises while we're there.

I don't know where you're coming from, but staying up all night, with jet lag, is going to be real tough. I'd try to sleep then.

Also, I don't think you need to take the train that early in the morning. You could probably take the 8 am and be fine.

If you are going to stay up, roppongi might be the place to hang out, though its a lot of foreigners there.

There aren't many capsule hotels for women. One possibility is to go to Priceline and get a cheap hotel room -- the Crowne Plaza Ikebukuro comes up regularly for under $110. Ikebukuro is nothing special but wandering around will definitely give you a taste of Tokyo.

Incidentally, it tends to get dark in Japan at 6:30-7pm so you won't be doing much daytime sightseeing.

5 am is too late to see much of the action at the fish market.

Sounds like you are young enough to stay up all night.... I'm jealous!
As previously posted it gets dark in Japan pretty early. If you don't plan on coming back to Japan any time too soon, or its action you want, I'd sacrifice sleep to go into Tokyo. If you wanted a glimpse of Japan and nothing too stressful, stay in one of the hotels in Narita city (Mercure, Comfort, Richmond Inn, etc) Lots of very reasonable places to eat in town and you can wander the town to the temple complex either than night or in the morning the following day.

Just a few comments....

A lot of your planned schedule depends on what day of the week you arrive. If it's a Friday or a Saturday there are a lot more people around staying up all night. Restaurants stay open later. On a Sunday night, on the other hand, even places that are ordinarily open very late will close quite a bit earlier.

Sunday mornings (and some Wednesday mornings) aren't so great for Tsukiji Market, since most of the market is closed. There are a few 24-hour places open, but there are 24-hour sushi places all over town, so there's not much point in going to Tsukiji when the market is closed.

Personally I would try to find a cheap hotel room somewhere, even if just to shower and nap occasionally.

Thanks for the responses. A hotel room in Tokyo (even if it's only for a few hours) is sounding like a good investment.

RichardInSF - Thanks, I will check out the Crowne Plaza

MSPeconomist - Do you suggest we go at 3AM in that case? From what I was reading, the vendors start laying out their wares at 3AM but I wasn't sure whether or not they would take kindly to a couple foreign tourists wandering around looking over their shoulders.

NoMiddleSeat - I don't know if I'm "young enough", maybe "naive enough"? I don't imagine we will be back in Japan anytime soon, which is why I'm hoping to at least get a taste of Tokyo.

lobsterdog - We're arriving on Monday July 9th, so it'll be a Monday night/Tuesday morning. Probably not the best night for the bar scene, but do you suppose that Tuesday morning is a good option for Tsukiji?

Thanks again for the tips, they're most appreciated.

Market will be open on July 10th according to their calendar. Information on observing tuna auction (http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/english/market/tsukiji.html). Officially, the registration starts at 5am but I imagine the queuing starts before that.

The 8am Narita Express from Tokyo (ealier at stations before) should get you to the airport in time for your flight. Consider the round trip Suica and N'EX (http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/), it's fast, comfortable and a good deal.

Sleep on the plane. Narita Express to Tokyo. Sight see, dinner, club, spa, Tsukiji. 9 am train should be fine. Plenty going on at Tsukiji even if you don't see the tuna auctions (which IMHO are over-rated). Ignore the advice about going to Narita. Ikebukuro is out of the way. Love hotel is another option for catching a short siesta. A lot depends on your budget.

As mentioned it gets dark early. You might want to catch the 3:30 NEX, sight see, get a few hours sleep and then head out for dinner, etc.

the vendors start laying out their wares at 3AM but I wasn't sure whether or not they would take kindly to a couple foreign tourists

You're absolutely correct about that - other than the tuna auction, the rest of Tsukiji Inner Market (the section for restaurant professionals) is off-limits to tourists and the general public before 9am. Tsukiji Outer Market (open to the public) is worth a visit, but there's no need to get there at 3am - 6 or 7am is fine.

Evidently contrary to the opinions of many, I'd say that pulling an all nighter is a no brainer in my book - if I was in your shoes. In fact, I do it in Tokyo a few times a year, for no reason than to experience the great nightlife this city offers.

What I'd do in your case is the following....

When you arrive in central Tokyo at around 5pm, go see whatever tourist places that are open that you've "always wanted to see". See (from the outside) the new Tokyo Sky Tree, the Tokyo Tower, Ginza's downtown shopping district, Omotesando, etc. Find an excellent place for dinner in one of these areas, perhaps in Omotesando or Ginza. PM me for recommendations.

Around 9-10pm, make your way to Roppongi. There are any number of places I'd recommend here from jazz bars to normal bars to nightclubs. Depending upon what you're looking for, we can find some good places for you. Relaxed and slow, fast and crazy, they have it all. From a drink at the bar at the Ritz way up high in Tokyo Midtown to a nighttime viewing of Tokyo from the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills to wild all night dancing, trust me, you won't be bored. Again, PM me for specific options and ideas.

From there, I'd make my way to Tsukiji at around 4-5am. Personally, I'd walk, but that's because I've done it many times before. It's a bit far, but totally safe. The most obvious thing to do is cab it. The subway is shut down at this time. You could also wait for the subway to open and go then on the Hibiya line.

Either way, arrive by 5am at Tsukiji. First thing you do is go get in line at Daiwa sushi, arguably the best there, at least in my book. Wait in line, which should be short, if you get there within 30 minutes of when they open at I believe 5am. Have a fantastic sushi breakfast. Get the set menu. 3500 Yen which is a deal. Enjoy a beer or sake, they will offer, yes, at 5am. This is Japan.

Then tour around the fish market. I often go into the restricted areas and walk around until the security folks escort me out. It's not like they are going to arrest you - as long as you're very careful to not get in worker's way, and of course don't have children in tow or anything.

Then go to the tourist areas around the market. Shops and restaurants will be opening, slowly..

Make your way back to your transportation to Narita and you're golden.

Enjoy Tokyo!

Evidently contrary to the opinions of many, I'd say that pulling an all nighter is a no brainer in my book - if I was in your shoes. In fact, I do it in Tokyo a few times a year, for no reason than to experience the great nightlife this city offers.

What I'd do in your case is the following....

When you arrive in central Tokyo at around 5pm, go see whatever tourist places that are open that you've "always wanted to see". See (from the outside) the new Tokyo Sky Tree, the Tokyo Tower, Ginza's downtown shopping district, Omotesando, etc. Find an excellent place for dinner in one of these areas, perhaps in Omotesando or Ginza. PM me for recommendations.

Around 9-10pm, make your way to Roppongi. There are any number of places I'd recommend here from jazz bars to normal bars to nightclubs. Depending upon what you're looking for, we can find some good places for you. Relaxed and slow, fast and crazy, they have it all. From a drink at the bar at the Ritz way up high in Tokyo Midtown to a nighttime viewing of Tokyo from the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills to wild all night dancing, trust me, you won't be bored. Again, PM me for specific options and ideas.

From there, I'd make my way to Tsukiji at around 4-5am. Personally, I'd walk, but that's because I've done it many times before. It's a bit far, but totally safe. The most obvious thing to do is cab it. The subway is shut down at this time. You could also wait for the subway to open and go then on the Hibiya line.

Either way, arrive by 5am at Tsukiji. First thing you do is go get in line at Daiwa sushi, arguably the best there, at least in my book. Wait in line, which should be short, if you get there within 30 minutes of when they open at I believe 5am. Have a fantastic sushi breakfast. Get the set menu. 3500 Yen which is a deal. Enjoy a beer or sake, they will offer, yes, at 5am. This is Japan.

Then tour around the fish market. I often go into the restricted areas and walk around until the security folks escort me out. It's not like they are going to arrest you - as long as you're very careful to not get in worker's way, and of course don't have children in tow or anything.

Then go to the tourist areas around the market. Shops and restaurants will be opening, slowly..

Make your way back to your transportation to Narita and you're golden.

Enjoy Tokyo!

Excellent suggestions. I might try to squeeze in a massage before or after the wild all night dancing.

Thanks for the suggestions 5khours and ainternational - you're making me feel more confident in the initial idea. Unless the massages in Tokyo are cheap, we will probably pass on them only because our final destination is Bali, and I'd feel silly paying 2 or 3 times the price in Tokyo. How difficult do you guys imagine it will be getting from NRT to Tokyo to various touristy places to Roppongi to Tsukuji back to NRT as two English speaking Japan-newbies?

Thanks for the suggestions 5khours and ainternational - you're making me feel more confident in the initial idea. Unless the massages in Tokyo are cheap, we will probably pass on them only because our final destination is Bali, and I'd feel silly paying 2 or 3 times the price in Tokyo. How difficult do you guys imagine it will be getting from NRT to Tokyo to various touristy places to Roppongi to Tsukuji back to NRT as two English speaking Japan-newbies?

No problem at all. To minimize any issues, print maps ahead of time or at least the name of the place you are seeking to go for the taxi drivers. Romanized Japanese (romanji) is ok, meaning you don't need to have actual Japanese characters printed. ex: "Roppongi" or "Tsukiji" is sufficient.

I am doing this exact same overnight layover on July 9th - 10th, great suggestions! Now I am confident I can handle the Tokyo all nighter.

How much time would I need to catch a 9:30am flight out of NRT if I am in Tokyo?

I am doing this exact same overnight layover on July 9th - 10th, great suggestions! Now I am confident I can handle the Tokyo all nighter.

How much time would I need to catch a 9:30am flight out of NRT if I am in Tokyo?

I always cut it a lot closer, but I would plan to arrive at the airport 80 to 90 minutes before you're flight.

How much time would I need to catch a 9:30am flight out of NRT if I am in Tokyo?
Narita Airport check in can be hectic during the departure periods (around 9am and 6pm?). My rule of thumb is arrive at the airport 60 minute before the flight if you already have the boarding pass and can go directly to the security checkpoint/exit passport control, 90 minutes if you can check in using the business/elite line, or 2 hours if you have to queue in the plebe line with me ;).

Hyperdia (http://www.hyperdia.com/en/) or Jorudan (http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/) can tell you which trains to take to arrive by a certain time.

Narita Airport check in can be hectic during the departure periods (around 9am and 6pm?). My rule of thumb is arrive at the airport 60 minute before the flight if you already have the boarding pass and can go directly to the security checkpoint/exit passport control, 90 minutes if you can check in using the business/elite line, or 2 hours if you have to queue in the plebe line with me ;).

Hyperdia (http://www.hyperdia.com/en/) or Jorudan (http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/) can tell you which trains to take to arrive by a certain time.

Great, thanks!

Is Monday night a slow night for nightlife? i.e. will I see bars/clubs/restaurants close early?

Thanks!

Is nightlife slow on a Monday? i.e. will I see restaurants/bars/clubs close early?

What neighborhood would be best for to be out in (after 11:00pm)?

Some context: 25 yrs old, pulling all nighter to experience a little of the city. Would do kareoke, jazz clubs, bars etc.

Thanks!

Is nightlife slow on a Monday? i.e. will I see restaurants/bars/clubs close early?

What neighborhood would be best for to be out in (after 11:00pm)?

Some context: 25 yrs old, pulling all nighter to experience a little of the city. Would do kareoke, jazz clubs, bars etc.

+1 to msb's answer on Narita time. It's more accurate than my response.

Monday will be a little slow.... especially at clubs. Roppongi is probably the best choice for an all nighter. You can probably do all of the above. My first night out in Japan, I lost count after about 15 bars.

Thanks!

Is nightlife slow on a Monday? i.e. will I see restaurants/bars/clubs close early?

What neighborhood would be best for to be out in (after 11:00pm)?

Some context: 25 yrs old, pulling all nighter to experience a little of the city. Would do kareoke, jazz clubs, bars etc.

PM me for some specifics and let me know more details on what you enjoy and your ambitions for the evening, meaning, drinking alone, meeting locals, foreigners, etc...