Asia - Place to go for a run on layover?

Any suggestions, I have about 8 hour layover at NRT, would like ideally to head into Tokyo and go for a run. But would probably need to get a hotel room to shower, which makes this pricy. Are there any other local areas I could find a cheaper room, and a nice place to run?

What is your budget (transportation + shower) ?

While not a runner, I am a cyclist, and found it pleasant to ride alongside river banks while living in Tokyo, as they usually combine a well-paved path atop the embankment, with a dirt path, sport terrains, and pleasant greenery in the floodplains. My 'home river' the Tama is a little too far from Narita for your purposes though.

The nearby Chiba peninsula has rural scenery inland, and on its eastern coast. Getting off at a random seaside station on a local Sotobo line train (http://www.jreast.co.jp/e-info/map_a4ol.pdf) (IIRC - take a Yokosuka-Sobu line JR train from Narita to Chiba and change there) could be a low-key alternative to a run in Tokyo, although the shower will be a problem. I had some of the best seafood in Japan in that area in a restaurant located upstairs of an associated fish shop, supplied from the adjacent fishing port.

As for shower facilities, your more economical options include:
- finding a public bath house
- using the paid shower facilities at NRT
- if in Tokyo, checking into a capsule hotel or, err, 'short-term' hotel


If all this sounds too complex, just get a room at one of the airport hotels (the Holiday Inn should run no more than a R/T to Tokyo on the Narita Express) and jog in the sleepy town of Narita among the nearby rice paddies. I would venture to say the town of Narita has more greenery than most you would find between NRT and Tokyo station.

Ideally I'd like to get into Tokyo, as last time I had a great run around the palace grounds. But Narita is much easier to get to, so is it still a nice run and city to have lunch in? Will nearby airport make it smoggy?

Not sure if Narita is suitable for runners, but it does have a public bathhouse near the station, a temple, a number of inexpensive eateries, and fields on its outskirts. Air quality doesn't seem noticeably worse than elsewhere in greater Tokyo. You'll find quite a few layover reports by plugging in say 'Narita' and 'temple' in the FT search function.

If you prefer an urban setting, one easy alternative would be taking the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (less than an hour), which is home to a large park you could run in. There are plenty of food and shopping outlets in the area. Not as glamorous as the palace grounds, but a change nonetheless.

Not sure this applies to the OP any longer but for reference:

The Narita area is indeed comparably rural so you can probably find some excellent running areas once away from the airport. I second the suggestion to hop a train and go to Narita (as opposed to Narita Terminal 1 and 2, aka the airport proper) Station or something further down the line. Do note that it's hilly in places so if you're used to flat terrain, you may have to make some adjustments.

If you do decide to return to the Imperial Palace, be sure to also cruise by nearby Hibiya Park, between the Palace and the Imperial Hotel. Also, if you want suggestions on where to find a "love hotel" or capsule hotel, you can always ask the concierge at the Imperial -- just tell him you want to get some snapshots for disbelieving friends back home while you're out running. :)

While we're on that subject, for about 3500-4000 yen ($30-$35US) you can check into a love hotel for 2-3 hours. And no, you won't get any strange looks for checking in alone -- it's not unknown for a gentleman to get the room and phone his "date" once ensconsed so she knows where to meet him. Note: these prices are for the Shibuya area in downtown Tokyo -- out in Narita/Chiba, they may be cheaper. Also note: if you check in after 6PM, it'll be 8000-10000 yen as the room will become yours for the night. The bath facilities in the rooms are typically very clean, as are the beds, so you can kick back post shower and watch television (including porn, if you're into that sort of thing) for a while as you wind down from the run. Just don't expect to see CNN or premium cable.

Hope this helps. Didn't mean to turn this into a miniature trip report (although I am going to Tokyo later this month... hmm... :)) but the point is, you can definitely get in a run on a long layover and still catch your connecting flight showered and refreshed.

Have fun!

Ideally I'd like to get into Tokyo, as last time I had a great run around the palace grounds. But Narita is much easier to get to, so is it still a nice run and city to have lunch in? Will nearby airport make it smoggy?

Narita is probably a fine place to run - and I'm sure they have a sento (public bath) in the town somewhere, which would be a cheap place to get clean immediately after your run (better than waiting to use the showers back at Narita airport). Alternatively, there are hotels in Narita city that you could check into just to use their showers....

However, if you are really determined to do the run around the imperial palace (and you have enough time) and you are male then here is a fun thing to do with your 8 hour stopover. Yep - If you are a guy, you can get a sauna / shower / bath etc. inside Tokyo Station. Read this guy's trip report:
http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/march98/bathhse.html

NOTE = Unfortunately there are no women's sauna/bathing facilities in Tokyo Station (and no co-ed bathing either).

8 hours should be enough -
1 hour for immigration and customs
0.5 hours waiting for the Narita Express
1 hour for the journey to Tokyo station
Same time as above + 1 hour for safety for the return trip
Leaves you with 2 hours to run 4km and visit the onsen
If you run fast you might even have time for a massage.

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Some tips:

It is hard to find -
The entrance is on the ground floor, on the YAEZU side of the station (the really ugly modern side - not the red-brick building on the palace side). The entrance is only marked in Japanese. See the photo on the following site: http://ana.dynalink.jp/spa/shousai.php?shop_id=96881

The official name of the facility used to be "Tokyo Onsen" but has changed to "Tokyo Kur". Despite the name change, probably your best bet is to ask someone in uniform for directions to "Tokyo Eki no Onsen"

Prices are between 2100 yen - 2300 yen depending on the time. It's more expensive than the pay showers at Narita, but think of it as a cultural experience....

If you get there in the early morning (before 09.00am) you could try getting a discounted entry ticket from the Tokyo Station bus terminal. Apparently, they offer special discount tickets for people who have arrived on the overnight buses. If they ask to see your ticket, you could pretend you already threw it in the trash - or you could grab someone coming off a bus :-)
http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/tk/tokyosta.htm

The bus company also offers its female customers special tickets to use the baths at the "Urashima Kan" which is a hotel 7 mins walk away... From the photos etc. I dont really recommend it.