bocastephen

I am flying TPE NRT IAH with a 6 hour layover between my TPE inbound and IAH connection. Normally I am fine sitting in the ANA Lounge for my layovers, but I'd like to run over to the Tokyu Hands store to get a replacement for the wallet I got there that now has an ink stain

My plan is the following:

1. arrive NRT, clear immigration, find a place to store my bag and jump on the NEX train to the city
2. from the train, transfer to the nearest Tokyu Hands store, do my shopping
3. jump back on the NEX train to Narita, get into the terminal, get my bags, and clear security and passport control

I'd like to have steps 1-3 completed with at least 2.5 hours before departure so I still have time in the lounge before my flight.

Is this doable, and if so, what is a good place to store my bags? I'd prefer to store them airside in the transfer zone if possible so I exit and re-enter the departure area without bags.

SQ319

Can you check your bag straight through instead?? Or are you referring to your carry on???

The nearest Tokyu Hands is in Yurakucho, but this is a smaller one compared to the ones at Ikebukuro/Shinjuku/Shibiya.

http://ginza.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/

Is the wallet you bought available at Loft as well??

There is also a large Loft store very close to the Tokyu Hands.

http://www.loft.co.jp/shoplist/yurakucho

I'm not sure how, but it would make sense to find if stock is available and if they could reserve the stock for you in advance, so that you don't make a wasted trip to find that your item is not available, or not sold in that particular store.

gnaget

If you really only want to go to Tokyu Hands there are stores in Funabashi and Kashiwa in Chiba. The latter inside the station. And also one in Tokyo station. The Chiba locations will be a cheaper train ride but not necessarily quicker. Although probably more frequency in the timetable than NEX.

Otherwise, check to see if you can buy the product online at Rakuten. Should be quick and cheap to ship to Taiwan.

There is also shopping around Narita city. A large Aeon mall on the north side and I have driven to a lot of strip mall stores south of the city. But it is not close to the train station.

msb0b

Check if the wallet is available through an online vendor like Amazon.co.jp, and have it shipped to Lawson in Terminal 1. Saves you a trip and about 5000 yen in train fare.

bocastephen

The brand is Asumederu - I've never seen it outside Tokyu Hands, but if it can be bought at the airport, or near the airport, that would be ideal. I could order it online or by phone direct, but their website and contacts are Japanese only, which doesn't help me.

bocastephen

I found the two wallets online at Amazon - but I'm not sure how to arrange shipping either to the US (preferred), or held for pickup inside the airport's sterile area (or even outside the sterile area).

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...d_i=2477088051

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-la...language=en_JP

msb0b

Pretty sure Amazon Japan only ships books, magazines and BD/DVD abroad, so wallets are domestic only.

Amazon Japan has instruction on how to Order Items Using Convenience Store Pickup

There is a Lawson in Terminal 1 central building 5th floor. It is among the restaurants and food court. You will need to go to the Loppi kiosk and enter the codes from your Amazon order e-mail. The kiosk will print a receipt which you present to the cashier, who will retrieve the package from their locker. See Pick Up a Package at Lawson

bocastephen

This looks like a possible option, thank you! Just so I'm clear (because the Narita website is not), I can remain airside and arrive from TPE, clear transit security, go back to the 4th floor departures level and then take an elevator or escalator to the 5th level to visit Lawson - or is Lawson outside the secure area in the same zone as the check-in desks (just upstairs)?

If it's outside the secure area, which of the following procedures would I need to follow:

A)
from TPE inbound, clear transit security, go to 4th floor, enter ANA lounge, store bags, then find an exit path to Japan immigration/customs, enter Japan (no bags), go to the central building and Lawson, take my package, and then go back through departure security, passport control and back to the ANA lounge?

B)
from TPE inbound, clear Japan immigration/customs with bags, go to Lawson, back through departure security, passport control (with two new stamps, about 20 minutes between entry/exit for giggles) and then to the ANA lounge? I guess with option A) or B) I can have a friend meet me outside the secure area for lunch and chat before I go back inside.

AlwaysAisle

B)
You will do the case B) as you have described. At airports in Japan international departing and international arriving passengers are segregated. If you go through the transit security as you described in case A) you will be at international departing area where ANA lounge is located. From international departing area there is no designated ways to go to passport control/customs to enter Japan. My understanding is that once you are in departure area authorities will allow passengers to enter Japan under only irregular situations, such as weather flight cancellation, etc.

However, I think on this forum somebody posted that once forgot something at non-secure, pre-passport control, area at Narita. Upon explaining the situation at an attendant at an airline lounge, an attendant called somewhere, an officer showed up, was escorted reverse through departing passport control, and was allowed to go back to non-secure area of the airport to retrieve items left there. But I think that is rare exception.

If you can arrange to meet your friends at non-secure area of Narita, then I will recommend to be at non-secure area of Narita with your friends for meal. At Narita there are more restaurant choices at non-secure area than post passport control secure area.

msb0b

Lawson is on landside so you will need to go through immigration. You should only have your carryon so I would not worry about stowing your bags.

I would stay for as long as I could on landside, where it is more interesting. As a matter of fact, I will be on the same 6 hour connection next month and am trying to decide whether I should go to Aeon mall or Tokyo.

gnaget

How do you travel to the Aeon mall?

p.s. Boca should check Rakuten for the wallet since they have global shipping. When I lived in Japan many items were available on both sites and one would pick the cheapest. Usually Amazon had the best deal.

msb0b

Aeon Narita airport shuttle