Last edit by: muji
Narita International Airport (NRT) - Layover & Hotel
Where to stay overnight and what to do nearby
Where to stay overnight and what to do nearby
Narita Airport (NRT) is approximately 60 km from central Tokyo. It is blessed with numerous hotels, many with shuttles (served from the terminals' bus platforms) and often at surprisingly low rates for Japan. Some of these hotels offer free shuttles into the nearby city of Narita (Narita-shi).
If you have a few hours (say six or more) Narita offers many things to do--the Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple and Park is beautiful and pleasant and on weekends one often sees performances of traditional arts and music. The Omotesando street leading there is lined with shops and restaurants, as well as a local museum.
See Mike Newman's Narita Layover Pages for many things one can do.
See the thorough online Japan Guide.
Read this article on CNN.
Some of the hotels at/near Narita Airport:
A - Radisson Hotel Narita https://www.radisson.com/narita-hote...-0221/jpnarita
B - Narita Gateway Hotel http://www.reservations.com/hotel/na...FQ-bfgodLi4M0A
C - Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu http://www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/en/h...RIT/index.html
D - Narita View Hotel http://www.viewhotels.co.jp/narita/english/
E - Hilton Narita http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/jap...IHI/index.html
F - ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hote...cp/hoteldetail
G - Marroad International Hotel Narita http://www.marroad.jp/narita/eindex.htm
H - Narita Tobu Hotel http://www.tobuhotel.co.jp.e.mi.hp.transer.com/narita/
I - Hotel Nikko Narita http://www.nikko-narita.com/english/
J - Narita Airport Rest House (located inside the airport) http://www.apo-resthouse.com/english/
K - Toyoko Inn Narita Kuko http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00037/
L - Skycourt Narita http://www.sky-hotel.jp/narita/en/
Narita Int'l. Airport (NRT) Layover & Hotel Master Thread
#586
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 239
Sooo my Sat night layover is almost here. Staying at the APA hotel and landing at 4:30pm. I know the temple will be closed then (also leaving early next morning), but I would like to visit the park at night or early morning (around 7am) if possible. Would I be able to do so when the temple is closed? Is it easy to get to from APA hotel? Lastly I heard good things about Ramen Bayashi. Any other good places nearby to eat authentic Japanese food? I'll check out the links in the wiki but feel free to comment if you have any specific recommendation Thanks.
As you're walking up from the train station to the temple, you will see many places to eat. I noticed a couple of shops grilling eel or fish that looked and smelled pretty darned tasty, but I needed to warm up and opted for a bowl of hot ramen. The Jet Lag bar is only a short walk up the road from Bayashi if you're seeking liquid nourishment.
#587
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,648
mrjay, your detailed itin is awesome. Thanks for that.
Anyone have recommendation for breakfast around 6-7am? Ideally I would have eel or ramen, but that might be asking too much
Anyone have recommendation for breakfast around 6-7am? Ideally I would have eel or ramen, but that might be asking too much
#588
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
#589
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,648
Actually, if it's anything like China or US, 90% of the restaurants are just OK. It's actually hard to find really good food.
Anyway, I'm here now. On this Sat night Omotesanto was dead after Bayashi, so went with that (safe choice). Didn't see anyone making eel, might be a daytime-only thing. Would have gone with eel @ Chrythesamum (sp) but ate fish on the flight and eating more fish on tmr's flight. I'm fished out!
BTW, just before Bayashi, if you make a right turn (coming from the station), that street is quite busy with numerous lively restaurants, more so than most of Omotesanto.
Going to the park in the morning.
Anyway, I'm here now. On this Sat night Omotesanto was dead after Bayashi, so went with that (safe choice). Didn't see anyone making eel, might be a daytime-only thing. Would have gone with eel @ Chrythesamum (sp) but ate fish on the flight and eating more fish on tmr's flight. I'm fished out!
BTW, just before Bayashi, if you make a right turn (coming from the station), that street is quite busy with numerous lively restaurants, more so than most of Omotesanto.
Going to the park in the morning.
#590
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,582
Japan is not at all like that. Not familiar with Narita town in particular. However, everywhere else that I've been is chock full of restaurants from cheap to expensive where the owner/manager cares about providing good, fresh, well-prepared food. A very different culture from the US, IMO.
#591
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Tokyo/Syd/Mel
Programs: NH Dia (MM), QF-Plt, S-La GC Dia, Marriot Plt
Posts: 226
Thought I'd share a cool short cut about navigating through Narita Terminal 1 for those using the South Wing to depart... When you come out of the train station, rather than go the normal way up to ground and then walk through all the people waiting for arrivals onto the escalators, you can go down the tunnel that leads to Domestic departures... then right at the end of the tunnel are 2 elevators. Take one straight to the 4th floor and presto you are at the checkin lobby. This is so much quicker than the signposted way in my opinion and I am yet to see anyone else ever use this way.
#592
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
Thought I'd share a cool short cut about navigating through Narita Terminal 1 for those using the South Wing to depart... When you come out of the train station, rather than go the normal way up to ground and then walk through all the people waiting for arrivals onto the escalators, you can go down the tunnel that leads to Domestic departures... then right at the end of the tunnel are 2 elevators. Take one straight to the 4th floor and presto you are at the checkin lobby. This is so much quicker than the signposted way in my opinion and I am yet to see anyone else ever use this way.
#593
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA 1k (12 year fallen GS) 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,190
+1 - I always take the express elevators - instead of heading left to the escalators look to your right and you will see the elevators - they are after the first little escalator but before the big ones...
#594
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 777
I'm arriving to NRT at 7:25 AM and departing at 6:20 PM. Reading this thread that probably isn't enough time to go into Tokyo proper so is my best option to wander around Narita Village and have lunch somewhere? Figure if I get there at 9 AM I'll have time until about 3 to explore.
#595
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
I've been to both, but only Narita was a layover. Spent about 3 days in Tokyo itself and really liked it.
#596
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,426
I'm arriving to NRT at 7:25 AM and departing at 6:20 PM. Reading this thread that probably isn't enough time to go into Tokyo proper so is my best option to wander around Narita Village and have lunch somewhere? Figure if I get there at 9 AM I'll have time until about 3 to explore.
For example, upon arrival at 7:25 a.m. at NRT you will likely able to catch Narita Express No. 4 departing Narita Airport Station at 8:13 a.m., where Narita Express No. 4 will arrive Tokyo Station at 9:27 a.m.
Your departure flight from NRT is 6:20 p.m. Even if you want to be back at NRT 2 hours before your flight, that will be Narita Express No. 37 departing Tokyo Station at 3:33 p.m. and arriving Narita Airport Station at 4:31 p.m.
This will pretty much give entire 6 hours to wonder around Tokyo. You will have plenty of time to head into central area of Tokyo.
#597
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 777
I technically have been to TYO proper, but I was 6 so it doesn't count. It sounds like I'll have enough time to see a few sights and have a proper Japanese lunch. What train station/area should I head to where the sights are fairly compact?
ETA: Yoshihashi looks like a place I MUST go for lunch!
ETA: Yoshihashi looks like a place I MUST go for lunch!
Last edited by rdurlabhji; Mar 22, 2016 at 1:59 pm
#598
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I technically have been to TYO proper, but I was 6 so it doesn't count. It sounds like I'll have enough time to see a few sights and have a proper Japanese lunch. What train station/area should I head to where the sights are fairly compact?
ETA: Yoshihashi looks like a place I MUST go for lunch!
ETA: Yoshihashi looks like a place I MUST go for lunch!
From the subway Ueno station, you can zoom over to Asakusa and see the Sensoji temple with the souvenir stands and snack booths along Nakamisedoori approach to the temple. (It's touristy, but most of the tourists are Japanese.)
If you are into electronics and manga/anime, you might want to travel south from Ueno and go to Akihabara, home of electronics stores and manga/anime geeks.
The area around Tokyo Station, the other place that's easy to go to from NRT, is generic international business land with lots of glass and steel towers. If you go to Ueno and Asakusa, you will feel as if you have really been to Japan.
Tokyo has more restaurants than you would believe. The problem will be deciding where NOT to eat.
#599
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
Suggestions for my 3 day stay in Tokyo. Landing at 9 and taking off at 9 after 3 days. Hotels, transport, sites, etc comments would be welcomed. Also, how best to pay for this stay, cash or credit card. How much do I need for 2 if cash? Thanks
#600
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,582