<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Thanks to Mike Newman's Narita Layover Page, I agree on the idea of heading into Narita City during my 5 hour layover. At our final approach I look out the window to see Japan drenched in rain. Sporting a backpack and a long-sleeve shirt I reconsider taking the Keisei Line to Narita. Upon our 35 minute early arrival, I realize that I had to do this b/c I don't know when or if I would ever have the oppontunity again.

A Quick Trip to a Temple
I breeze through Customs and Immigration at NRT and change some left over Dutch Guilders from this summer into Yen.

I purchased a 1-way ticket to Narita City for 250Yen and make my way to the train track. The city of Narita is only two stops away from Terminal 1 and less than a 10 minute ride. I hop off of the train and make my way to the street and city center. I find the McDonald's landmark and make way in the drizzle to the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. I amble down the way and it finally hits me that I am in a completely different country on a completely different continent. I don't know if it was the lack of being able to understand anything written or the fact that 6'5" chexfan was easily a foot taller than 95% of the people on the street. But it was a very unique feeling.

Feeling that the rain is starting to soak in, I stop at a store on the immaculately clean street and purchase a Hello Kitty clear plastic umbrella for 300Yen. I considered it a steal! I continue walking down the road and see the Three-Storied Pagoda from a distance. I make my way up the stairs and through the Niomon Gate. I wandered through this courtyard in complete amazement. I feel like I had been there before, but then I realized that was just the Japan Pavillion at Epcot Center.

I make my way up some more steps and enter the Great Main Hall where a Buddhist (I think) ceremony was taking place. I stare in awe at the fire, the chanting and incense burning. I later find out that it was Goma, which was the Sacred Fire Rite, that is a mysterious temple service in which people pray to Fudomyoo, the main deity of Naritasan Temple, for the fulfillment of the people's wishes.

I snap some photos and then make my way back to the train station. A young, friendly Japanese female helps me understand the ticket machine and I pay 250Yen for my return trip to NRT.[/b]</font>