What to do for 10 hours @ NRT?
 

Hi All,

For me NRT has always been a destination rather than a transit point and I am at a lost as to what to do for 10 hours whilst waiting for a connection. I understand there are some temples and shrines at Narita but that'll only kill a couple of hours...

Please help with suggestions. Thanks in advance! :)

It also depends on the time of the day :p You can take the train and have a short shopping trip in the city if stores are open.

Let me move this on to the Japan forum, where you'll find considerable existing discussion on the topic.

SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator

Aside from an impressive temple complex with lovely wooded grounds, Narita has shopping and restaurants.

If you've been to Tokyo before, why not hop onto the Skyliner and revisit a favorite location? Just watch the clock.

Personally, I'd rather chill in Narita than make a mad dash anywhere if I were under time constraints.

I second the Skyliner too, only 55 minutes + waiting time back and forth, much faster than N'EX. You'd have roughly 6-7 hours (or more depending on how close you like to cut it).

Thank you all very much for your suggestions for far. My flight arrives NRT at 9am and departing flight to Osaka is at 6:30pm although I am trying to get onto the 4:30pm.

I guess after clearing immigration and recheck my bag onto the domestic sector (which I am assuming I can do in the morning even though the flight is not until late PM), I will probably only have 5 hours before having to head back to the airport for the 6:30pm flight.

Yikes

If have that long a layover to Osaka, why not just take the bullet train or a plane out of Haneda? Seems like a waste hopping around near Narita

You will have more than 5 hours, it doesn't take 3 hours to clear and re-check, even if you are switching terminals. But if you are going to standby for the 4:30pm flight, that changes things.

I'd suggest the Japan National History Museum in Sakura. Take the Keisei Limited Express to Sakura (about 20 minutes) and follow the signs (in English as well as Japanese). You can eat lunch at either the cafe at the museum or at a place near the train station. Note that the museum is closed most Mondays.

Do not take the JR airport-Narita train to Sakura, it is a much longer walk to the museum from the JR station and is not at all signposted.

Train will get you to Osaka by early afternoon - I'd much rather do that than hang around for 10 hours at NRT.

Oh, but here's the thing. I am on a CX OneWorld F award which requires at least three airlines. BA from LHR to NRT, JL from Tokyo to Osaka (in Y only because it's domestic, and I am a bit afraid about booking JL flight right now.), CX from KIX to HKG and finally CX from HKG to LHR. There are currently no availability from HND to ITM for the three days that I am looking at. If it wasn't for the ticketing criteria I would have taken the bullet train like you guys are suggesting.

Thanks RichardInSF, I'll check out those options online.

Might also be worth looking into routes to KIX with CX and JL via TPE, PVG, ICN.

I have 10 hrs with a buddy whos its his first time there. Ive only been once and it was last year. I want a kick butt lunch place, any recommendations? We land at 645 am and out at 450pm. I will take the fastest train I can into Tokyo. I dont know what to show him, but I do want an early lunch at some place. Then get back to NRT to get a massage at the lounge before heading to LAX. All feedback/suggestions would be appreciated!

seems like you're on lesure:
do you HAVE to go to Osaka? how about Fukuoka/Nagoya?

there is a flight to either places before 10am, and another at ~1500.

this might be of good help: http://www.mgnewman.com/Naritax/

Anyway, dont forget you need to go from T1 to T2, so you dont have as much time as you'd think you have. Just take in Narita slowly :P

Hang out and get drunk in the lounge:D

CHANP one suggestion would be to hit Akihabara and have lunch at http://www.niku-mansei.com/. great food although its not super japanese (though it could be depending on the floor). you could hit some of the weird cafes they have there too. As for the restaurant, walk out of the Akihabara station towards electric town, walk to the big street, look left and find the building with the smiling cow on top