ddsohn

Will be flying AA metal and then connecting to JL via NRT. However I will be having an overnight connection. I've never actually "stayed" in Tokyo. Since my connection is early in the AM, what's the closest/best solution for my inconvenient overnight connection at NRT? Any solutions will be much appreciated!

TheAAdmiral

I would check out the JAL hotel, which is at NRT.

HNL

There are a dozen or so hotels very close to NRT. Use one of the many online travel sites to search for a room.

kebosabi

Bunch of options. Hilton Narita, ANA Intercontinental Hotel Narita, etc.

My vote would be to the Comfort Inn at Narita. Right next to Keisei Narita station (8 min direct train ride from NRT) and within walking distance to the Narita-san Temple which you can visit during your layover. ^

Gardyloo

I usually stay at the Holiday Inn, which I believe is the closest hotel to the airport. They have a free shuttle service, and the hotel is very comfortable and (usually) very inexpensive.

JJeffrey

There's also a Hilton, Crowne Plaza, and several other hotels in and around Narita.

How early is your connecting flight?

I'm doing an overnight at NRT next week also, arriving around 3pm on AA connecting on JL down to SIN the next day around 10am. I've done this several times, it's plenty of time to go into the city and have a nice night in Tokyo before heading back to NRT the next morning.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

I stayed at the Hotel Marroad when we were stuck in NRT overnight. We got the distressed rate, and it was $50 per person. They charged per person, even though we only got one room.

The hotel was okay. It looked old and worn out, but still clean in the rooms. The eating area downstairs was relatively empty except for some smokers that made my dinner unappetizing.

It's close to the airport. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel.

brenc3

I'll be doing this Saturday night. Your major options are to either stay somewhere very close to the airport with a free shuttle, or take the Keisei for a 5min train ride into Narita town.

Holiday Inn is very close and very cheap (Y9000/night usually) with good sized rooms and free shuttle from NRT.

There are plenty of options in Narita town. The Comfort Inn is very cheap (I think I paid Y6500/night) but rooms are small. I often prefer the train ride into Narita as it's quicker and more frequent than each hotel's shuttle.

Overnight in NRT is one of the least painful in the world owing to good transport, good choice, and very inexpensive rates. That's good for AA Asia flyers since codeshares on JL are often so maddeningly inconvenient:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ng-scarce.html

If the connection is long enough, take the Narita Express to Shinjuku and stay around there (I recommend Hotel Century Southern Tower).

Question: Has anyone walked to a hotel from the terminal? Some look close enough on the map but I've never tried it and don't know if there's any pedestrian access.

kebosabi

I doubt that it's possible as there's a gated security check before entering and leaving the NRT airport area in general.

edit: Scratch that, seems like it is possible.

One Japanese person tried that after several failed attempts as he always hit a roadblock or a fence and could not enter the airport compounds. He was finally able to walk to Narita from East Narita station, which no one (lest locals) ever use.

If you can read Japanese and wish to do something to kill time at Narita, this could be a way to do so: figure out how to walk to Narita from East Narita Sta.

Who knows? There might be a hidden gem of a place to sleep or kill time there?

How to walk to Narita Airport from East Narita Sta. (in Japanese)
http://portal.nifty.com/2008/02/18/c/index.htm


Very interesting notes about Higashi-Narita Sta. Seems like this was the original Narita Airport Sta. that was opened back in 1978 before there was a direct line into the airport. Kinda similar to the Aviation Sta. of the Green Line at LAX: people would get off here as the terminus and take a shuttle bus to the airport. A direct line to the airport was built in 1991 so this station has gradually diminished as a train station for passengers and has since then been used for people who work at Narita.

The area surrounding the station includes the Narita Airport Police Sta., Narita Airport Post Office, the control tower, TFK (the company that makes inflight meals for JAL), a Narita Airport resthouse hotel, cargo terminals, customs and plant and wildlife facilities and animal control.

Those that want a different taste of Narita might seek out this resthouse that you can get to/from Narita by foot

tylerdurden4543

Can I tag onto this and ask about HND? I have a 6:40am HND-JFK and was hoping to stay on property. The Japan forum isn't very specific around ease of connection to AA terminal.

Thanks!
Tyler

kebosabi

Take the last train into HND the day before (somewhere close to midnight) and stay at HND. It has a 24 hr food court or do some night-time plane spotting from the observation deck. You'll have 4-5 hrs to kill until check-in counters to open.

Also there is no AA terminal at HND. It'll be the new int'l terminal that opened Oct of last year.

tylerdurden4543

If I was by myself, this would be perfect advice. Unfortunately I'll be with my wife and in-laws who are...less...adventurous.

kebosabi

Yes there are plenty of options around HND like the Tokyu Excel (next to T2 of HND) or the Hotel JAL City (10 min by shuttle bus). This would be the best and safest bet if travelling with others who are less adventurous.

The problem with the AA HND-JFK flight is that it leaves too early in the morning and the trains in Tokyo don't run 24 hrs. It's either get into HND the night before which is just around midnight, or take the first train in which starts running again around 4:30-5:00, which is cutting a bit too close for check-in and departure.

I can see why AA is having trouble with this route.

only1j

I stayed at the Narita View hotel when I was there a couple of years ago. I enjoyed my stay there. They offer a free shuttle to the airport and they also shuttle to the JR Narita station, and you can also get to the Keisei line from there as well.

ddsohn

Thanks for all the great advice! Appreciate the inputs since I've never had to "stay" at NRT. JL overhauling its flights due to the bankruptcy is a starting to make a significant impact on people trying to connect in NRT/HND. Hopefully the JBA will make a significant difference!