i wonder if we can do SIN-HND then connect to AC2.....cause there are flights that arrive with a better connection time.

That will actually save you an hour because you don't have to take the train into Tokyo from Narita. Quick monorail ride into the city from HND, run around and do what you need to do, then bus/Skyliner back to NRT. The problem here would be luggage... you don't exactly want to lug it around and storing it at HND means you have to go back to collect it.

There are luggage lockers in all of the major JR stations, Y500-Y1000 or so, depending on size (some are fairly big). Drop your luggage at Tokyo Stn. and explore unencumbered!

Instead of all these hassles, why don't you just stay the day in Tokyo and fly out the next day? I would highly recommend that and you will not regret it. Fly into Haneda, spend the day in Tokyo and leave the next eve.

Yea. I have thought about that too... Too bad HND/NRT unlike in HKG where you can check in your luggage at subway/train station! :)

It would be awesome if you can (re-)check-in your luggage at HND and transfer to NRT!

I guess it is because of the under 24hrs is not a stop-over rule. IIRC AC leaves NRT at 17:00 & 19:00. That means one will have to plan to arrive in late afternoon or evening. Then check into hotel which cost extra.

And assume you get up real early in the morning, there is nothing much you can do other than check out the fish market because most stores are still not open. And by the time they open, it is the same effect as arriving NRT real early in the morning and taken NEX. (oK, given you may have a better sleep on hotel bed then on a plane...)

So arriving a day early seems to buy you extra time in Tokyo (well if you like to explore the night life, then yes.)

You've already checked out the "NRT Layover thread" in the Japan forum, right?

Dress appropriately in the winter months!

We had planned to nip into Tokyo when we had a similar 8 hour connection from BKK. When we arrived it was snowing heavy. Coming from the islands of the Andaman sea, we definitely weren't prepared for the weather so bailed on Tokyo and spent the time gorging in the NR TF lounge. :)

Beware that if there is heavy wind, train traffic between Tokyo and NRT may get interrupted. Happened to us once. Luckily we had plenty of time. But there were quite a few worried customers on the train wondering what was happening.

After an hour or so waiting apparently wind had abated and we went. But surely some folks missed their flight.

Personally, I would skip going into Tokyo for a layover that short. Leave your luggage at NRT, and take the train to Narita City. If the weather is decent, take a walk to the temple. It's really quite beautiful, and you can spend hours wandering the grounds and taking photos, or relaxing.

Eat some noodles or some sushi, take a trip to the mall if that's your thing, then head back to NRT for a shower at the RCC and a drink before your next flight.

The Mike Newman Narita layover page mentioned up thread has some good info, though some of it may be dated now.

Thanks all. Looks like Narita City is the simplest for me. I just need somewhere to fill in a few hours and have lunch.

Its not that bad, at least you will be out of the airport for a change and get some fresh air. Here I found something for you in the web:

One of the delightful things to do when visiting Naritasan is to stroll around the temple town. The main pathway (Omote-sando) runs through from JR Narita station to Naritasan. There are many shops along this path.

The main street runs from the station to the the entrance gate of Naritasan. There are quite a few old stores with more than 100 years of history, many Chinese medicine stores built of Dozo(warehouse) style, and large wooden Three-story hotels. There are unexpected surprises not only on the main street but also down the narrow side streets.
Another charm of temple town are the local products like Sweet jelly of azuki beans (yokan), Japanese pickles (tsukemono), fish boiled in soy sauce (tsukudani) or local rice-wine (sake) and strolling along the main street eating hand made rice crackers ( teyaki-senbei) or eating broiled eel in a restaurant.

Being an international city Narita, there are many visitors walking along the main street and also some restaurants and noodleshops are almost used exclusively by overseas visitors.

Possible to go into a hotspring during 4.5 hour layover?
 

The answer might be no from most of you, but just wondering as I'll have a layover from 6:15am to 11am. Wondering if there's any hotspring that opens early like at 7am so I can go for. I checked the Narita Layover page and they mentioned about a hotspring place but that place does not open till 10am, which is not feasible for me. Does anyone know if there are places which open early in the morning?

Thanks!

I don't think anything would be open this early, unless you're staying at a Onsen Ryokan. The earliest hotspring place opens at 09:00 and it's not even in Narita.

Sorry.

I will take Ueno than narith city anyday! Ueno has a lot of discount sports store, good toy/model puzzle place, and not to mention the Ueno park( if you are in to walking Japanese style:cool:) 4,5 hours is definitely more than enough there and having sushi/ramen lunch.

It is not going to be rush, just remember to book the return ticket once you get off the train, then you know when you need to come back. Also, there are lockers in the Ueno skyliner train station, if you had any hand carry, you can put it there. There is always a locker person who would exchange cash for you into coins. ^