jib71

I think you will be too late for a guided tour. You can get a free tour of the temple from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Not sure if it's actually open after you arrive. If you stay at the off airport hotels, you'll be out of town. My recommendation would be to stay at a downtown hotel - wander around the town in the evening and find a restaurant to have a bite to eat.

It's over 60km from the airport to the fish market (which is still, as far as I know, in Tsukiji). Taxi fare round trip would be about $400. IMHO Not worth it. If you're really determined to see the market (and bear in mind, it's a fish wholesale market - that's all), then I would recommend staying near the market in Tokyo. You could just about make it. But IMHO not worth it.

AspiringWorldTraveler

That's real unfortunate, don't want to trek all the way to downtown Tokyo. Unclear from your comment though - even though guided tours will have concluded for the evening, do you think we can just walk around with a downloaded guide on our own?


Should have clarified - it's the Narita local fish market, and for only ~$43 usd/person it seems like a winner... IF they can get us back on time for flight

jib71

Perhaps you should email or call the tour company and ask.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bdjy9v1IIAAYiPN.jpg

TennisNoob

5:30am arrival into Haneda, what's the best way to get to Sheraton Miyako? To my understanding bus is closed at that time.

AlwaysAisle

Assuming you are arriving international, do not think there is domestic arrival that early , but there is Limousine Bus departing international terminal at 7:35 a.m. arriving at Sheraton Miyako Tokyo at 8:35 a.m. Fare is 820 yen. You may wait little more than an hour but I think this is good option.

Other options:

Trains:
Requires least two transfers and little bit of walk from a subway station to Sheraton Miyako Tokyo.

Taxi:
Haneda Airport to Sheraton Miyako Tokyo is around 5,400 yen.

Train and Taxi:
Other possibility is to take train from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa, 410 yen, then take taxi from Shinagawa station which is around 1,100 yen.

TennisNoob

The hotel says they have an shuttle from Shinagawa Station. Do you know if it operates during that time?

Also where is the pick up location for Sheraton Miyakos complimentary shuttle?

AlwaysAisle

Well..., you can look up the hotel website yourself...

Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo Access

It says: “*The shuttle service to Shinagawa Station is only for the outward journey from the hotel.”

Which means they will not pick you up at Shinagawa station…

Don't ask me why, I do not work for Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo.

TennisNoob

Haha got the answer from them thanks.

Okay so something you guys know best. Possible to make it to all these places in an day?

Going to take the Metro for all of these. Which places should I go for Lunch & Dinner?
Tsukiji Market
Ginza
Imperial Palace
Akihabara

These 2 maybe an bit far and do I have time?
Shibuya Crossing
Meiji Shrine

teemuflyer

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/300123-narita-int-l-airport-nrt-layover-hotel-master-thread-46.html#post27650575

Just saying...

ksandness

Taking the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa and then a cab would be the most economical way.

ksandness

Ginza and the Fish Market? Unless you want to take in a Kabuki play, Ginza is just a lot of high-class stores. The fish market is...a fish market, and you can find seafood that is just as exotic in the grocery department of a department store.

You can't see the Imperial Palace itself, just walk through the grounds via certain entrances and exits. It's a pleasant stroll, but not a priority. You can see the walls and towers from outside the Palace grounds.

For efficiency and maximum contrast. I'd suggest Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and Akihabara. Why those three? They're all on the sort-of-circular (more amoeba shaped) Yamanote commuter train line, and taking that line gives you a good overview of the city.

As far as lunch and dinner are concerned, the question becomes where NOT to eat among the bewildering variety of eateries found on every commercial street, in every office building, and in every department store. Do a little reading up on Japanese cuisine and take the opportunity to venture beyond sushi. Remember that if the prices are not posted outside in some form, you probably can't afford the place, and that lunch is much cheaper than dinner.

TennisNoob

Thanks for the detailed suggestions. Just trying to find an great way to explore. I haven't been to those places in tokyo 10+ years and have already forgot it all. Just trying to find an great way to enjoy/burn time. Arriving 5:30am in Haneda I won't be departing Narita until 10am the next day.

Any places you suggest are mandatory?
Rail commuting advise would also be awesome.

764toHI

What's the best takeaway / bento box option at NRT? Planning to fly UA Y and would prefer not to eat what is served onboard...

ksandness

I certainly sympathize with your determination not to eat the dismal offerings in Y on UA, but there are so many places to eat in NRT that it's hard to know which one to recommend, much less which ones offer take-out.

One consideration is food safety. Bento sold in convenience stores and train stations are stamped with a time and date after which the food should not be consumed. If I were taking one of those 12- to 13-hour flights, I would not want to risk carrying sushi or other perishables.

When I have been forced to take UA out of NRT, I make sure to have a good meal in one of the restaurants before boarding, and then I buy snack foods and canned beverages in the airside convenience store corner to take on board to supplement whatever "food" and "coffee" the airline dishes up.

jib71

Take out sushi from Sushi Kyotatsu for the first meal after take off.
http://www.bbande.co.jp/en/shop/narita1.html

For meals that will still be appetizing several hours after take off ... um ... pickles from Duty Free? Maybe one of the convenience stores sells o-nigiri? Failing that, perhaps you could persuade Sushi Kyotatsu to prepare some vegetarian sushi rolls.