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What to do at NRT?

I am scheduled to arrive at NRT at 1:40 PM with a departure at 9:00 PM. Does this allow enough time to leave the airport? If so, what is the best and cheapest way to leave? Would appreciate any input, since I have never been there and have no clue what to do. Thanks a lot!

win1300

Your options are:
- visit the town of Narita (one stop by local train, bus, or taxi). It is a sleepy country town with a few temples, but otherwise not much to do.
- get a day room at one of the many Narita hotels
- take the 'Limousine bus' downtown, but it may run into traffic jams at rush hour on the way back, which is especially not desirable in your case
- take the Keisei Skyliner train (1 hour) to Ueno and walk around for 2-3 hours. Ueno is a bargain shopping and office area, with (among other things) a park (with beautiful cherry blossoms coming soon), a zoo, and many eateries. Some of the Ueno-Narita evening Skyliners stop along the way to unload commuters, and therefore take over an hour.
- take the Narita Express train (1 hour) to Tokyo station, walk around for 2-3 hours (upscale Ginza and the Imperial Palace grounds are nearby).

Given the limited time at your disposal, I would go downstairs to the train departure area and take the first outbound airport train, Narita Express or Skyliner, both of which run once an hour. Do NOT take any of the other trains running on the same lines, they are local trains which will take over 1:30 hours to reach Tokyo. Ditto on the way back, as it will be rush hour and commuters will pack into those local trains.

Thanks for your help! If I were to just go to the town of Narita, how much time could I expect it to take to get there? How much time should I allow to get back?

Thanks

The town of Narita is adjacent to Narita airport, as the name suggests http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

5-10 minutes? I never really timed it. Even by taxi it should be less than $10.

I highly reccommend taking a look at
Mike Newman's Narita Layover Page.

I found it to be amazingly wonderful resource!

Here's my NRT Layover section from my trip report, All I Wanted Was a Singapore Sling

Quote:

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]

[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 03-05-2002).]

Thanks chexfan! That was an excellent trip report and an excellent reference site. Sounds like 7 hours should be enough to look around Narita.

Thanks again,

win1300

you're welcome. enjoy. I'd love to hear how your layover turns out!

With the help of that guide, the layover went great! Except for the long immigration lines, it wsa quite simple to get into town. Wasn't a whole lot to see, but it was interesting to visit a Japanese town for a first time.

Thanks again for the help!

win1300

Quote:

Originally posted by win1300:
I am scheduled to arrive at NRT at 1:40 PM with a departure at 9:00 PM.

win1300, did your arrival and departure remain the same?

What time did you get back to NRT by to check in?

Quote:

Originally posted by win1300:
Wasn't a whole lot to see, but it was interesting to visit a Japanese town for a first time.

I had the exact same sentiments. Glad to hear all went well!