I ate at a restauranty izakaya in Narita once. Quite modern design, but pretty traditional too, especially with seating arrangements. MrLapLap were enjoying our last evening here ALONE before I returned to the UK with my parents. This was in October.

I should remember more about the place, but all my focus ended up on their fabulous oysters which were extraordinary, over and above anything we would have expected to get here and certainly at the price we paid. If anybody knows the name of this establishment I'd be very grateful - I tried to research with some Narita pages but couldn't find the name.

It turned into quite a romantic evening (MrLapLap and I were engaged at the time) and our food here was followed by a slightly inebriated stroll back to the Mercure. Whilst I certainly don't recommend a standard room at Le Mercure for a honeymooning couple, the location is incredibly convenient. It puts you near the centre of the town and, although a free shuttlebus is available, it's better not to take it and step on a train to the airport instead. If you can get the train times right you can go from hotel check out to the Terminal check in desk in 10 minutes. The reason I'm saying this is because the Mercure also has Japanese style rooms available for a premium which might provide a romantic twist for your one night in Japan. I've hardly ever seen them advertised, so you might need to call up to book one.

EDIT: I've just looked at the Wakamatsu Honten http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/ch...tsu_honten.htm
and it does look lovely (better than the Mercure)

Maybe that's a bit off-topic. But I have a bookmark (well known, I think) about what to do if you must do a layover in Narita. It contains practical information about accomodation, sleeping, eating and shopping in Narita (both airport and city), in case you decide not to go to central Tokyo

http://www.mgnewman.com/narita/

Last I was there, it was pretty _clean_ and well kept! I would agree, that the health and safety wasn't why it closed for renovations. Although I would say that particular areas of the place aren't compatiable with wheelchairs, the tables in the corners of the restaurant/bar as they're down a couple stairs.

Sanosuke!

Now what I wanna hear more about is LapLap eating oysters and then having a romantic evening in Narita. So it's true, then, all those stories about oysters being an aphrodisiac? :) :)

It was either that, or knowing that once I'd left the next day I wasn't going to be 'getting any' until Christmas :p

:o

Hey cmon, get a room
 

in Narita or elsewhere! :D

Aha
 

I was going to mention that there are sites specifically for folks with time to kill at Narita, and there it is! Magic. Didn't you take the site down for a few months as some kind of protest?

OP's plan sounds like a lot of tiring work for little return. Is there anything perhaps in another non-Tokyo direction worth a short train ride?

I've finally found the information I was looking for. See here: http://www.crisscross.com/jp/news/375781. It was the banqueting service not the New York Grill that was closed down (temporarily) after a food poisoning incident. Sorry for the confusion.

Aah. For that, you shall sit seiza and bow low for a few hours, in penance. Imagine that, casting aspersions and besmirching the place!

The link to this information is also in the Sticky that sits like a kindly croaking tree frog at the top of the Japan Forum (post nmber 2 under the helpful title: How to handle a layover at Narita: - I hope jib71 isn't starting to think it was a waste of time working on this!)

Mike Newson withdrew the site as he was disgusted at the seemingly rascist treament inflicted on his Thai girlfriend by the immigration authorities at NRT - they regularly deny shore passes to many Asians. I'm not surprised he got angry - his advice is supposed to be for everyody. Not just 'Westeners'.

I'm sorry for the repetition. I read the sticky post (good compilation job!) when joined the forums, but I didn't remember this part. I found Mike's link in google...

siofont, I'm sorry you may have thought that was directed at you.

I was suggesting that some of our more 'veteran' posters should perhaps have become a little more familiar with jib71's opus by now.

It was nice of you, and certainly relevant, to post this link.

My apologies for the acerbic comment.

LapLap, as you said before... 'no passa res' (although I know there is strict rules in some forums). Thanks!

Thanks!
 

Thanks everyone for all your help! Looks like there's no truly clear consensus, so I'll have to ponder, but I really appreciate all the input!

Only if you feel the need for a $14 Coke.