To be exact, we have 23 hours and 55 minutes in NRT. We were in Tokyo last fall and LOVED it. Actually, we loved all of Japan. It has to be one of the most hospitable pleasant countries on the planet to visit.

We're laying over in NRT on our return from China. I could not do a stop-over for a longer time because of the restrictions on our ff seats. 23 hours and 55 min was as long as I could swing.

Any suggestion on how to best spend the time? From what I've read, I'm thinking that visiting the city of Narita rather than going into Tokyo is the way to go. I'm pretty sure DH has Tokyo in mind.

We've previously done Tokyo Disneyland, Asakusa area and Senso-ji. We've explored the shopping options and had great meals. I could revisit any of those places in a heartbeat but I'm not sure if that's the best use of our time.

I welcome any ideas! Thanks, in advance!

I'm sure Narita will get old after 23 hours. Visit a new part of Tokyo! It's only an hour's train ride away and there's so much to see. What's your exact timing?

If you've only been around Asakusa, I would pay a visit to Ginza, Tsukiji, Shiodome and that part of town, which is all within walking distance of Tokyo Station if you have good legs. It's a good composite of the old and contemporary Japan, I think, and there are many good and so-so hotels in that area where you can stay.

Going from Tokyo Tower to Roppongi Hills through Azabu-Juban is also a nice walking tour of the ritzier part of Tokyo (you'll probably bump into some American investment bankers' families en route), and there are plenty of neat shops and eateries along the way...

We have numerous threads on layovers at Narita at the Japan forum here on Flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=509

I'm sure you can find plentiful information to help you plan your layover.
Example this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=639057

I agree with railroad tycoon, check out the many posts in the Japan Forum on this topic.

It really depends on when your <24 hours is during the day. Do you intend to check into a hotel and sleep part of the time or just do an all-nighter and stay up the whole time? That 24- hours is actually less than 21 hours when you subtract an hour or so to exit immigration, change some money and get on a train and another 2 hours back at the airport in advance of your onward flight. If you will have some daytime but will be sleeping the night before your departure, I strongly suggest that you go with your instincts and stay in Narita. There are lots of very reasonable hotels, several decent restaurants, a very nice temple and garden area and pretty decent shopping street. Narita is probably not a good choice for a multi-day stay, but for 12-14 hours plus a hotel night it is not bad. And you won't have any time pressures getting back to the airport.

Going into Tokyo you have to subtract another 2.5 +/- hours for transportation and navigating stations, so would have 10-12 hours or so to actually see anything. If you do this, I agree that you should consider seeing some of the more modern areas of Tokyo to compliment the older parts you have already seen. Ginza, the Imperial Palace area, Shibuya or Shinjuku are worth a visit. Depending on what day you are there, Harajuku can be fun but most days is just a pain. There are lots of choices for a full day.

I'm getting older and slowing down, so in similar circumstances, I'd love a nice relaxing day in and around Narita, a couple of good Japanese meals and an easy, rested return to the airport for another long flight. YMMV.

Join us in the Japan Forum and check out the threads.

JR

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Japan Forum
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

First of all, thanks and my apologies. I didn't even realize there was a Japan forum. I normally don't make it past the Mileage Run forums. I went to the initial list of forums and took the first one that made sense. Duh! I should have read the entire list. Again, my apologies!

The timing of our NRT layover is from 2:15 pm until 2:10 pm the next day. We did get a good rate at the Radisson Narita and we do plan on getting some sleep. Otherwise the flight home is going to kill us, lol! This comes at the end of a China trip where I expect to be going non-stop.

I know Toyko has a wealth of things to see and do. I loved Tokyo. What I'm trying to determine is if NRT has its own merits and worth and is worth spending the time. Thank you to those who sent me links to past threads on this subject. Again -- I'm a moron for not finding to Japan forum and doing a search.

We're comfortable on our own in Japan. We can parrot out a few Japanese phrases, enough to get around (although China will probably melt the few good language brain cells we have left). What we loved most about our trip to Japan last year was the people -- we just couldn't get over how wonderful the people were. This has got to be one of the cleanest, politest, kindest places on the planet. I'm THRILLED to have any time there at all. When we chose our flights (actually we "chose" what was left for ff award redemption) and saw that we had to connect through NRT, I knew we had to find a way to stop. We originally just had a 2 hour connection. DH would probably have to drag me kicking and screaming onto the plane and we'd takeoff with my jet-lagged tear-streak face smashed against the window. I loved Japan that much -- the thought of connecting in the airport but not being able to stop was too depressing not to find a way to visit. While the fare rules don't allow the full stop-over, 23 hrs and 55 min is better than nothing.

Since you want to get a Japan fix - rather than simply catching some sleep, I recommend staying at an inn in Narita city rather than the sterile environment of the airport hotels

Negative. Yokoso!

Given your schedule (part of an afternoon, part of a morning), I think staying in Narita is perfect.

Maybe I've been to Japan too many times, but I enjoy just hanging out in a Japanese city, poking around in the stores, trying their local foods (there's always a local food), and just seeing what I can see. Except for the proximity of the airport and a few facilities meant to attract day trippers on stopovers, Narita is a very "real" Japanese town.

Here's my suggestion:

Reserve a hotel or ryokan in Narita. I stayed at the Ohgiya, which is a member of the Japanese Inn Group, but more traditional than some.

http://www.naritakanko.jp/ohgiya/englih.html

They come and get you from either of the train stations. (I took the Keisei line, which is only about 250 yen and 15 minutes.) My room, which had a private toilet and sink and a separate sitting and lounging area, overlooked a garden. Coming off a long flight at 5:00PM, I just wanted someone to feed me, so I availed myself of the o-furo and then took the option (extra cost) of a delicious tempura dinner. The next morning, I woke up about two hours before breakfast was available, so I bought a canned coffee from the vending machine in the hall and read through the tourist information that was in the room. Breakfast (also extra) was either Western or Japanese.

Afterwards, I explored the town on foot, eventually arriving at Shinshoji temple. The buildings themselves were standard Japanese temple, but the grounds were beautifully landscaped to mimic woodlands, and I had an extremely relaxing time strolling all the paths. At lunch time, I headed toward the main business district and found a restaurant specializing in eel located just across from the tourist information center. A nearby souvenir shop was having a sale on nemaki (the cotton kimono-style garments that make excellent summer bathrobes), so I took the opportunity to replace my old one, which was practically in rags.

The last thing I did in my circle tour of the city was stop off at a Jusco (think Target) to buy a travel alarm to replace the one I had forgotten to bring. I then stopped back at the inn to pick up the luggage they were holding for me. They gave me a ride to the Keisei station, and I resumed my journey into Tokyo, refreshed and ready to face the big city.

If you stay in Narita instead of going into Tokyo, you will still definitely feel as if you have been to Japan.

Isn't the Radisson out by the airport? It occurs to me that we may not be talking about the same thing. I don't think anyone is recommending you spend your <24 hour layover at or around NRT - the airport. We are suggesting a one night stay in Narita City. Narita is a short train ride (10 minutes +/-) from the airport (NRT.) It is Narita (City) that has the charms and atttractions. Hotel Row near NRT is very sterile and has little to recommend it. It's fine if you just need a room for the night and a shuttle to/from the airport, but that is about all. It is Narita that has the temple/park, inexpensive but good Japanese restaurants, a decent shopping street and several reasonable hotels. Some will pick you up at the airport while for others you will need to take the train into town.

There are a number of inexpensive hotels in Narita. One of this forum's regular contributors (where is Lap Lap, anyway?) has posted a good review of the Comfort Hotel. It is part of the Choice Hotels group. For a selection of others from a booking site I trust, go here:

http://www.japanhotel.net/data/pref/...BA&Area=NARITA

One of those is the Omiya Ryokan mentioned in a post above.

Another listing of hotels in Narita is through the NRT website:

http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/trav...l/station.html

JR

I am talking about spending the night at/around the Narita airport because I'm really just looking for some place easy to leave my luggage. The Radisson Narita has regularly scheduled shuttles both into the town of Narita and into Tokyo. It just seemed simpler to move my body around but basically leave my luggage in/around the airport. I think the hotel is 7 miles away with a free airport shuttle. Also influencing my decision is the rate -- Radisson has some very low rates. Mistake?

whenever i've transited in nrt, i've been offered a free room in narita, but not in tokyo, which means that i usually ended up in narita,... which can be ok if you have a good attitude. if you haven't been offered a hotel by your airline, i would call and request such. otherwise, i'd go into town in a heartbeat

No, not at all. I was just concerned that you might not know there is a difference between staying at NRT and staying at Narita. Some don't.

It seems that you have thought this out pretty well. Transfer from airport to hotel, dump off luggage, free shuttle into/from Narita town, good night sleep in a decent hotel at a good price, free shuttle to airport for onward connection. Sounds fine to me.

JR

Your plan will work. (But on balance, my preference would still be for a hotel near the center of Narita city rather than out on the lonely road to the airport where I am forced to wait for shuttle buses to go anywhere - which impedes my ability to just pop down on a whim to the Seven Eleven for some niku man and haagen dazs).

For the luggage, you should be able to check your luggage through (since the stopover is just under 24 hours) so that you need not be encumbered with large suitcases for the short time in Japan.

A look at the BA forum answers your question. The Japan forum just isn't same without her and MrLapLap.