Exploring Narita Airport: Things To Do And See

Narita International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Japan, with millions of travellers passing through each year. If you find yourself with a long layover, there are plenty of ways to pass the time, both inside and outside the airport.

Explore Japanese culture

Narita International Airport is located in Narita City, which is about 60km from central Tokyo. Narita has a lot to offer when it comes to exploring Japanese culture, and you can easily head out to discover nearby attractions.

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

A large and popular Buddhist temple, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is a great place to visit if you're interested in the cultural and spiritual side of Japan. The temple has a history of over 1000 years, with various halls, pagodas, and a park that blends Japanese and European elements. It's a 20-minute walk from JR Narita Station, and you'll want to allocate 2-3 hours to make the trip worthwhile.

Omotesando

Omotesando is an 800-meter-long street leading to the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, with over 150 souvenir shops and restaurants. The speciality of the area is eel cuisine, with many restaurants specialising in this unique dish. The street also offers a glimpse of traditional architecture from the Taisho and Showa periods.

Narita Market

If you're an early bird, Narita Market is a great place to visit. With a similar atmosphere to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, Narita Market offers a lively setting with fresh seafood, vegetables, and fruits. It's a 15-minute journey from the airport via the Keisei line and a 10-minute walk.

Boso-no-Mura Open Air Museum

This open-air museum showcases the old Japanese landscape, including houses and cultural displays from the Edo period. You can join activities like craft workshops and cooking classes to recreate traditional Edo-period food. It's a 45-minute journey via public bus and walking.

Sawara Area

Sawara is a historic town surrounded by rivers that used to function as a delivery centre connecting to Tokyo. Here, you can enjoy traditional Japanese scenery and visit the Katori Shrine, dedicated to the god of peace. It's a 30-minute train ride from the airport.

Sora no Yu Narita Airport Onsen

For a relaxing experience, visit Sora no Yu Narita Airport Onsen, a natural hot spring facility located just 4km from the airport. Enjoy the healing waters, hot stone spa, bedrock baths, and open-air baths on the roof.

Kabuki Gate

At the airport itself, you can explore the Kabuki Gate, a kabuki-themed gallery and shop that introduces you to this traditional Japanese art form. You can try on costumes, get your photo taken with kabuki-style makeup, and purchase souvenirs.

Japanese Garden at Narita Excel Tokyu

At the Narita Excel Tokyu Hotel, you can take a stroll through a small Japanese garden with seasonal blooms and a koi pond, offering a peaceful escape.

Museum of Aeronautical Sciences

If you're fascinated by aviation, the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences is a short distance from the airport. It features real aircraft, simulators, hands-on activities, and replicas of historic planes. The rooftop observation deck offers a unique view of the exhibits and the runway.

With so much to offer, Narita Airport and its surroundings provide a wonderful opportunity to delve into Japanese culture, nature, and history.

Visit the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences

The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences is a great place to visit if you're in Narita Airport. It is an aviation museum located just outside the airport at the southern end of its main runway. The museum is interesting for both plane enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts, with a wide range of aircraft on display, as well as simulators and other interactive activities.

The museum offers an authentic exhibition of how airplanes work, with large exhibits of engine internals, fuselage and wing cross-sections. You can also explore full-scale replicas of historic planes and components of modern planes, such as the landing gear and engine of a Boeing 747.

The museum's outdoor exhibition area features over a dozen aircraft, mostly smaller propeller planes and helicopters, which you can get up close to and even enter. You can also try piloting a plane using one of the museum's life-sized simulators, including a refurbished pilot training simulator.

The museum's third floor features an outdoor observation deck with a view of the southern end of the airport's runway, while the fourth floor houses a restaurant, and the fifth floor has an indoor observatory modelled after a flight control tower. Both observation areas and the restaurant offer excellent views of planes taking off and landing.

To get to the museum from the airport, you can take either a JR bus or a Narita Airport Transport bus. The JR buses depart from Terminals 1 and 2 about once every 1-3 hours, while the Narita Airport Transport buses depart about hourly from Terminal 2. The bus fare is 220 yen one way, and the journey takes about 15 minutes.

Shop and eat at the airport

Narita International Airport has a lot to offer when it comes to shopping and dining. With three terminals to explore, you'll have plenty of options to keep yourself occupied during your layover.

Shopping

If you're looking for souvenirs, each terminal has a variety of shops that sell unique items related to aviation and Narita. You can find fluffy pilot-themed Pikachus and cabin attendant Pikachus at the Pokémon Store in Terminal 2, or check out the toed socks embroidered with planes at Tabio on the Ground (Terminal 1, 4F). There are also duty-free shops where you can purchase Japanese confections, fashion brands, and unique delicacies. Fa-So-La Tax-Free Akihabara in Terminal 2 is a popular choice for these items.

For stationery lovers, Traveler's Factory Airport on the fourth floor of Terminal 1 offers carefully selected stationery, notebooks, and sundries, some of which are exclusive to Narita Airport. The Museum of Aeronautical Science shop in Terminal 1 is a haven for airplane enthusiasts, with plane models, toys, and various aviation-related items.

If you're looking for electronics, Air BicCamera in Terminal 2 has a wide variety of home appliances, and you can find Japanese products at MUGI TO OLIVE-ROUSOKUYA in Terminal 2 as well.

Dining

When it comes to dining, you're spoilt for choice with a combined 88 restaurants, cafes, and bars across the three terminals. Most of these offer traditional Japanese cuisine, known as washoku. The Narita Dining Terrace on the fourth floor of Terminal 1 is a great place to start, with six Japanese restaurants specialising in dishes like soba, sushi, teishoku, and dashi-chazuke.

If you're in Terminal 3, the standing sushi bar Tatsu Sushi is a good option, where you can watch the sushi being prepared in front of you. Botejyu Yatai in Terminal 3 serves Kansai cuisine, including okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and takoyaki, while Sendai Tan-ya Rikyu is the place to go for gyutan (beef tongue) cuisine.

For those with dietary restrictions, there are also halal and vegetarian options available throughout the airport.

So, whether you're looking for a quick bite, a traditional Japanese meal, or some last-minute shopping, Narita International Airport has plenty to keep you entertained and satisfied during your layover.

Relax at Sora no Yu Narita Airport Onsen

If you're looking to unwind during your layover at Narita International Airport, the Sora no Yu Narita Airport Onsen is the perfect spot. This natural hot spring facility is conveniently located just 4km from the airport, with a free shuttle bus service available for travellers with large luggage. The hot spring water is a strong salt spring rich in iodine, giving it a smooth and velvety feel. The facility offers a range of relaxation and lodging options, including a hot stone spa, bedrock baths, restaurants, a gym, a relaxation area, and open-air baths on the roof.

One unique feature of Sora no Yu is the open-air bath with a view of airplanes. A flight recorder installed next to the bathtub allows you to check the direction and proximity of incoming planes. The sauna is set at 90 degrees Celsius for men and 85 degrees Celsius for women, with a daily changing herbal sauna available in the women's sauna. The facility also offers a variety of indoor bathing options, including daily changing baths and a large rock bath that can accommodate up to 26 people.

For those seeking privacy, Sora no Yu offers private baths that can be rented by families or groups of friends. These private baths have an attached Japanese-style room, and meals from the first-floor restaurant can be ordered and enjoyed in this space. Futons can also be rented to create a ryokan-like experience.

The second floor of Sora no Yu is dedicated to relaxation, featuring a manga corner with 8,000 books, a resting area with views of airplanes, and a napping area with a wood stove and comfortable cushions. Cafe&Bar Kiraboshi on the second floor serves beer, soft drinks, light meals, and desserts, including the popular handmade smoothies.

Sora no Yu also offers a range of other activities, such as karaoke, yoga, bicycle rental, bouldering, simulation golf, and table tennis. The capsule hotel provides spacious rooms with custom-made mattresses and down comforters, ensuring a comfortable stay for travellers with early morning or late-night plans.

Take a shuttle to Aeon Mall

If you're looking to get out of the airport and do some shopping, hop on a shuttle to Aeon Mall. Located just a 15-minute shuttle bus ride away, Aeon Mall offers a unique shopping experience you won't find at the airport.

To get to the mall, simply head to the Station Bus Loop #6 Bus Stop at the airport and jump on the shuttle bus bound for Aeon Mall Narita. The shuttle will drop you off at the 1F Entrance G of the mall. It's a good idea to check the shuttle schedule in advance, as times may change, and you don't want to be stuck with an unexpected delay.

Aeon Mall is home to Shisui Premium Outlets, where you'll find a wide variety of interesting and fun shops, as well as a supermarket for any last-minute snacks or supplies you may need for your flight. If you're looking for a more traditional Japanese shopping experience, you can also try on yukata (summer kimonos) or browse the aviation-themed souvenirs at the airport itself.

The mall is open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, giving you plenty of time to explore and stock up on all your needs. Whether you're looking for fashion, electronics, or simply a bite to eat, Aeon Mall has something for everyone. And with direct buses running to and from the airport, it's an easy and convenient way to pass the time during your layover at Narita Airport.

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