Exploring Narita Airport: What To See And Experience

Narita International Airport is located about 60km from central Tokyo, and is one of the biggest airports in Japan and one of the busiest in the world. If you're looking for things to do and see around the airport, there are plenty of options, both inside and outside.

If you're staying inside the airport, you can enjoy various art exhibitions, including works featuring the airport, spatial presentations by artists and museums, Japanese paintings, and digital signs. There are also events for visitors to experience Japanese culture, such as cherry blossoms, origami, and kimonos. You can also download the NariCo app, which will offer you all kinds of advice on things to eat, shop or do. There are 88 restaurants, cafes and bars across the three terminals, and most of these are washoku-oriented. There are also observation decks in Terminals 1 and 2, where you can watch planes taking off, landing, and taxiing.

If you're looking to venture outside the airport, the town of Narita is close by, and the city of Narita is only a 20-minute train ride away. Here, you can visit Naritasan Park, a leafy area with a Buddhist temple, and Omotesando, the main drag, where you can enjoy a meal, shop for souvenirs, or simply people-watch. If you have a longer layover, you could head into Tokyo, which is about an hour away by train. Here, you can visit top sights such as the Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Senso-ji Temple, and the world-class Edo-Tokyo Museum.

Art exhibitions and cultural events

Narita International Airport offers a variety of art exhibitions and cultural events for travellers to enjoy. The airport features various artworks, including spatial presentations by artists and museums, Japanese paintings, and digital signs.

One notable art exhibition at the airport is the Art Promenade, which showcases artworks in unexpected areas, providing a unique way to experience the airport. The Tokyo National Museum also curates a Mini Gallery of Japanese Art in Terminal 1, featuring artists such as Eriko Horiki.

For those interested in Japanese theatre culture, the airport offers daily cultural experiences, including trying on yukata or traditional armour, ikebana exhibitions, and dance performances. The Kabuki Experience Gallery & Shop in Terminal 1 offers a glimpse into the traditional art form, displaying costumes and wigs used in performances. Visitors can also try on traditional kabuki makeup with the Kabuki Face Photo Booth app.

The airport also hosts events that highlight unique aspects of Japanese culture, such as cherry blossoms, origami, and kimono. These events provide travellers from overseas with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Japan. Traditional Japanese garden exhibits and dance performances, such as the "Renjishi", are also featured at the airport.

Whether you're passing through or looking for a unique cultural experience, Narita International Airport offers a diverse range of art exhibitions and cultural events to enrich your travel experience.

Observation decks

Narita International Airport has observation decks in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. These offer fantastic views of the airport, with the chance to see planes taking off, landing, taxiing, and parked. The observation decks are open from 6:30 am to 9 pm from April to September and 7 am to 9 pm from October to March. Telescopes are available on both decks, allowing you to get a closer look at the aircraft.

There is also an outdoor observation area on the fourth floor, next to Lawson's, where you can watch planes taking off and landing.

Japanese snacks and souvenirs

Narita Airport offers a wide range of Japanese snacks and souvenirs to cater to different tastes and preferences. Here is a detailed list of some of the must-buy items:

Exclusive Japanese Sweets:

• Golden Castella/Fujisan: This is a unique sweet highlighted by a slather of gold leaf and shaped like Mount Fuji. It is available at Tokyo Shokuhinkan in Terminal 2.
• Hello Kitty Apple Cake: This is a collaboration between Tokyo Banana and Hello Kitty, featuring Kitty's cute face baked onto a spongy cake with apple preserves inside. It is exclusive to Narita Airport and can be found at Fa-So-La stores in all terminals.
• Assortment of Yokan: This set includes five types of yokan, a traditional Japanese sweet made with red beans and agar agar. One of them is a special white azuki bean yokan called "Sora no Tabi" (journey through the sky), which is only available at Narita and Haneda Airports. You can buy it at Tokyo Shokuhinkan in Terminals 1 and 2.

Limited-Edition Snacks:

• Kit Kat: Narita Airport is famous for its unique Kit Kat flavours, such as matcha, strawberry cheese, Tokyo banana, "Hokkaido Melon", and "Uji matcha tea" (exclusive to the airport). You can find them at BLUE SKY in Terminal 2.
• Pocky PREMIÈRE CLASS: This is a high-end version of Pocky chocolate sticks, featuring matcha green tea and chocolate flavours made with the finest Uji green tea. They are available in Terminal 1.
• Shiroi Koibito: These cookies are made with white chocolate sandwiched between a moist dough and are a popular souvenir. You can find them at ANA DUTY-FREE SHOP in Terminal 1 and BLUE SKY in Terminal 2.

Traditional Crafts and Stationery:

• Itoya: This famous stationery shop from Ginza offers unique items such as the FriXion Erasable Pen. It is located in Terminal 2, 4F.
• Fukusaya's Nagasaki Castella Cake: These cakes come in exclusive airport packaging and make a convenient souvenir. You can find them after customs in Terminal 1.

Duty-Free and Exclusive Items:

• LA GANACHE homme and LA GANACHE femme: These are airport-limited flavours of crunch chocolate from Shiseido Parlor, available in Terminal 1.
• Double Chocolate Cake: This luxurious cake is made with organic ingredients and can be found in Terminals 2 and 3.

Local Specialties:

• Peanut Monaka: These peanut-filled treats are unique to Chiba and can be purchased at BLUE SKY in Terminal 2 or Tokyo Shokuhinkan in Terminal 1.
• ISHIYA's Saqu Chocolate-filled Cookies: These cookies come in unique flavours like Hokkaido cheese and white wine, and can be found after customs in Terminal 1.

Local attractions

Narita International Airport is located about 60km from central Tokyo, within Narita City. If you have a long enough layover, it's worth heading out to explore the nearby attractions.

Short Layover (under 8 hours)

• Naritasan Shinshoji Temple – This large and popular Buddhist temple was built during the 10th century and is a great place to learn about the history of Japan. There are several buildings to explore and a large park to stroll through. It takes about 25-35 minutes to get to the temple from the airport.
• AEON Mall – This outlet mall offers a unique shopping experience with some of the most interesting and fun shops in Japan. There's also a supermarket for affordable snacks. The mall is a 20-minute bus ride from the airport.
• Sora no Yu Narita Airport Onsen – This natural hot spring is located just 4km from the airport and has a hot stone spa, bedrock baths, restaurants, a gym, and open-air baths on the roof. There's also a capsule hotel here if you need a place to stay.
• Kawatoyo – Try the famous local eel rice dish at this hidden gem of a restaurant. Watch the chefs roast eels on open grills and staff prepare skewers along Narita-san Omotesando street.

Long Layover (8 hours or more)

• Ueno Park – This large public space in Tokyo is full of museums, shrines, and a zoo. It's about a 1 hour and 20-minute train ride from the airport.
• Toshogu Shrine – One of the remaining structures from the original Kaneiji Temple complex, this lovely shrine in Ueno Park is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate. There's also a Botan Garden that's open during certain seasons.
• Ameyoko – This popular commercial street between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station has a wide variety of shops, ranging from food stalls to clothing stores.
• Asakusa – Known as Tokyo's "shitamachi" (traditional part of the city with Western influences), this famous district attracts many travellers for its food and sights. You can take a night foodie tour to sample delicacies like soba noodles.

There are also observation decks in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 where you can watch planes taking off and landing.

Restaurants and cafes

Narita International Airport has a combined 88 to over 90 eateries across its three terminals, so you'll be spoilt for choice. Most of these eateries are washoku-oriented, offering a great insight into local Japanese cuisine.

If you're looking for a quick bite, head to the Narita Dining Terrace on the fourth floor of Terminal 1, where you'll find six Japanese restaurants specialising in soba, sushi, teishoku (set meals), and dashi-chazuke. All of these restaurants are open from 8 am to 8 pm, so you can easily grab a bite before your flight. If you're flying from Terminal 3, the standing sushi bar Tatsu Sushi is a great option, where you can watch the sushi being prepared in front of you.

For those with longer layovers, there are plenty of sit-down restaurants serving Japanese cuisine, including sushi, ramen, and other noodle dishes. You'll also find Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Korean, and Thai food, as well as Western options. Cafes, bars, and to-go kiosks are also available throughout the airport.

If you're looking for specific recommendations, Sushi Kyotatsu, Blue Sky Miso Kitchen, and Goemon are popular choices. For Western options, there's always Starbucks, Subway, and McDonald's. For overnight travellers, Yoshinoya in Terminal 2 is open 24 hours.

For those with a longer layover who want to explore outside the airport, the nearby city of Narita has plenty of dining options. You can try the famous local eel rice dish at Kawatoyo, a hidden gem serving up unique and delicious meals.

Frequently asked questions