Narita

From MaxTravelz

Narita (成田; ) is a city in Chiba prefecture, Japan, some 70 kilometers to the northeast of Tokyo.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.2.1 JR line 2.2.2 Keisei line 2.3 By bus 2.4 By taxi 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 9.1 Mid-range 10 Get out

Understand

The vast majority of Narita's visitors come there for one reason only: Narita Airport, Tokyo's international gateway. But there are a few attractions in the vicinity if you have a short layover and don't want to waste 2-3 hours of it on the long hike to Tokyo.

Narita Airport and Japan Tourism are conducting trial tours for passengers with layovers at Narita Airport (see "Get Out").

Get in

By plane

Narita Airport (成田空港 Narita-kūkō, NRT), inconveniently located nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, is Japan's largest international airport. The airport is generally modern and efficient, but sometimes overcrowded (particularly at immigration) and not necessarily the best introduction to Japan. Security is rather heavy, especially when coming in, due to continuing controversy over land expropriated for the airport.

The airport has two terminals connected by both train and bus. Major foreign airlines (e.g. United, British Airways) operate out of Terminal 1. Japanese carriers JAL and ANA currently operate out of Terminal 2 along with a handful of other international airlines. Starting from June 2, 2006, a new wing will open at Terminal 1, and ANA, along with all airlines in the Star Alliance, will operate out of Terminal 1.

There are Citibank cash machines that accept international ATM/credit cards once you leave customs on the arrivals floor of both terminals.

There are many ways to travel between Narita Airport and central Tokyo. For the first-time visitor, especially if jet-lagged or laden with luggage, almost certainly the easiest option is the Limousine Bus direct to your hotel. A close second is taking one of the express trains to Tokyo or Ueno Station and then transferring to a taxi for the final leg.

By train

Travelling to Narita City? If you are travelling to Narita City from Tokyo, the JR Line will take you from Tokyo Station to Narita station in about 70 minutes at a cost of ¥1110. The Keisei Line has more frequent departures from Keisei Ueno station, reaching Narita in about 60 minutes at a cost of ¥810. If you are travelling to Narita City from Narita Airport, the Keisei Line has more frequent departures (3 trains per hour) than the JR Line (1 train per hour). The Keisei fare is ¥320 and the travel time is 10 minutes. Few Narita Express trains stop at Narita station. Four trains going to Tokyo stop at Narita station in the morning, and four trains coming from Tokyo stop at Narita in the evening.

There are two train lines from Narita and both will get you into Tokyo. Note that if coming to the airport, each terminal has its own station and it is imperative that you get off at the right one. The stop for Terminal 1 is Narita Airport (成田空港), and the stop for Terminal 2 is, appropriately, Airport Terminal 2 (空港第２ビル), pronounced kūkō dai-ni biru, or literally, "Airport Number 2 Building". Lists of airlines and their terminals are posted inside the trains.

JR line

From Narita Airport, the fastest and most expensive way (by rail) into Tokyo is the Japan Railways (JR) Narita Express (N'EX) into central Tokyo Station. The ride takes 55 minutes, costs ¥2,940 and offers the best connections to Shinkansen (bullet train) services or the JR Yamanote loop line. Trains run every half-hour during peak hours, hourly off-peak. As of December 2005, smoking is not allowed on Narita Express trains.

Alternatively, you can continue onward in the same train, which splits in two with the front half heading west to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Omiya, while the rear cars go south to Shinagawa, Yokohama and Ofuna. If you opt for this, be sure to confirm this when buying your ticket. Reservations are required but can be purchased just before boarding if there is space (and there usually is).

JR also operates Rapid trains on the Sobu/Narita line, leaving once per hour. To Tokyo the trip is approximately 82 minutes and costs ¥1,280. These are normal, non-smoking commuter trains and often get crowded during rush hour (though boarding at Nartia Airport should not be a problem).

If you have a voucher for a JR pass, then you should exchange it here at the JR View Plaza Travel Service Center (Regular JR ticket counter when the View Plaza is closed), as the Narita Express is free with a Japan Rail Pass. You can also make onward reservations from Tokyo.

Keisei line

The private Keisei (京成) line has trains to central Tokyo and a few that go directly to Haneda airport.

Keisei's Skyliner with reserved seats costs ¥1920 and goes directly from Narita Airport to Ueno or Nippori in one hour. Smoking is permitted in the train's end cars (car 1 and car 8).

At Keisei Ueno Station, you can walk over to JR Ueno station to connect to the JR Yamanote line and northbound Shinkansen trains. A faster transfer to the Yamanote line can be done at Nippori Station, as both Keisei and JR share one station.

The budget option is the limited express Keisei train, which costs ¥1000 to go to Ueno and Nippori. The limited express takes about 15 minutes longer than the Skyliner and can be crowded at rush hour, although boarding at Narita is rarely a problem. No smoking is permitted on these trains, and the Passnet card (see Tokyo/Get around) can be used.

Note that most, but not all limited express trains go to Ueno and Nippori, so check the train's destination before boarding. A few Keisei trains run through to the Toei Asakusa subway line. One early morning train even goes all the way to Haneda Airport. But in most cases, you can take a limited express train to Aoto station, and switch to the train across the platform for service on the Asakusa subway line.

The Asakusa subway line can be used for going to Asakusa (75 minutes from Narita, ¥1120) and Ginza (Higashi-Ginza station, 90 minutes, ¥1160). Using a Passnet card will prove to be convenient.

By bus

There is also a network of Airport Limousine shuttle buses that serve most major hubs within Tokyo, stopping at major hotels, as well as some suburbs. Prices are comparable to the express train services, but are convenient for the first-time traveler as they take you directly to your hotel. The Airport Limousine is also the best way to transfer to Haneda Airport. The journey to most points in central Tokyo takes 90 minutes or so, but watch out in rush hour (especially on the way to the airport) as there may be traffic jams.

By taxi

A taxi to central Tokyo is extremely expensive, on the order of ¥30000 (equivalent to a few nights stay in the average Tokyo hotel), and you are more likely to get stuck in a traffic jam than save any time. If you're in a hurry, it's generally much faster and cheaper to take the Narita Express or the Skyliner, and change to a taxi upon arriving in Tokyo or Ueno. If you're not in a hurry, consider the airport limousine bus.

Get around

See

• Naritasan Shinshō-ji Temple (成田山新勝寺). . Said to date back to 800 AD, the large temple has a wide assortment of classical Japanese pagodas and halls and a pleasant quasi-European park. Half the fun is getting there: the kilometer-long Omote-sandō from Narita station is a giant shopping arcade filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. Directions are available from the airport's Tourist Information Desk.

Do

Buy

Eat

• Papas is the best place to eat in Narita. It's a wee place not far from the main 'Sando' street, which only holds about 16 people. But the food is great (Japanese-style 'izakaya' type food, or 'Sets' at Yen 1500 for drink, starter and choice of main meal) and the service from Mama-san and Papa-san is first-rate. He speaks great English too!
• Cafe Le Bon, very close to Narita-san temple. Popular despite relatively late opening hours. It consists of one upper room with a semi circle of hot plates, on which your food is cooked in front of you. The menu consists of one item: an all-you-can-eat meal including a huge drink, roasted vegetables, gyoza, oriental chicken, chips and ice cream, for around ¥1000. Stuffy and hot, but extremely welcoming, friendly, quick, and the food is delicious.

Drink

Sleep

Narita has a large number of hotels in the vicinity and they are often cheaper than hotels in central Tokyo thus it may be worthwhile staying out at the airport on your first/last night. If you want to get a cheap rate, however, do book in advance as rates and availability for walk up customers are highly variable.

Mid-range

• Comfort Hotel Narita, 968 Hanazaki-cho, Narita (Short walk from Keisei Narita and JR Narita stations), 476-24-6311 (FAX: 476-24-6321). Check in 3PM, Check out 10 AM. Singles from ¥5800, Twins from ¥6800, Doubles from ¥6500. Free continental breakfast. From Narita Airport, take the Keisei Line Tokkyū train (about 3 departures per hour) to Keisei Narita station. Take the east exit, walk across the overpass, and the hotel will be on the left side. You can catch Skyliner trains from Keisei Narita station to Nippori and Ueno throughout the day, as well as Narita Express trains from nearby JR Narita station to Tokyo station during the morning.

Get out

• Mike Newman's Narita Layover Page is a comprehensive guide to Narita city geared toward the traveler with plenty of time to spare between flights.

• If you have more than 6 hours to spare, you should certainly make the effort to see Tokyo itself.

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