Narita Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Narita (成田; [1]) is a city in Chiba prefecture, Japan, some 70 kilometers to the northeast of Tokyo.
Contents |
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 were experimenting with conducting short tours for passengers with layovers at Narita Airport, but this seems to have ended.
Get in
By plane
Narita Airport (成田空港 Narita-kūkō, NRT), 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). 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. Foreign airlines operate out of either terminal, with Japanese carriers ANA and JAL operating out of terminals 1 and 2, respectively.
The South Wing of Terminal 1 opened in June of 2006, and now most airlines in the Star Alliance (e.g. ANA, United, Air Canada) operate out of that section (although Air New Zealand operates from Terminal 2). Under a reorganization plan, carriers in the other two major airline alliances will be grouped together by Spring 2007: the Skyteam Alliance (e.g. Continental, Delta, Northwest) will operate out of the North Wing of Terminal 1, and the OneWorld Alliance (e.g. American, British Airways, JAL) will operate out of Terminal 2. Check the airport's website just prior to your departure to determine the terminal you will arrive at. On the way to the airport, there are also lists (in English) posted near the doors of trains going to Narita.
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 a first-time visitor, suffering jet-lag, laden with luggage and holding a reservation for a major hotel, the easiest option is often to take the Limousine Bus direct to the 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 helicopter
If you're really in a hurry, Narita Heli Express [2] will whisk you to or from Tokyo Heliport (in Shin-Kiba) in just 20 minutes. For a lone passenger, the regular fare of ¥30,000 per person compares favorably with taxis (which says more about taxis than the helicopter).
When making a journey-time comparison with other transport methods, one should take account of the time required to travel between one's point of origin and the heliport in Shin-Kiba and the time taken for travel between the helipad at Narita airport and the relevant termnal building. For a journey from the Tokyo station area to Narita Terminal 2, the time difference may be 20 minutes or less.
By train
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Travelling to Narita City?
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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) [3] 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 sometimes 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. Other times, the entire train goes just to one of these destinations. Be sure to confirm where the train is going when buying your ticket. Reservations are required but can be purchased just before boarding if there is space (and there usually is). If there is no space, JR will sell standing tickets for ¥500 less.
JR also operates Rapid trains on the Sobu/Narita line, leaving once per hour and stopping at various points along the way, including Chiba. 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 Narita 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 [4] 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 20 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 Narita Express train services (¥3,000/person), 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.
The Airport Limousine buses make three pickup stops (Terminal 1 North Wing, Terminal 1 South Wing, Terminal 2) and two dropoff stops (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2).
By taxi
A taxi to central Tokyo is extremely expensive, on the order of ¥30000 if you hail one directly by yourself (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. Flat fare taxi cabs to Tokyo go for around ¥17000-19000 from special taxi ranks, but even so, 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). [5]. 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
If you are going into Narita, make sure to get some Japanese ¥ as most places will not take foreign currency. Also allow a bit of time for exchanging back leftover currency on departure as this is not something you can do at an ATM!
Buy
Not that much. There is a large Aeon shopping mall outside of town, which you can get to by bus, if you absolutely have to visit a branch of the sporting goods store "The Sports Authority." There are souvenir stores on the road leading to the temple, as well as a reasonably interesting "100 yen" store -- which actually sells items for ¥105 including consumption tax -- along the way. Still, everything should be cheaper than at the airport.
- LaOX (ラオックス), Yourelm 3F, Kozu-no-Mori 4-5-3 (next to Keisei Kozu-no-Mori stn). A branch of Japan's biggest electronics chain, which also handles duty-free sales — although finding an English speaker will be hit or miss. Fairly convenient location one station further down from Keisei Narita, just note that express trains do not stop here.
Eat
- Papas is one good 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
- Barge-Inn, Omote-sandō (the road leading to the temple), [6] Great pub serving western-style food, plus local & international beers. Every Saturday there's live music and/or dancing.
- The JetLag Club, [7]. About 50yds round the corner from the Barge, there's another watering hole run by a Belgium guy, Vince. The beer's great, and the atmosphere is really friendly. Free popcorn is provided, as well as a delivery service from 'Papas'.
- The Truck. You can get a free bus from outside the Barge to the 'Truck' which features more drinking and Karaoke. Aparently, it used to actually be a 'Truck', but now it more of a 'room'! Anyway, great fun once in a while!
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), [8]. 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.
- Mercure Hotel Narita, 818-1 Hanazaki-cho, Narita (Short walk from Keisei Narita and JR Narita stations), 476-23-7000 (FAX: 476-23-3911), [9]. Offers good, reasonably priced accommodation, with friendly staff, happy to speak English. It has a small but good selection of restaurants, and there's also a good bar, with TV, Pool Table, Internet Access etc.
Get out
If you have more than 8 hours to spare, you should seriously consider making the effort to visit Tokyo itself, although with limited time it really is best if you plan where you will go in advance of arriving at the airport.
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