Narita is best known for its namesake international airport, but the city east of Tokyo, in Chiba Prefecture, offers a few things to do of its own. Although Narita’s not a major tourist destination, it’s a pleasant place to spend time if you’re waiting for a flight or have just landed and want a gentle introduction to Japan before diving head-first into Tokyo. After all, the millennia-old Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple and the traditional Narita Omotesando street offer glimpses into old Japan that are harder to find in the futuristic capital.
Most travelers visit Narita on the way to or from the airport. If you’re traveling in spring, summer, or fall, make sure to spend some time in Naritasan Park, where there are attractive seasonal plants, including cherry and plum trees and azaleas. A drum festival is held at Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple in late April, while in the summer, the Sogo Reido Sanctuary holds a colorful hydrangea festival.
Narita is about 4 miles (7 kilometers) west of Narita International Airport. To get to the city, take the Keisei Main Line between Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station and Keisei Narita Station; the journey takes about 20 minutes. Narita itself is best explored on foot, as the attractions are quite close together. Narita Omotesando, one of Narita’s main attractions, is just west of Keisei Narita Station and leads up to Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple and Naritasan Park.
If you plan to explore Narita during a layover or before your departure from the airport, you’ll want to leave enough time to get back to the airport, check in (if necessary), and go through security. Some layover tours make it simple to visit Narita with limited time. It’s also easy to visit independently, but make sure you take the right train, as a couple of lines serve different airport terminals.
