This Way to Narita City

GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

NARITA AT A GLANCE

When people visiting Tokyo hear the word “Narita”, most will think of the airport. For many people, that’s all Narita is. Known for being the primary international gateway into Japan’s capital, some even think that Narita Airport is in Tokyo, but it’s actually in Narita City in Chiba Prefecture, roughly 60 km (37.3 miles) east of central Tokyo.

Narita City has a population of around 179,000 people¹. Beyond its airport, it’s best known for Naritasan Shinsho-ji, one of Japan’s most important Buddhist temples. The city is also celebrated for its centuries-old tradition of serving unagi or freshwater eel.

WHERE TO STAY Near NARITA Airport

You can find a hotel near Narita International Airport on Booking.com or Agoda. Listed below are a few highly-rated recommendations:

I’m partial to the Toyoko Inn chain of business hotels, so my hotel of choice is Toyoko Inn Narita Airport Shinkan. Not only do they offer a good breakfast buffet, but they also provide a free shuttle service between the hotel and the airport.

THINGS TO DO IN NARITA

Explore Naritasan Omotesando

Meaning “main approach” or “front entrance”, the term Omotesando refers to the principal street leading to an important religious site. It’s typically lined with souvenir shops and restaurants catering to people making their way to the temple or shrine.

In Narita City, you’ll find a long, atmospheric Omotesando leading to Naritasan Shinsho-ji. Filled with shops selling traditional Japanese crafts, it isn’t as interesting as Oharaimachi in Ise-Shima, or as much fun as Nakamise-dori at Senso-ji, but it does have a good number of restaurants specializing in unagi.

Treat Yourself to Unagi

Unagi is one of my favorite dishes in Japanese cuisine and, by itself, a great reason to spend a night in Narita. If you’ve never had it before, it refers to charcoal-barbecued freshwater eel brushed with a sweet-savory soy-based sauce.

I only learned this recently, but Narita City has been famous for unagi for centuries. As a temple town serving pilgrims visiting Naritasan Shinsho-ji, the city developed a tradition of serving grilled freshwater eel to travelers, drawing on the abundant supply from nearby Lake Imbanuma². The tradition endured, eventually making Narita one of Japan’s most celebrated destinations for unagi.

This picture was taken at Kawatoyo, the most famous unagi restaurant in Narita.

Unagi rice meals can be a bit pricey, but if you’d like to have a taste without spending too much, there are a few shops along Naritasan Omotesando that serve small skewers of barbecued eel. It’s delicious and a must-try when in Narita.

Visit Naritasan Shinsho-ji

At the end of Naritasan Omotesando is Shinsho-ji, a sprawling Buddhist temple complex that’s been welcoming pilgrims for over a thousand years. Founded in 940, it remains one of the most important Buddhist temples in the Kanto region, receiving over ten million visitors annually³.

 

After a few days or weeks of visiting temples in Japan, you may be templed out by this point, but the spacious grounds of Naritasan Shinsho-ji make for a relaxing stroll, especially since it connects to a lovely park. I had visited over eighty temples and shrines throughout Honshu on this trip, but I still enjoyed my time at Shinsho-ji, even in the rain.

The most sacred object of worship at the temple is a statue of the Buddhist Fudo Myoo deity, which is said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi.

Take a Stroll in Naritasan Park

Naritasan Park is a beautiful, spacious park connected to Naritasan Shinsho-ji. Free to enter, it features three ponds and well-maintained walking trails that wind through gentle hills and stairways. It was pouring when I visited, which wasn’t ideal, but it did mean I had the park entirely to myself. If you’re already feeling tired from your trip, this is a great place to while away the time in better weather.

I visited at the tail end of winter, when many of the trees were still bare, but it’s easy to imagine how much more beautiful the park would be during cherry blossom season or in autumn.

Do Some Last-Minute Shopping at Aeon Mall

It’s a bit of a walk, a little over a kilometer from Naritasan Park, but if you’re feeling up to it, then you can make your way to Aeon Mall for some last-minute shopping. This suburban shopping mall is home to over 150 stores and restaurants.

Most of the shops at Aeon Mall Narita appear to be small local boutiques, but there are a few familiar brands like Muji and Village Vanguard. There’s a Saizeriya here too.

Thankfully, you don’t have to walk back to the metro station from here. Local buses connect Aeon Mall with Narita Airport and Keisei-Narita Station, and I believe some also serve nearby airport hotels.

In my case, I used my IC Card to take the bus to Narita Airport, before taking my hotel’s free airport shuttle to Toyoko Inn Narita Airport Shinkan.

NARITA LAYOVER FAQs

Is it worth spending the night near Narita Airport?

Yes, but only if your flight requires you to commute during rush hour. Tokyo’s metro during peak hours can be brutal, and it’s almost unmanageable with luggage. Spending the night before your flight at a Narita airport hotel makes for a far more comfortable and stress-free experience.

How do I get around in Narita?

Narita Airport is connected to Narita City by both JR and Keisei railway lines. Many hotels in the area also provide free bus transfers to and from the airport. A local bus network serves the area as well, so you can use Google Maps to find the routes most convenient for you.

THE FINAL SAY

There are enough points of interest in Narita City to make a layover stay worthwhile, but only if it helps you avoid a rush-hour commute. Tokyo is infinitely more interesting than Narita, so I’d rather spend my remaining hours in central Tokyo.

But if staying in Narita means getting to avoid rush hour altogether, then it’s a no-brainer. Tokyo’s metro is stressful enough as it is, but even more so when you’re trying to catch a flight.

That, and the unagi, makes a stay in Narita something I personally look forward to.

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References

1. Narita. World Population Review. (2026, June 8).
2. Isono, Mima. Unagi: A Must Try Japan’s Delicious Dish at Kawatoyo Narita City. Tiptoeing World. (2016, December 2).
3. [Naritasan Shinshoji Temple Guide] One of Chiba’s Top Spiritual Spots for Sightseeing and Great Food. Good Luck Trip. (2026, April 25).