If you have time for lay-over of more than four hours at Narita Airport, this excursion is just right for you! In this layover tour, we are going to visit nearby Narita areas such as Narita-san, Shinshoji temple and picturesque shopping streets where you can feel traditional Japanese culture. You can also enjoy strolling along Omotesando Street. At the park, you can enjoy autumn leaf coloring during November.
Narita Airport or JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita Station
I will help luggage storage and exchange currency.
Take a train from Narita Airport to Narita station (10 min)
10 min from Narita International Airport
Stroll along Omotesando street where you can browse Japanese traditional souvenirs including chop-sticks.
The highlight of this tour. There are many elegant old structures including the huge main hall, the three-storied pagoda, Nio-mon gate and Heiwa-no-toh (Tower of Peace ), some of which are designated as Japan’s important cultural properties. It is also famous for the Buddhist fire ritual called Goma ceremony conducted by monks.
Taste typical Japanese cuisine including broiled eel, tempura, ramen, sake, Yokan and Taiko-yaki
Narita Airport or JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita Station
If you have free time for three to four hours, you can visit one of the most famous and largest Buddhist temples in Japan. From Narita Airport to Narita stations, it takes only 15 minutes by train or 30 mins by bus and 10 minutes on foot.
You can walk along vintage fashion streets called Omotesando which has many small shops. This street leads to Narita-san Shinshoji temple. Along the street, there are various souvenir shops including bamboo crafts and chop sticks, local fruits, sweets, sake shops, and ramen and eel restaurants.
Naritasan Shinsjoji Tample - It is a famous temple which is visited by about 2.7 million Japanese people during the new-year holidays. The origin of Narita-san temples goes back to 1000 years ago, in the 10th Century. On the temple’s grounds, there are many elegant old structures including the huge main hall, the three-storied pagoda, Nio-mon gate and Heiwa-no-toh (Tower of Peace ), some of which are designated as Japan’s important cultural properties. It is also famous for the Buddhist fire ritual called Goma ceremony conducted by monks.
Naritasan and Kabuki gained popularity in the Edo period, during the 17th century. Today’s kabuki reflects many features of Fudomyo, a type of Buddha statue. The performance narrates its close relationship with Naritasan that has been handed down from generation to generation all the way to its successors Ichikawa Danjuro. The current 12th Danjuro also visits Narita-san. It is an ideal place to learn something about Japanese culture.
Shopping - If you don’t have enough time to shop for Japanese souvenirs for your family or friends back home, don’t worry. You can enjoy shopping at the front slop approach to Narita-san temple. The avenue is a great place to browse for local handicrafts, works of art and other products. You can also engrave your name on chopsticks for free which would be a wonderful souvenir.
Gourmet - You can also enjoy Japanese cuisine because this area has a lot of Japanese restaurants that serve local cuisine such as broiled eel, ramen, Sushi, tempura, Japanese Sake, Yokan (Japanese sweet jelly,) traditional hand-grilled rice crackers and Taiko-yaki (Japanese muffin containing red bean paste, served hot.) They are so fresh that you can even watch how they cut eels front of the eel restaurant.
Scenery- Behind the main hall of the temple, there is a beautiful Japanese garden. The plum blossom garden is a must-see in February. In early April, you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms. In late November, the leaves change their color from green to red, orange, and golden brow which is beautiful. Mounds of earth, rocks, and trees are placed around the ponds in order to create miniature reproductions of natural scenery. It is very refreshing to walk along the paths in the picturesque gardens.
Guide fee
Meeting point pick-up at Narita Airport or JR Narita Station or Keisei Narita Station
Guide's round trip transporation fee from downtown Tokyou to Narita
Transportation fee for customers (Round trip 500-540JPY)
Lunch or dinner ,
Entrance fee (if any)
Offerings to the temples (if any)
Sake (Japanese wine) tasting
I can arrange your tour in accordance with your preference.
Incoming guests are required to provide either a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate (3 doses) of vaccines on the Emergency Use List of World Health Organization (WHO) or a certificate of negative result of pre-departure COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departing from the original country/region.
Please wear comfortable shoes. We will be walking for more than 3 km and there are several steps and slopes along the way.
From Narita Airport to Narita station, it takes 10 min and costs 270 yen. It is recommended that you exchange your money to Japanese currency ahead of time so that you can pay for your train fare, souvenirs and Japanese food.
I also recommend bringing a small bag for this walking tour. You may send other big luggage to the last destination or leave them at the baggage counter in Narita Airport.
My partner and I had an 8 hour layover and had plenty of time for the tour. It was easy to find Mari at the airport and she got us back in a timely manner. We visited the Narita Shinshoji temple and we’re given a historical and modern account of the temple’s significance. Afterwards we picked up souvenirs and had a delicious bowl of ramen!
Thank you for your wonderful review. We were lucky that we got sun shine and the street was not so crowded. I really enjoyed the chat with both of you. You are a nice couple.
Mari is well organized and know what she is doing. Her custom planning made our trip, not sure what we will be doing without her plans.
It was my pleasure and honor to have been chosen as a tour guide during the visit to Japan. I'm thrilled to take to different places and make sure to have a memorable sightseeing experience. All of the children are so adorable.
We had a wonderful time with Mari, Very punctual at the hotel and good preparation, nice personal welcome sheet, The best sushi ever and good knowledge of where everything was in Sawara. Mari has a very nice personality and is open and emphatic. thank you very much Susanne SANDMEIER and Chris
Thank you for posting such a wonderful review. I still remember that we really had great time in Sawara, riding a boat, cycling beside the river, talking jokes, and singing songs. Actually I reconfirmed how wonderful Sawara is. Until you asked me, I did not aware that. You will start your new career soon, right. Hoping your success in future.
We had a delightful time with Mari as she took us on a full day tour to see some Tokyo landmarks. Mari was thoughtful of what we wanted to see, and of our special dietary needs for lunch. She arrived on time, was well prepared and was very pleasant to be with. We highly recommend Mari.
Thank you for your wonderful review. I also enjoyed our tour with you. Both of you are very smart persons. I hope that you will have your enjoyable time for your rests of your journey in Asia. When you visit Japan next time, I’d be delighted to guide you again.