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 Shaka-do and Gaku-do, 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. There is a beautiful garden with a water fall where you can enjoy forest therapy.
Taste typical Japanese cuisine including grilled eel, ramen, and snacks with Japanese wine.
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, 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.
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.
Gary T.
Mari seemed knowledgeable and while very nice and accommodating, she is somewhat quiet or perhaps a bit shy. Her English was not always easy to understand but it helped when she spoke louder. I suggest you ask questions and I think you will get more helpful information from her. She picked us up at our hotel and was very punctual. At our request she took us through Yanaka and we enjoyed a tea ceremony, albeit somewhat abbreviated. She also made sure that we got back to our hotel.
Dear Gary, Thank you for sending your kind review. I also enjoyed the tour of Yanaka. Two of you have been nice to me. I understand what you thought about my guiding. Thank you for your advice regarding what area I have to improve. I will make efforts to meet with my customers’ request. I hope you are enjoying your group tour throughout Japan. Please have a nice time.
James D.
Everything about being with Mari for the day was great. She showed me all the things I had wanted to see and even added a trip to the Pokemon store since we were ahead of schedule when we got to Shibuya. My daughter loves the cards I was able to pick up for her. The card Mari gave me at the beginning of the tour will always be a special reminder of my day and helps me remember to mention all the things I saw that day when telling people about my trip. I was able to navigate the subways when we were done, and I just got way more out of my trip than I would have if I had not had a guide. If you are only going to be in Tokyo for a couple of days like I was, you absolutely should hire a guide and Mari is great choice. -- Jay
Dear James, Thank you very much for your splendid comment with 5-star evaluation. I was surprised how smart you are especially in IT area. You can do two things at a time. I am glad to know that your daughter loved the Pokemon card. Thanks and best regards, Mari
Erik H.
My family has two kids ages 5 and 2 that make us a very challenging match for a guide. Mari customized a wonderful 3-day Tokyo tour itinerary centered around my kids and we all had a great time. Mari was punctual, flexible and incredibly patient which was the only way it was going to work. Thank you Mari for your time and patience!
Thank you very much for your excellent review. I also had a great time with your children. Your son is active, and I was surprised he tried 9 jobs in KidZania. Your daughter is quiet and smart, and both are adorable. I also enjoyed talking with your wife. Please come to Japan again in the near future.
Sapna T.
Mari was very well prepared with the plan we discussed before hand for a Narita city tour during our long layover. She planned the activities exactly as discussed and was very patient with my kids through out the tour. I highly recommend her for any guide services in Narita or Tokyo !
Dear Sapna, Thank you very much for your splendid comment with 5-star evaluation. I'm very glad that you and your kids enjoyed wearing Kimono. It was a coaching hot day, but your kids were feeling better at the end lol. I'm looking forward to making Tokyo tour with you soon. Thanks and best regards, Mari