Things to Do in Narita: A Local Guide
Most people only know Narita as the airport, but the town beside it is a genuinely good half-day: a huge, atmospheric temple, an old approach street lined with eel restaurants, and a leafy park behind it. It's also the perfect long-layover escape - ten minutes from the terminals.
What's worth doing
- Naritasan Shinshoji: a large, active temple complex with multiple halls and a great hall of worship
- Omotesando (the approach street): an Edo-flavoured lane of shops and famous eel restaurants
- Naritasan Park: a spacious landscaped garden behind the temple - calm and seasonal
- Unagi lunch: Narita's signature; watch the eel grilled in the shopfronts
- Easy layover loop: temple + lunch + park, doable in 3-4 hours from the airport
Local angle
The approach street is the heart of it - go before lunch to watch the eel chefs at work and beat the queue at the famous restaurants. The temple is big; don't rush it. If you're on a layover, store bags at the station or airport and travel light.
What is there to do in Narita besides the airport? +
Visit the grand Naritasan Shinshoji temple, walk the old Omotesando approach street with its eel restaurants, relax in Naritasan Park, and eat unagi - all about 10 minutes from the terminals.
Is Narita worth visiting on a layover? +
Yes - it's one of the best layover escapes in Japan. The temple, eel street and park make an easy 3-4 hour loop just 10 minutes from the airport.