How to spend 10 hrs in tokyo

May 5, 2010 2:30 AM

I have a 10hr layover in Narita airport on Tuesday, May 11, from 8am to 6pm. Ideas for interesting things to do? 20 and female here if that's a factor.
posted by Xianny to Travel & Transportation around Tokyo, Japan (8 answers total)

Terminal 1 or 2? Can you get out of the terminal or do you need a visa?
posted by gakiko at 3:03 AM on May 5, 2010

Response by poster: I don't know which terminal, but I think I can leave the airport - hooray visa exemption arrangements.
posted by Xianny at 3:25 AM on May 5, 2010

I wouldn't try to go too far, trains to and from aren't all that frequent, and Tokyo is what I would think of as too far. On the other hand, check out the city of Narita. From the ticket gate of JR Narita station, turn right, and you'll see a huge open lot full of taxis and buses. If you go straight out (well, around, on the sidewalk) to the light (past Mr. Donuts) and turn left, that street leads down to Narita-san, which is a pretty fantastic temple. All along the road on the way there, there are restaurants, souvenir shops, and even an information office (it's on the left, on the slope).

The temple has a calligraphy museum, and is pretty nice just to wander around. Narita is famous for unagi, or grilled eel on rice. I'm not personally a big fan, but it's pretty popular. Other than that, there are a good number of sushi and Japanese style restaurants that would be good for lunch. With that much time, I'd definitely try to check out some of Narita.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:29 AM on May 5, 2010

I suspect that Mike Newman's Narita Layover Page may be helpful here.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:41 AM on May 5, 2010

Yes, by all means go explore the town of Narita. It has everything you need for a Japan mini-visit. Just wander around, you'll be fine, it's not big enough to get seriously lost.
posted by Rash at 8:44 AM on May 5, 2010

Adding my support for checking out Narita. The temple is pretty sweet and there are some good restaurants. I wish I could remember the name of this one place, but there is an unassuming snack bar kinda restaurant where the friendly old man and his wife cook delicious treats (like the questionably translated "Octopussy Ball").. I've been there both times I went to Narita and I feel like he remembered me. I told him I'm from NYC and he got excited, telling me his daughter lives here and then he showed me all of his photos from the trip.
posted by ReeMonster at 9:08 AM on May 5, 2010

I agree with everyone else above: going to Narita city sounds like the perfect way to spend your layover.

However, if for some reason you also need to kill some time inside the airport, here are a few suggestions if you're sick of the shops:

- Check out one of the observation decks to watch planes taking off and landing.
- See if you can find this long, featureless tunnel that connects to the old airport train station, Higashi-Narita (the airport-side entrance is near the other train stations and looks like this).
- Note that there's also a free shuttle bus connecting the terminals (and the old station).

Have fun!
posted by caaaaaam at 11:33 AM on May 5, 2010

Nartia is a fantasticly fun little town and you will have a wonderful time there. Make sure to fully explore the temple grounds, as there are several parts to it. One of the buildings has a collection of old etchings and paintings on wood, which are very rare in Japan and never seen outside (apparently most of them were burned - it's been a couple years since I saw them).
posted by whatzit at 12:42 AM on May 8, 2010