Visiting Narita: The Naritasan Temple, Omotesando and Old Towns Near the Airport

Narita is in Chiba Prefecture and is best known for its airport, but the town itself centres on the Shinshoji temple, known as Naritasan, which has been its spiritual heart for centuries. The street called Omotesando runs down to the temple, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops. The town suits anyone who wants a relaxed taste of Japan before or after a flight without pushing through Tokyo crowds.

Who it suits and how long to stay

Half a day is enough for the temple and Omotesando if you are on a layover. A full day covers the park behind the temple and adds a secondary sight such as a museum or the Edo-style village. If you have two days or more, Narita can serve as a base for the canal town of Sawara and the surrounding countryside. For anyone mainly interested in Tokyo, though, Narita is better treated as a short stop.

Best time to visit and weather

Narita is not a place where you have to chase a season the way you might in Tokyo or Kyoto, but in years with unusual snow or heavy rain, allow extra time for the trip back to the airport.

Getting there and around

From Narita Airport, take the Keisei or JR Narita Line into town, a ride of roughly ten minutes, arriving at Keisei Narita or JR Narita Station. Then follow Omotesando to the temple. The central town is small enough to walk, so you do not need local buses. Secondary sights such as the museum or village outside town need a bus or taxi; check the route in advance.

Main highlights

• Naritasan Shinshoji temple, with several main halls, a staircase up to the upper terrace and a clear atmosphere of worship.
• Omotesando, a gently sloping street to the temple, packed with old shops selling grilled eel and sweets.
• Naritasan Park behind the temple, with ponds, shaded paths and trees that change colour through the year.

Quieter corners

Near Narita is the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences in Shibayama, ideal for plane lovers and children. The Boso no Mura village in Sakae recreates Edo-period life and lets visitors try crafts. Another is Sawara, an old canal town sometimes called Little Edo, roughly half an hour or a little more from Narita. All three need opening hours and closing days checked before you go.

Areas to know

There are three zones to know: the area around Narita Station as the gateway to town, Omotesando and the temple as the main attraction, and the area around the airport with hotels and traveller shops. Choosing where to stay differs in convenience versus atmosphere, a topic for another article.

Food and souvenirs

Grilled eel and yokan are the local specialities. For detail on shops and dishes, see the separate food guide, since this article focuses on the town overview and timing.

Sample budget

The main costs are the train from the airport, meals and entry to sights other than the temple, all of which can change. If you only visit the temple and stroll, Narita is a low-spend town, but reaching the outlying secondary sights adds travel costs.

A short plan

1. 1Morning: arrive and walk OmotesandoWalk slowly, browse the shops and pick a lunch spot.
2. 2Midday: Naritasan templeSee the main hall and the stairs to the upper terrace.
3. 3Afternoon: the park and back to the airportWalk the park, then leave enough time to return to the airport for check-in.

While walking the town and riding back to the airport, maps, a translation app and live train times matter. An eSIM installed before departure lets you do all of this straight away.

See Japan eSIM plans

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