filmwill

I know this question has been asked before...but what can I/should I do with about an almost 10 hour layover in Narita on the return portion of my February trip to Bangkok & Cambodia?

I'd really love to see Tokyo but I'd hate to feel stressed out and/or rushed to get back if I do go into the city -- I still have to take into account getting back in time to check-in, spend maybe just a bit in the lounge, etc.

Is Narita town inteesting enough? Thought of maybe seeing the temple there and visiting the spa I've read about in town. Thought that might make for an interesting enough layover. But, the thought of Tokyo just sitting there (considering I've never seen any of it) is just a wee bit tempting.

Arrive Tokyo at 7:30 AM, depart for LAX at 5 PM.

Thoughts?

rkkwan

With that much time, you can definitely visit Tokyo. And you're not really rushing, since you're just "relaxing" on the train to the city, as long you know the train schedule and make time to get back to the station.

filmwill

Thanks rkkwan! Any suggestions on an itinerary? It'll be on a Monday morning so not sure what would be a nice and easy excursion that'll give me a memorable experience in Tokyo.

rkkwan

Tokyo is so vast you should just stick to one area, two at most, during the time you have. Depends on what you're interested. Tokyo Station/Ginza is the "old" city center. Or go to Asakusa to see its most popular temple (and the food/souvenir stalls leading into the temple). Or if you want to see more highrises and shopping, Shinjuku, which is now the "new" city center. Or if you're into anime, electronics and maid cafes, Akihabara.

You will find interesting stuff in each area.

lcuy

We had this same schedule in 2008. Unfortunately, MelissaHI did our report on her blog and it isn't working now. I'll e-mail and see if she could retrieve it and post here.

There were six of us. Susan and I spent the day in Narita town. (I'd had whooping cough for a big part of this trip, so was still not my usual energetic self). We took the 6 or 7 minute train, then meandered down the hill full of interesting food & souvenir shops, stopped to snack at quite few of them, explored the temple. When we finally reached the bottom of the loop road we took a bus back up the loong hill rather than hike back up. There was a free bus out to the shopping center. We had a great lunch, did some people watching, shopped the depato for souvenirs, then headed back to the airport.

MelissaHI, Mari808, my daughter and Stacey went into Tokyo where they met up with Fodorite Bmttokyo, who was living in Tokyo at that time. They went to a sento (old fashioned bathhouse, had a fabulous lunch, and did some shopping and exploring in the Asakusa area, if I remember.

This post has a lot of the initial planning:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...m#last-comment

I'll email Melissa now...

hawaiiantraveler

February will still be cold in Tokyo so if you do this you should bring at least a jacket.

You can be in Ueno in less than an hour. The first Keisei Line train would leave from NRT terminal 2 at 8:21 and arrive in Ueno at 9:15 am. That would leave you about 5 hours in Tokyo before you would have to head back on the 2:00 or if you want to press it the 2:45 train that will get you back to T2 at 2:40 and 3:24 respectively.

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetud.../skyliner.html

While in Ueno you can check out the Ueno Park and Museum. Shop the streets at Ameyoko-cho.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3012.html

Then hop on the subway down two stops to Asakusa and the Sensoji Temple with its accompanying Nakamise Dori and if you have time check out the Kappabashi Dori a couple of blocks behind Sensoji.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3004.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html

You can eat anywhere in any and all of these areas I mentioned as you will pass so many food opportunities it should blow you away.

Then head back to Ueno for your train back to NRT.

Or of course you could head to..........and.......and lol

Aloha!

rhkkmk

the info booth in the outer lobby offers several excursions from the airport...

we have taken a train into narita town a couple of times and walked around and eaten in town... there is a large lovely temple compound up on a hill in town too.

another time we took an hotel bus to one of the airport hotels and had a nice meal..

rhkkmk

we needed a special pass from the airline to exit the airport

rkkwan

Why would you need a pass to exit the airport? Americans can visit Japan visa-free. Who's going to stop you from going through immigration into Japan? And once landside, who can stop you from leaving the airport?

filmwill

wow. lots of info to digest here.

thanks for the suggested itineraries, all!

ht, does that train leave from terminal 1? looking at that link you sent it would seem it doesn. i ask cuz i'm flying in and out of T1.

does the train that goes to ueno connect directly to the subway at the same station (ueno)?

rkkwan

The train departs from T1, then make a stop at T2 (departing 5 minutes after T1).

The Keisei Ueno station of the Skyliner is adjacent to (and to the west of) the Tokyo Subway Ueno station. Not sure if they're connected, but at most it's a short walk.

hawaiiantraveler

Yup, Ray has it right, train leaves from T1 then goes to T2 and onward.

If you check out that first link I put up you'll find this page with information on a round trip ticket and Tokyo Metro subway ticket all in one and less for what you'd pay for a r/t train ticket called the <b>Keisei Skyliner and Metro Pass.</b>

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetud...iner_metro.pdf

Then you will have a free subway riding day in Tokyo.....well with the r/t you'd actually get two free consecutive days but your not there for two days this time are you.....or does your award ticket allow stopovers, whats one more day?????

Yes the Kesei Ueno and the JR Ueno(Tokyo Metro) stations are connected underground through a walkway. It is located across a long intersection if you get topside. On the map at the bottom left of the page on the link I just left shows you that from the Keisei Ueno stn you can walk to the G 16 orange Tokyo Metro Ginza line in just a few minutes. Then three stops (3 minutes) to the G 19 Asakusa stop and actually end of the Ginza line for Sensoji Temple and environs. At this stop you will have options of taking a rick shaw tour (expensive) right outside this station. This area is where we usually see a sumo wrestler or two seeking out a place for lunch around that time of day.

Aloha!

hawaiiantraveler

ooooops, I see they have the one day metro option on a r/t tik for a little less, you are in luck