Visit Narita before your flight

Narita Airport is not in Tokyo. Located in Chiba Prefecture, Narita is a historical city well worth a stop on its own, even if you have only 2-3 hours to spare. You could also do like me: arrive the evening preceding your flight, stay overnight and do some sightseeing the next morning. At least come to try the eel! Try: - 🍱 unagi (freshwater eel) dishes. Out of many eel restaurants the most famous is Kawatoyo Narita, est 1910. See: - ⛩️ Omotesando is a busy, historical street that links the railway station and Naritasan temple. Lined with shops and restaurants, it's a good place to pleasantly kill some time. - ⛩️ Naritasan Shinshoji Temple 成田山新勝寺, a big Buddhist complex. Depending on your time, you could visit just the main part in 30 minutes, or stay for several hours exploring all the buildings and the spacious, leafy park. Stay: - 🛏️ if you wish to be close to the action, look for accommodation around Omotesando or the temple. - 🛏️ Hotel Kakurega ホテルカクレガ is where I stayed with my family. It's out of the main part of the town, but the 10-minute walk from/to the railway station doesn't hurt, and the neighborhood is quiet. The rooms are clean and pretty. For the standard, it's inexpensive. Address: 982-1 Saiwaicho. Enjoy! 🚂 Possible extensions – if you have more time for hopping on and off the train between Narita and Tokyo, here are some suggestions: - very close to Narita is another small city, Sakura 佐倉市, where you'll find the National Museum of Japanese History 国立歴史民俗博物館; ¥600. - bordering with Tokyo and well connected by public transport is Urayasu 浦安市, where the Urayasu City Folk Museum 浦安市郷土博物館 awaits you. It's a 1950s fishing town turned into an open-air attraction, an ensemble of old shops specialized in tobacco, fish, seaweed, tofu, etc. The local specialty are clams, as attested by the clam mascot. Free. 9:30-17, closed Mon. #historicallandmarks#familytrip#deliciousfood#unagi #naritaairport #visitjapan #foodie #japanesecuisine