Narita

Located 60 kilometers east of Tokyo, Narita extends far beyond its role as an international airport hub. At Naritasan Temple, you can watch Buddhist monks perform daily fire ceremonies, while along Omotesando street, you'll smell the aroma of grilled unagi eel wafting from century-old restaurants. Beyond the city center, you can explore the wooden merchant houses along Sawara's canals or try your hand at Edo-period crafts at the Boso-no-Mura museum.

Getting to Narita

You can reach Narita from Tokyo in multiple ways. The Narita Express (NEX) train runs from major Tokyo stations including Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Tokyo Station, taking about an hour. The Keisei Skyliner provides another fast option from Ueno Station. Local trains on the JR Sobu Line take longer but cost less, while highway buses connect Narita to various parts of Tokyo.

Exploring Naritasan Temple

The Naritasan Temple complex spans several acres, with buildings dating from 940 CE. In the main hall, you'll find a statue of Fudo Myoo deity, carved by Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. The grounds include five buildings designated as Important Cultural Assets, including a three-story pagoda and the Great Peace Pagoda. You can watch daily fire ceremonies where monks chant sutras.

Walking Through Omotesando

The 800-meter Omotesando street connects Narita Station to Naritasan Temple. More than 150 wooden shops and restaurants line this street, many run by the same families for generations. You'll find vendors making sembei rice crackers, selling Japanese pickles, and crafting local items. The street fills with visitors during temple festivals and New Year celebrations.

Local Food Scene

Restaurants along Omotesando specialize in unagi (freshwater eel) from Lake Inba-numa, grilling it over charcoal. Each chef follows specific preparation methods that have remained unchanged for generations. You can also try local specialties like peanut-based sweets and yokan (sweet bean jelly).

Day Trips Around Narita

In Sawara, 30 minutes from Narita, you can walk along canal-side streets lined with wooden merchant houses and warehouses from the 1800s. At the Suigo Sawara Aquatic Botanic Garden, 1.5 million iris flowers bloom in June. The Boso-no-Mura museum recreates daily life from the late Edo to early Meiji period, where you can watch craftspeople at work and try activities like paper-making.

Naritasan Park

The 165,000-square-meter Naritasan Park sits behind the temple complex. Three ponds with carp form the center of the grounds. Spring brings cherry blossoms, summer sees hydrangeas in bloom, autumn colors the maple leaves red, and winter covers the landscape in snow. Walking paths lead to the calligraphy museum and several rest areas throughout the park.