“How should we spend our layover?” “Let’s enjoy Japan until the very last second!” If that sounds like you, you’ll love these three towns around Narita Airport where visitors strapped for time can still get the ultimate Japanese experience.
Take a Casual Trip Back in Time From Narita Airport! Walk through historic towns and immerse yourself in Japanese culture
"Narita" in Monzen-cho temple town
Naritasan Shinsho-ji is a Buddhist temple with over 1,080 years of history. There are many traditional restaurants and souvenirs for visitors along the path leading up to the temple. Whether you’re kicking off or closing out your travels in Japan, go put on your favorite kimono and take a stroll while eating the town’s famous grilled eel.
https://www.instagram.com/studiohanabi/
| Access | Narita Airport Station → About 10 minutes → Narita Station (JR/Keisei) |
"Sawara," the town of waterway transport
From the 17th-19th century, Sawara flourished as the base for waterway transport to Edo (old Tokyo). Even today, along the Ono River, you can still see the mercantile townscape where echoes of the past endure. You can visit cafes and galleries tucked inside old buildings or float down the river on a boat.
A traditional festival dating back roughly 300 years, held twice annually in the summer and fall.
| Access | Narita Airport Station → About 10 minutes → Narita Station (JR/Keisei) →About 30 minutes → JR Sawara Station |
"Sakura," the town of samurai
During the Edo Period (1603-1868), Sakura was a prominent castle town that acted as a cornerstone of Edo’s defense. Former samurai residences and the “Hiyodori-zaka” slope, a beautiful bamboo-lined path once used by samurai, still remain to this day. Visitors can even join a tour to walk through the town in samurai outfits.
Check the Visit Chiba website for details!
https://www.visitchiba.jp/things/what-to-do-around-narita-airport/
| Access | Narita Airport Station → About 30 minutes → Sakura Station (JR/Keisei) |
The information herein is as of
August 2023
Chiba Article
