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The known and loved NRT! The city’s sky gateway for flights from around the world.
The international airport and gateway to Tokyo, visited by 44 million travelers each year (as of 2019). Opened in 1978, this world-famous airport (airport code NRT) has ferried over 6 million flights both in and out of Japan. The airport grounds include 3 different passenger terminals, a freight terminal and is currently planning to open a new runaway in addition to its two runways currently open.
Even if you’re not getting on a plane yourself, there are plenty of spots to enjoy within the airport. In addition to high-end shopping at well-known brand shops, there’s a colorful array for foodies to love including ramen, Japanese and western fare.
One spot especially popular with the kids is the observation deck. With an impressive view overlooking the planes in all their glory, you won’t be able to help snapping a picture. The deck is fully equipped with a safety fence with big enough camera-holes to help you get your un-blocked shot! There’s a Mini Gallery of Japanese Art, with images across the ceiling and walls provided by the Tokyo National Museum, as well as sculptures and stained-glass art pieces throughout.
Supersized electric bulletin board
Passenger terminal
Travellers from all across the world
Airport is easily accessible by train
The wide open observation deck
Mini Gallery of Japanese Art
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Don’t want to spend your time at Narita Airport waiting around bored? Head to the food court on the fourth floor of Terminal 1 or 2 for one last stop before departure! You can enjoy authentic Japanese ramen, sushi, or tempura to satisfy your appetite. After your meal, browse the shops on the same floor, where you’ll find everything from famous souvenir stores and anime merchandise to all kinds of general goods. Once you’ve eaten your fill and stocked up on souvenirs, you can go through departure procedures at your leisure, turning your wait into the ultimate Japanese food and shopping experience!
The last stop on our Tokyo trip was Narita International Airport. Before flying home, of course we had to look around the airport! Narita Airport has plenty of duty-free shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants, so it’s really convenient for picking up some last-minute Japanese souvenirs.
After coming from central Tokyo, I recommend allowing plenty of time at the airport so you’re not rushing to check in after you arrive. There are also lots of shops to browse, selling snacks, sweets, cosmetics, and souvenirs. When you check your shopping list one last time at the end of the trip, you often can’t resist buying a few more things!
We visited quite a few attractions around Tokyo on this trip, and finally organized our luggage, grabbed something to eat at the airport, and slowly got ready to head home. Seeing our suitcases packed with purchases also meant that the trip was coming to an end. Looking forward to the next trip!
Narita Airport is one of Japan's major international airports. International and domestic flights use different terminals, and the airport covers a large area, so first-time visitors may need some time to get familiar with it. These days, I usually fly in and out of Haneda Airport when traveling to Tokyo, but when heading overseas to places like Hawaii, I still sometimes depart from or transfer at Narita Airport.
This time I arrived at Narita Airport pretty early, so I actually had time to look around at the airport facilities. What really impressed me was that there were seats with power outlets and workspaces near the check-in counters. My first thought was, “This is way too corporate-slave-like,” but thinking about it, international airports do have many business travelers who need to handle last-minute work, so having a place to sit down and use a computer is actually very thoughtful.
The baggage services before departure are also comprehensive. Each terminal has a baggage repacking area and scales, so you can check the weight before the airline counters open. In my experience, the numbers were pretty close to those at the airline counter, so you can adjust your luggage ahead of time. Terminal 1 also has a luggage-wrapping service, so if you're worried about your suitcase getting scratched or damaged during handling, you can arrive early and take care of that.
After immigration, there are still duty-free shops, restaurants, and stores all the way to some of the boarding areas, so it's not like there's nothing once you pass through security. But compared with Kansai Airport, which has been renovated in recent years, I personally found Narita's shopping area a little more modest. Food prices weren't outrageously high, though. What really stood out to me instead was the price of bottled water.
I also really like the capsule toy machines at Narita Airport. You can see quite a few machines as soon as you arrive at the airport by train, with everything from popular characters to more obscure designs. If you still have some 100-yen coins left at the end of your trip, this is a great place to use up your change, and sometimes you can even find items you might not come across in the city.
On this trip to Tokyo, we stayed in Oshiage. Getting there from Narita Airport was very convenient. We took the Narita Sky Access Line straight to Oshiage Station without having to drag our luggage around while transferring, which saved time and made the trip easy.
After leaving the airport, we enjoyed the scenery of Tokyo's suburbs along the way as we gradually entered the city. Once we arrived in Oshiage, we could go straight to the hotel and rest. The biggest advantage of staying in Oshiage is being close to Tokyo Skytree. Transportation in the area is convenient, making it easy to get to Asakusa, central Tokyo, and other attractions. For families traveling with children, one less transfer and a little more convenience really make it a great place to stay!
