Narita Airport

Narita Airport operates as Japan’s predominant international airport, serving destinations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Asia. While Terminals 1 and 2 handle the bulk of the flights, an additional terminal (Terminal 3) opened in 2015 to cater to Asia’s growing budget airline sector.

Both Terminals 1 and 2 have a wealth of shopping and dining options outside of the security checkpoints. A variety of flavors – from ramen to tonkatsu to the ever-popular sushi-go-round – are available to those feeling puckish before a flight. Those looking to stock up on souvenirs won’t go home wanting. Themed books, electronics, toys, branded T-shirts and Japanese-themed souvenirs ranging from kitschy to classic are all on offer in the airport’s shops, along with a selection of high-end products in the duty free areas past security.

For travelers who have passed through security and have extra time on their hands, the main terminals host a Japanese cultural experience corner, where visitors can participate in a variety of cultural programs. The activities, which are offered on a rotating basis, range from woodblock printing to origami to dressing up in a yukata (summer kimono).

In recent years, Narita Airport has begun offering a special transit program for visitors spending a short time in the area before boarding an onward flight. This free program is conducted in English and consists of a selection of both volunteer guided and self-guided tours in the surrounding area.

Narita Airport is served by a variety of transportation services. The most well-known options are the Narita Express, a direct train linking Narita with Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Travelers staying at one of Tokyo’s long-established hotels may prefer to use the limousine buses, which offer door-to-door service to over dozens of hotels in the greater Tokyo area. Recently, several discount bus options have cropped up to serve the increase of budget travelers to Japan; many of these routes start and/or end in the Tokyo Station area. Narita Airport also offers a coach service that connects passengers to Haneda Airport, for those who may be continuing on a short-haul domestic flight.

For travelers who prefer to spend their last few days in Japan unencumbered by baggage, suitcases can be shipped to the airport and picked up at a holding desk in the terminals’ arrivals hall prior to check-in on the day of the flight.