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A stopover at Narita, Tokyo

By Bill Lee

Many of today’s ultra modern airports are built, out of necessity, on a large piece of dirt far away from the city they serve, that was previously …… nothing! You would be forgiven for thinking that the ultra modern Narita Airport which handles multi millions of passengers bound for, or transiting, Tokyo was just that. Even if you spend an overnight transit here you will probably be comfortably accommodated in a 5 star international hotel close to the airport and blissfully unaware of the fascinating corner of Japan that is just 5 minutes away.

The airport itself, which opened back in 1978, was built on land that had been the Shimfosu Imperial pasture – in other words primarily rice paddies and farmland. Take a look out of the aircraft window as you fly in and you’ll see what I mean. Narita town itself has been around for centuries as a major pilgrimage centre which means that right here, just minutes away from this amazingly modern airport, is Japan in a nutshell.

There’s a big sprawling modern Narita City of course, the interesting bit is just a small part of Narita which developed around one of the main reasons for this town’s existence, the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. Start from Narita Station and you really can’t miss the road that winds it’s way through a myriad fascinating shops and stores down to the Shinshoji Temple and on to Naritasan Park. The first time I walked this road was shortly after Narita Airport had opened and it hasn’t changed greatly – there are more tourists in evidence now and there’s a new side street of restaurants just off to the right as you leave the station where we found a great noodle bar for dinner when we were there a couple of weeks back. The old man that had sold a rejuvenating facial cream made of bird droppings was no longer around but lots of the old stores and eateries were and we had lunch, as we always do, at the very unpubbish Red Lion Inn, another Narita landmark – they’ve always served good food here.

The Temple is as amazing as temples get – you can spend a long time here wandering amongst the many buildings and just soaking up the ambience and history that’s all around . But, if you only have a short time, it’s still more than worthwhile. My favourite time of day is the early morning – before breakfasts are being served and long before the vendors have set up their stalls.. This is when the clatter of the monk’s sandals can be heard as they head across the cobbles to morning worship, when the chanting starts, when the incense is new. Directly behind the temple is the Naritasan Park. I’m no Ken Duncan but some of my very best photographs have been taken right here in this stunning park. Beautiful at any time of year it is a sensational experience in Spring and Autumn when the colours defy description and, through every season, the huge pagoda towers over the park keeping watch.

For me Narita started as a stopover experience on the way through to Europe – now I will always make sure I have time out here whenever I visit or pass through Japan. Chances are you’d be on a stopover en route to somewhere and you’ll have your hotel accommodation booked at one of the airport hotels which, as I previously mentioned, are not in Narita town. All these hotels offer transfer buses between the hotel and the town during the daytime or you can just hop in a cab., There are also several very reasonably priced hotels in Narita town and this means you can just walk out and explore whenever you wish.

With so many amazingly good value airfares via Tokyo there are plenty of opportunities to experience fascinating Narita and it really is an ideal ‘half way house’ on that long journey to wherever. Ask about the unreal American Airlines/Qantas fares to the USA (particularly San Jose California), or the Japan Airlines Summer specials to their major cities in Europe, the Scandinavian Airlines/Qantas fares and the Lufthansa fares to just about anywhere in Europe. And please – experience Narita on the way. You won’t regret it.