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Narita packs a 1,000-year-old temple, an 800-metre shopping street of eel restaurants, and Japan’s busiest airport with plane-spotting parks into a compact area you can cover in a day or two. Most sights are free or under ¥1,000. Here are the things to do in Narita with locations, hours, and prices. For hotels near these sights, see where to stay in Narita. For an overview of the whole town, see the Narita travel guide.
Things to Do in Narita: Temples and History
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Shinshoji is a Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 940 AD and one of Japan’s most visited, drawing over 10 million people a year, mostly for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the New Year. Entry is free, and the grounds open from roughly 5:00 to 16:00, with the main hall and pagoda set inside the 165,000 square metre Naritasan Park. The temple is a 10-minute walk from Keisei Narita Station. For which months are comfortable for walking the grounds, see the best time to visit Narita guide.
Omotesando Street
The 800-metre Omotesando runs from Narita Station’s temple-side exit to the main gate of Naritasan, lined with around 150 shops and restaurants selling grilled unagi (eel), rice crackers, and local pickles. Most shops open 8:00 to 18:00, and a grilled eel on rice set lunch runs ¥2,500 to ¥4,500 at the long-standing restaurants. Eel is the town’s signature dish because the temple’s founder is said to have eaten it on his journey here. For monthly temperatures, see Narita weather by month.
Naritasan Park
Naritasan Park wraps around the temple with plum trees that bloom in late February, cherry blossoms in late March, and a 58-metre Great Peace Pagoda you can climb for a view over the town. The park is free and open daily from dawn to dusk, and its three ponds are stocked with koi you can feed for ¥100. The plum festival in February and the cherry blossom festival in early April are the busiest days. For the annual calendar, see events and festivals in Narita.
Things to Do in Narita: Aviation and Plane Spotting
Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences sits at the south end of Narita Airport and covers Japanese aviation history with real aircraft on display, including a Boeing 747 nose section you can enter. Entry costs ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for children, and it opens 10:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays. The rooftop observation deck faces the runway and is one of the best free viewing spots after admission. It is a 10-minute bus or shuttle ride from the terminals. For how to get around, see the Narita travel tips and FAQ guide.
Sakura no Yama Park
Sakura no Yama Park is a free hilltop park at the north end of the runway, built specifically for watching planes take off and land at close range. It is about 15 minutes from the terminals by car or taxi, has picnic tables and a small cafe, and is busiest at weekends with photographers. The park is also lined with cherry trees, so it doubles as a viewing spot in early April. There is no train stop, so take a taxi or the park’s parking if driving.
Terminal Observation Decks
If you are transiting and short on time, all three terminals at Narita have free observation decks airside. Terminal 1 has decks on the fifth floor, Terminal 2 on the fourth, and Terminal 3 has a smaller viewing area, all open from early morning to late evening. Bring a telephoto lens or binoculars if you want frame-filling shots. For which district to stay in to reach these easily, see the Narita neighborhoods guide.
Things to Do in Narita: Shopping and Day Trips
Shisui Premium Outlets
Shisui Premium Outlets is a 180-store outlet mall about 10 minutes from Narita by Keisei train to Shisui Station, then a short walk. It stocks Japanese and international brands at 30% to 70% off, and a direct bus runs from the airport terminals on weekends. It opens 10:00 to 20:00 most days. If you have a six-hour layover, this is the most practical shopping run from NRT.
Aeon Mall Narita
Aeon Mall Narita is the town’s main shopping centre with about 200 shops, a food court, supermarket, and cinema, and it runs a free shuttle from Narita Airport roughly every 20 minutes. It is the most reliable rainy-day option and the easiest place to buy a cheap SIM card, snacks, or luggage. A free shuttle runs from all three terminals roughly every 20 minutes.
Boso no Mura Open-Air Museum
Boso no Mura is an open-air museum that reconstructs an Edo-period street and a farming village from the old Chiba region, about 25 minutes from Narita by car. Entry costs ¥300 for adults, and hands-on workshops in samurai costume, indigo dyeing, and traditional crafts cost a few hundred yen extra. It opens 9:00 to 16:30, closed Mondays. This is the best half-day side trip if you want something beyond temples and planes.
