Guest Tips

Life hacks master the free airport shuttle for the most fluid stay. Snap a photo of the shuttle schedule upon check-in for when it’s time to depart from the hotel to the airport. To reduce pre-flight stress, when you arrive at the hotel, book your spot on that morning shuttle time. The most popular times tend to get crowded. Check which terminal the shuttle drops off first to plan your timing right.

The on-property convenience store (usually a Lawson or equivalent) is the place to score food and supplies. Hotel restaurant, on the other hand, may have limited hours and charge surprisingly high prices; with the convenience store, it charges great value for a variety of Japanese meals that include onigiri, sandwiches, expensive bento boxes, salads, and snacks. The more you stock up here, the more you save and the more variety you get. You can make instant noodles or tea in your room with a kettle.

If you have a layover of 6 hours or more, don’t just hang around the hotel. Turn it into a whirlwind cultural immersion. Take the free shuttle back to the airport, then jump on the Keisei Line or JR Line for one or two stops into Narita City. The whole trip only takes ten minutes. Inside Narita City, you can see the huge and beautiful temple complex of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and stroll along its delightful traditional street, the Omotesando, where there are lots of shops and restaurants standing side by side. That’s a great way to experience a slice of Japan.

Inside the hotel, request a room on an upper floor that faces away from any main roads for the quietest atmosphere possible. Aircraft noise is generally not said to affect the hotel, although internal or even road noise might prove to be a disturbance. Perhaps, before your flight, you could have a nice relaxing soak in the ‘sento’ (public bath) which some Japanese airport hotels do have. That can be quite a nice tonic for you after a long journey or even by way of preparation for another lengthy one.