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Narita is known for its airport which is the biggest international airport in Japan and many people use it as a transit or layover hub. However, we think that if you’re in the area, you should at least spend a day in this small but bustling city. It is a great place to explore for both first-timers and returning visitors to Japan.

Our family resides in Narita and Candy went to middle school and high school in Narita, so we’re very familiar with the area. A few of the locations on this list are places we frequent every time we visit home.

1. Omotesando Street - Traditional Shops & Restaurants

Narita Omotesando St. (MAP)

This is a historic road that leads to Narita’s famous Shinshoji Temple. The start of Omotesando street is located just steps from Narita station and as you continue to walk further down the road, you’ll feel like you’ve time traveled back in time as many of the buildings remain from the Edo period (1603 – 1868).

White car going down Omotosando Narita — Omotesando Narita

The Edo period architecture is simple yet majestic. There are tons of mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on this road and everyone is super friendly and welcoming. We recommend grabbing a snack at the yaki dango (Japanese grilled rice flour dumpling) stand or a freshly baked senbei (Japanese rice crackers).

Eating a yakidango in narita — Crystal enjoying her yakidango

At a yakidango stand in Narita — Ordering a yakidango

You’ll also notice a ton of eel restaurants since that is what Narita is known for. One of the oldest unagi restaurants in Narita is located here and has been serving eel since 1910. The top three eel restaurants on Omotesando street are Kikuya, Kawatoyo, and Surugaya.

Chef cutting a live eel — Chefs cutting live eel

Chargrilled eel in Narita — Fresh charGrilled EEL

As you walk down the road, you’ll witness chefs preparing eel from start to finish, which is quite the site to see. The chefs are quick with the knife and every movement they make is so precise. The sweet smell of freshly grilled eel always makes us so hungry.

2. Boso No Mura - Edo Period Open Air Museum

1028 Ryukakuji, Sakae-machi, Imba-gun, Chiba Prefecture, 270-1506 (MAP)

Boso No Mura (Village of Boso) is modeled after a traditional Japanese village and is a history museum filled with fun interactive experiences. The fee is very reasonable at 300 yen (~$3.00) and you can get there by hopping on a 20-minute bus ride from Narita station.

Boso no Mura Canal — Boso No mura Stone Lined Canal

We had a fantastic time dressing up in a traditional kimono and took a ton of photos. You can expect to spend at least half a day here as there are numerous workshops, hands-on tours, and various restaurants.

Tossing a Bamboo ring — Playing an Edo Period Game

3. Miyoshia - Serene Japanese Tea House

386-2 Nakamachi, Narita, Chiba Prefecture, 286-0027 (MAP)

If you want to experience traditional tea and sweets in a serene Japanese garden, we highly recommend stopping by Miyoshiya. It is quite the hidden gem and it can easily be missed as it’s nestled in a small alleyway along Narita’s Omotesando.

Miyoshia Tea Garden in Narita — Miyoshia Tea Garden

Japanese treats are very different from American sweets so you won’t see items like cakes or cookies on their menu. Instead, you’ll find traditional sweets like mochi and nerikiri. Japanese sweets pair well with green tea, so many of their menu items come as a set with green tea.

Green tea and mochi sweet — Traditional Green Tea and Sakura Mochi

This tea garden is our niece’s favorite, so it’s sort of a tradition to stop by here when we are visiting. She is also quite knowledgeable when it comes to properly drinking green tea, so usually, we ask her to demonstrate to us the art of drinking green tea.

Green tea and Nerikiri — Green Tea and Nerikiri

4. Hana no Yu - Local Hot Spring

Chiba, Narita, Kōzunomori, 2-Chōme-40-1 (MAP)

The one thing our mother always wants to do when we come home is to visit the hot spring. We pretty much frequent Hana no Yu onsen (hot spring in Japanese) every other day, especially during the winter months.

Narita Hana no Yu Hotsprings.jpg — Hana No Yu Hot SPrings

Entering the womens onsen — Entering the Women’s Hot Springs

This onsen is fantastic because it’s more than just a big bath. There are multiple bathing areas both indoors and outdoors with various types of experiences. You can enjoy tourmaline spring water, electric bathing, far-infrared saunas, and more.

Tatami room dining area — Tatami room Dining area

Not only is it a place to enjoy a relaxing bath, but afterwards, we spend time together dining at their restaurant or relaxing in one of the many tatami rooms filled with manga.

Reading in a tatami room — Crystal reading her favorite Manga Bleach

Ginger pork saute entree — Ginger Pork Saute Entree

Shampoo, conditioner, and soap are all part of the admission fee; however, towels are an additional fee. If you’re not familiar with hot spring (onsen) etiquette, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with them.

Shopping at a Japanese Bakery — Shopping at Lyon Bakery

It’s about an 8-min walk from Kozu No Mori station (one station after Narita station) and if you go during the day, we recommend stopping by Lyon Bakery which will be on your way back to the station.

5. Aeon Mall - Famous Shopping Mall

24, Wing-Tsuchiya, Narita-shi, Chiba 286-0029 (MAP)

This mall is a famous shopping mall where locals and tourists can enjoy dining and shopping at supermarkets, fashion brand stores, drugstores, bookstores, and more. This shopping center is huge, so you’ll definitely want to wear your comfiest shoes because you can easily spend an entire day here.

Store inside Aeon Mall Japan — Wamono ya kaya

Aeon Mall Narita Entrance C — Aeon mall Entrance C

Daiso at Aeon Mall Narita — Shopping at Daiso

Getting to Aeon mall from Keisei Narita Station is very easy since they have dedicated shuttles throughout the day. It’s also a great place to spend the day if you have a long layover at Narita Airport (dedicated shuttles are available from the airport).

Chinjao Rosu at Aeon Mall — Chinjao Rosu

Tonkatsu with shredded cabbage — Tonkatsu with Shredded Cabbage

It can be a little overwhelming for the first-time visitor but don’t worry because it’s super tourist friendly with robot guides and free WiFi. Some of our favorite stores are Muji, Daiso, Wamono Ya Kaya, and A.J.D. Accessories.