How To Maximize Your Time At Narita International Airport

How To Maximize Your Time At Narita International Airport
Sayaha
Sayaha 
Updated
| 3 min read

Narita International Airport is the gateway to Japan for many international travelers. If you are visiting from different countries, this is most likely to be your first Japanese encounter. Even if you happen to be just stopping over at Narita International Airport before your final destination, definitely maximize your time at the airport to experience even a little bit of Japan.

If you look carefully enough, you will be able to experience high quality Japanese service even before you leave the airport. The truth is, if you happen to have an extra 30 minutes, you can even try on Japanese traditional clothes, a kimono, at the airport for free! Narita International Airport is not just an airport, but really an amusement park of mini Japan.

Welcome to Japan!

how to maximize your time at narita international airport | welcome to japan!

The Narita International Airport is the biggest airport in Japan and the airport with the most international flights arriving and departing daily. With a newer airport, the Haneda Airport, just outside of Tokyo due to be opened soon, some people may travel through there, but still the majority of international guests come through Narita when they visit Japan first.

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approaching in 4 years, the Narita International Airport is increasingly becoming busier. Thus, the Narita International Airport constantly provides fun and exciting services, which entertain travelers even they if they are using the airport for just few hours. Besides obvious dining and shopping options, there are a lot of other exciting things to do.

Try dressing in a kimono for free!

how to maximize your time at narita international airport | try dressing in a kimono for free!

Yes, it is not a joke. You can try dressing in kimono for free at the airport! I wonder who came up with this idea, but this is fantastic! Many people visit Japan for cultural experiences and some of these people are interested in dressing in Japanese traditional garments.

At Narita International Airport, you can be helped into a kimono. It takes less than 30 minutes to be dressed, so if you have time, why not try having a hands-on cultural experience right in your terminal.

Of course, this is popular so you may need to wait for 30 minutes or an hour, but if you happen to have time, it is not usually free elsewhere so why not give it a try! You can, of course, take photos once you are fully dressed in a kimono.

Even a bathroom is entertainment in Japan

how to maximize your time at narita international airport | even a bathroom is entertainment in japan

As well as Japanese traditional culture attracting many international visitors, modern Japan also equally fascinates a lot of people globally. You can see high-tech Japanese wonders and even at the airport, the bathroom provides entertainment.

This particular bathroom has a lady dancing in the toilet! The reflected images and colors in the bathroom are so entertaining to watch. Of course, there are regular bathrooms too, so if you need peace when you go to the bathroom, you can choose to use the regular styles. If you are seeking a little adventure, even while going to the bathroom, you may like to step in or watch it from outside.

Origami crane? Japanese service at the currency exchange stand

how to maximize your time at narita international airport | origami crane? japanese service at the currency exchange stand

The quality of service in Japan can be easily classified as one of the best in the world. When international people visit Japan, they expect the highest quality of service that Japanese provide. This Japanese service mentality, “omotenashi,” can be seen even at a money exchange stand at the airport. It is a small thing, but right at the counter, nicely placed origami crafts are there for free for anybody to pick up.

“Please take one for free,” it says and you can choose an origami flower or an origami crane to take with you. Here and there, if you pay attention at the airport, you see something you would not see elsewhere around the world, which highlights how Japanese people try to welcome international guests arriving at the airport.

The Narita International Airport is always transforming!

You may not like to spend a lot of time at the airport, but if you happen to have little extra time, the Narita International Airport is a fun airport to spend time at. You are most likely rush to get out of an airplane and thus airport, but even if you have to spend a little time there, have fun with it!

You may also want to do last minutes shopping to use up all your Japanese yen on the way back to your country, in that case, there are many different ways to spend at the airport. If you used up all your yen, you can still enjoy free activities at the airport such as trying on a kimono.

The airport changes regularly so you may get to see an exhibit of sumo paintings or try resting on a comfy Japanese mattress; the options are endless. It is always transforming and surprising travelers.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sayaha Aida has been traveling internationally since the early age of 15. She has lived internationally in Japan, England, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the United States (Miami and San Francisco)...Read more

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