January 13, 2026 (Today)
A long layover doesn't have to mean sitting at the airport. Here is a guide to making the most of your time outside Narita International Airport (NRT).
To comfortably explore, you must account for the time spent on logistics. We will use "Effective Hours," which is your ticket face-value layover time minus a minimum of 4 hours. This 4-hour buffer roughly covers the total time needed for clearing immigration, retrieving/storing luggage, and traveling to and from the airport.
Example: A 7-hour layover gives you approximately 3 Effective Hours to explore
DISCLAIMER: If your layover is at night, your options will be limited, as most train services stop running by midnight. You may need to plan on spending the night near or in Narita.
And needless to say, ensure your passport allows entry to Japan.
Stay in the airport. The risk of missing your flight is too high to leave. While Narita can sometimes be quiet, it is often packed, and delays can occur.
But fret not, aside from stores inside post-immigration, there are also stores pre-immigration. The selection might not be much but it will keep surely keep you occupied.
Explore Narita City (NOT Tokyo). Narita Airport is located quite far outside central Tokyo, requiring a 50-minute train journey one way. This two-hour round trip leaves you with only three hours to explore, which can be quickly consumed if you get lost.
The most feasible option is exploring the nearby Narita City, which is a destination in its own right. Here is a Narita Map Tourist for quick overview
Quick Tokyo. With this much time, you can attempt a trip into Tokyo. Your best bet is to explore areas with a direct line to the airport to minimize travel time. Either 1 or 2 of the areas below.
Here are some tourist maps to help you explore.
That said, if it is your first vistiting, consider the possibility getting lost in a station especially in the Tokyo Station.
Definitely go to Tokyo! You have enough time to comfortably explore two or more areas mentioned in the 8-hour strategy
If you have already visited though areas before, you might want to check the nearby areas in this Tokyo Neighborhood Map