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- Recommended Narita sightseeing itinerary
Come look at the samurai homes and old-time private residences with their Edo period atmosphere
The Narita area in inland Chiba retains much of its older townscape. Take a tour of the samurai and private homes that retain their Edo Period feel, and maybe take a boat ride to enjoy the town from the water.
Itinerary Map
Trip Details
Day 1 – Time needed: approximately 6 hours, including approximately 3 hours, 15 minutes for sightseeing and meals
Sakura Station
Bicycle – approximately 10 minutes
Rental Bicycles
Rent a bicycle from the JR Sakura Station Tourist Information Center (downstairs from the north exit) for a leisurely ride.
Hours of operation
- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed
- During the end and start of the year
Fee
- 500 yen per rental per day
Address
- 235 Mutsuzaki, Sakura, Chiba Prefecture (downstairs from the north exit of JR Sakura Station)
Related websites
Rental Bicycles
The Hotta House
Bicycle – approximately 10 minutes
The Hotta House
The Hotta House was constructed by Masamoto Hotta, the last feudal lord of Sakura, when he moved from Tokyo after the Meiji restoration of the Japanese emperor. Made in traditional Japanese style, this valuable house is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. On the grounds, Sakura Garden is always open for people to look at and stroll through.
Hours of operation
- 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last entrance at 4:00 p.m.)
Closed
- Mondays (the following day in case of a holiday) and December 28 to January 4
Entrance fee
- Adults – 310 yen
Address
- 274 Kaburagimachi, Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
Time needed: approximately 60 minutes
Hotta House interior
Boshu-ya
(main location)
Bicycle – approximately 10 minutes
Boshu-ya (main location)
In its third generation of ownership, Boshu-ya is well-established, having maintained its excellent standards for more than 50 years. Although sightseers come in, its mainstay business is regulars. In addition to its soba served up straight on a wickerwork tray, the restaurant has special menu items available that use fresh seasonal ingredients.
Hours of operation
- Tuesday to Friday – 11:00 am. to 3:00 p.m.
- Weekends and holidays – 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(Please note that products may sell out during business hours.)
Closed
- Mondays
Address
- 233 Shin-machi, Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
Time needed: approximately 60 minutes
Sakura Station
Train – approximately 45 minutes (JR Narita Line)
Sawara Station
approximately 15 minutes on foot
Ko-Edo Sawara
River Boat Tour
approximately 20 minutes on foot
Ko-Edo Sawara River Boat Tour
Enjoy a relaxing water excursion in which you leisurely gaze up from the boat to the townscape. The storehouse-style (dozo-zukuri) merchant houses and townhouses (minka) incorporate many thin slats of wood in the traditional style, evoking the Edo period. One of the offerings is a machinami course that focuses on the town atmosphere.
Hours of operation
- December to February – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- March, October, November – 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- April – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- May to September – 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed
- Not set
Fee
- Machinami course, adult – 1,200 yen
Address
- 1730-3 Sawarai, Katori, Chiba Prefecture
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 30 minutes
Ko-Edo Sawara River Boat Tour
Suigo-Sawara
Museum of
Festival Floats
approximately 15 minutes on foot
Suigo-Sawara Museum of Festival Floats
The Float Event of Sawara is counted among the three great float festivals of the Kanto Region. The assembly hall has exhibits of floats, giant figures, sculptures, musical instruments and other objects used in the festival, as well as a theater that shows videos of the events. Visitors can enjoy the festival culture that has been passed down from generation to generation for three centuries.
Hours of operation
- 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (until 8:30 p.m. during the Float Event of Sawara period in July)
Closed
- Mondays (open on holidays), New Year's holidays (open during the Ayame Festival)
Fee
- Adults – 400 yen
Address
- 3368 Sawarai, Katori, Chiba Prefecture (on the Yasaka Shrine grounds)
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 45 minutes
Suigo-Sawara Museum of Festival Floats interior
Sawara Station
Train – approximately 30 minutes (JR Narita Line)
Narita Station
approximately 10 minutes on foot
Naritasan Monzen
Ryokan Wakamatsu Honten
Naritasan Monzen Ryokan Wakamatsu Honten
A well-established traditional inn located right in front of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. The guest rooms are entirely in Japanese style, and most rooms have a view of the temple. Unagi (freshwater eel), a local specialty, is one of the features of the cuisine, and other dishes are available that use fresh seasonal ingredients. There is also a large bathing facility open 24 hours a day.
Address
- 355 Hon-cho, Narita, Chiba Prefecture
Related websites
A Japanese-style room in the Wakamatsu Honten
An example of Wakamatsu Honten cuisine
Narita View Hotel
In the vicinity of Narita International Airport, Narita View Hotel is a luxury hotel. Inside the modern structure, you will find a large garden and a promenade designed to bring you peace of mind. The dedicated shuttle bus travels to the airport free of charge, and the restaurants in the hotel provide genuine French, Chinese and Japanese cuisines.
Narita View Hotel
Day 2 – Time needed: approximately 7 hours, including approximately 6 hours for sightseeing and meals
Naritasan Monzen
Ryokan Wakamatsu Honten
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
A few steps away
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Founded in 940, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple has held the faith of people for more than a thousand years. Including some three million people visiting at New Year’s, the temple sees more than 10 million visitors a year.
Experience a bit of the monk's life yourself, copying a Buddhist sutra ("shakyo") or taking a religious session in Mikkyo Zazen in which you learn to meditate and clear your mind of worldly thoughts.
Hours of operation
- Sutra copying – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last entry at 3:00 p.m.)
- Mikkyo Zazen – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Open 365 days a year
Fee
- Heart Sutra copying – 2,000 yen, Gohogo Sutra copying: 1,000 yen, others available
Address
- 1 Narita, Narita, Chiba Prefecture
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 120 minutes
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Naritasan Park
approximately 10 minutes on foot
Naritasan Park
Naritasan Park is extensive, 165,000 square meters in area, located in the hilly terrain behind the Great Main Hall of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. A path leads from the park entrance into the forest, perfect for shinrin-yoku, or forest therapy. Some 250 old trees inhabit the grounds, such as ume (Japanese plum) with its red and white flowers, cherry blossom, wisteria, sawtooth oak and oak proper, allowing you to enjoy flowers in each season.
Open 365 days a year
Address
- 1 Narita, Narita, Chiba Prefecture (Naritasan Shinshoji Temple)
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 30 minutes
A section of Naritasan Park
Kawatoyo Honten
approximately 15 minutes on foot
Kawatoyo Honten
Since opening in 1925, Kawatoyo has won a great following as a restaurant dedicated to genuine unagi (freshwater eel) cuisine. The unagi is broiled with a secret sauce passed down through the generations, giving the meat a soft, full texture. Come taste perfection.
Hours of operation
- 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed
- Mondays (the following day if Monday is a holiday); no closures in January, February, May and September
Price
- Broiled unagi on rice – 2,200 yen; other dishes available
Address
- 386 Naka-machi, Narita, Chiba Prefecture
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 60 minutes
Narita Station
Bus – approximately 20 minutes
Chiba Prefectural
Boso no Mura
Museum
Bus – approximately 20 minutes
Chiba Prefectural Boso no Mura Museum
This is a participatory museum in which the transitions of clothing, food, shelter and technology are recreated through exhibitions and performances. Covering all of the ages from primitive and ancient times down to the present, the Chiba Prefectural Boso no Mura Museum aims to enrich the local culture. In all, there are more than 350 hands-on activities, performances to attend and exhibits to look at.
Hours of operation
- 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Closed
- Mondays (the following day if Monday is a holiday)
- December 24 to January 1
- Special holidays (January 4, February 14, September 1)
Entrance fee
- Adults – 300 yen (some activities have an extra charge)
Address
- 1028 Ryukakuji, Sakae-machi, Inba-gun, Chiba Prefecture
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 150 minutes
A kofun, or ancient grave, at Chiba Prefectural Boso no Mura Museum
An old-style townscape of merchant houses
Choshi Electric Railway Nure-Sembei
To save itself during financial difficulties, Choshi Electric Railway developed a new product, its Choshi Electric Railway Nure-Sembei rice crackers. The soft, glutinous texture makes for a superb sembei, or rice cracker. At Inubo Station, you can try your hand at baking rice crackers yourself. Why not give it a whirl? (Reservations at least three days in advance are required.)
[Rice cracker baking]
Hours of operation
- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Price
- Adults – 600 yen (one baked per person, four-pack gift)
Getting there
- From JR Narita Station, take the Narita Line to JR Choshi Station, about 80 minutes, then transfer to Choshi Electric Railway to Inubo Station, about 17 minutes
Related websites
Time needed: approximately 10 to 15 minutes
Nure-Sembei rice cracker baking
Narita Station
As of August 2012
Trunk line
Bus
On foot
Bike
For train travel from Tokyo to Narita, use a JR Kanto Area Pass.
- Good for unlimited travel for three days with reserved seats on Shinkansen, limited express and other regular trains for 8,000 yen.
- Since this pass is also valid for travel from Narita and Haneda Airports, this is a great way to travel.
Timetables and seat reservations
