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Have a few hours at Narita Airport? Visit the town of Narita!

As a major airline hub, the Narita airport in Tokyo appears on many travelers' itineraries to and from Asia. If you have a long stopover (say 4-5 hours) and you don't feel like hanging around the airport for your next flight, consider taking the local train into nearby Narita town.

You can take a local train (JR East train line) straight from terminal building 1 or 2 to Narita town - about a 15-20 minute ride. Ask the rail line staff for help and information about where and when to get the train. Before you leave the Narita town station, check what time your train back to the airport leaves!

Then, walk around town, do some shopping (there are a few little stores that sell pottery, teas, as well as little restaurants with Japanese food). If you have a chance, walk to the stunning Japanese temple complex with multiple beautiful buildings, a large koi pond and generally a very calm, peaceful atmosphere. Quite different from the hectic airport terminal!

Of course, you want to make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport and to go through immigration again. You will already be checked in for your next flight, so that should cut back on the time you have to wait.

All in all, a great opportunity to get a flavor of Japan - and excellent to stretch your legs in between long flights!