8 things to do in Narita (Tokyo) airport terminal 1

A long layover in Tokyo? Arrived too early? No problem! There is a lot you can do in Narita airport from visiting a Kabuki themed gallery and shop, to enjoying free Wi-Fi, to catching up on some sleep in a ‘capsule’ pod hotel. In this little post I will be introducing my personal favourite places to visit/shop/eat when I’m in Narita airport terminal 1.

一、Homemade Udon noodles – Kineya Mugimaru

This is a self-service, super laid back homemade udon noodle place. Decide what you want, take the tray, join the queue and order, a bit like your school/work canteen. People behind the counter will give you your udon and toppings, no broth at this point, you can take a tempura or a rice ball too (from around ¥140 each), then pay at the cashier. Then comes the exciting part – THE BROTH DISPENCER. Yes, you can help yourself with as much udon broth as you want (I went back for top-up). You can also have chopped Japanese leeks, grated ginger and tempura scraps. Their udon starts from ¥390. This is the plain one with no topping, but with free onions and scraps it will make a substantial and delicious udon dish!

二、Quality Soba noodles – Nagasaka Sarashina Nunoya Tahei

If you have been to Japan, you know that you can have soba noodles for only around ¥300 at any soba stand. Those cheap soba noodles are completely tasty and so comforting. However, soba/buckwheat flour is not cheap and for quality soba noodles that is made with fine 80-100% stone ground soba flour, you need to go to a ‘high-end’ soba noodles restaurant such as this one. ¥837 for a portion of plain soba noodles (it obviously comes with dipping sauce and condiments) is definitely not cheap, but it is worth it. If you like soba noodles you must try this place and find out what soba can really taste like. A portion of plain soba noodles can be as satisfying as a 3 course meal. Do go for ‘zaru soba’ (cold soba noodles) and really experience the taste, the texture and the aroma of soba.

三、Japanese Spaghetti – Yomenya Goemon

This is not your ordinary spaghetti house. Goemon serves Japanese fusion pasta, unique creations such as ‘sesame sauce with boiled pork “shabu-shabu” style’ or ‘sea urchin & salmon roe in soy-sauce olive oil’. The results are surprisingly and perfectly tasty. They source good pasta and olive oil from Italy and marry them so wonderfully well with Japanese ingredients. They do Italian style pasta also which are as delicious as the Japanese ones. There is no wonder this company has been in business since 1976 and has so many branches all over Japan. The pasta dish starts from around ¥1000 which is really reasonable.

四、Ai-zome (Ai dye) clothing and fashion – Blue Blue Japan

The photo is Blue Blue Daikanyama branch in Tokyo

Ai-zome is a traditional dyeing method in Japan that uses the Japanese indigo plant. Also known as ‘Japan blue’, natural ai dye’s rich, deep blue is completely unique and mesmerisingly beautiful. Blue Blue Japan offers various types of original clothing and accessories such as T-shirts, jackets and scarfs. Many items are 100% made in Japan production, from the natural fibre to the traditional pure ai dyeing. Their beautiful garments obviously come with high-price tags as pure ai-dye items are high-end products. However, their unique and modern design and various shades of ai-zome blue are so special and so impressive. Do go and see the magnificent blue that can only be found in Japan! The shop has products made with Indigo (from India) also. And if you are going to make a purchase of over ¥5000, don’t forget to ask for tax-free!

五、Design T-shirts Store Graniph

A specialist shop that offers variety of unique design T-shirts. The shop brings in new items frequently which also means they only produce a limited number of each design. Good quality T-shirts with cool, arty and often quirky designs. Almost all T-shirts are ¥2500 which is great so you can focus on choosing the design you like rather than the price. They usually do 2 for ¥4000 offer. Graniph has many branches all over Japan and the one at Narita airport is rather on the smaller side, still, nice to have this option especially for last minute souvenir shopping!

六、Lawson

Lawson is one of the major convenient store chains in Japan. Convenient stores, or as Japanese calls ‘konbini’, can be found everywhere in Japan. ‘Konbini’ offers a wide range of products and services. The airport convinient stores tend to have more focus on food items, like a tiny supermarket, which is great. Like many shops in Narita airport, prices at the airport Lawson are the same as those in the outside world – no rip off airport pricing. Prices of drinks and snacks start from around ¥100. Great place to get such a variety of food items at affordable prices. They have hot foods, fresh foods such as bento or sandwiches, dry foods and snack items. They can also provide hot water and chopsticks for your pot noodle or soup purchased in the store.

七、Capsule toys vending machine – Gachapon

They are coin operated toy dispensers, each machine will contain toys of a specific range and the photo on the front of the machine shows exactly what they are. The average price is ¥200-¥300 per capsule, insert the coins, turn the knob, and a plastic capsule containing your toy drops out. Here is the fun part, you’ll never know what you will get. Still, even if you get your least favourite item, that may become a nice little gift for a friend, and besides, who says you only have one chance, try again!

Literally hundreds of gachapon machines can be found at the 5^th floor of Narita terminal 1. It is such a fun and clever way to use up left over ¥100 coins before leaving Japan.

八、Special entry – Airport delivery QL Liner

Obviously not my ‘favourite place’ as such, but with so many cool shops and ever so exciting ¥100 stores everywhere, I believe many people leave Japan with heavy suitcases full of stuff. Airport delivery can spare you from the hustle of dragging around your heavy suitcase and give you more freedom to enjoy sightseeing.

When I go to Japan I bring my largest suitcase, to bring back lots of souvenirs and Japanese foods. I used this company a couple of times to send my post-shopping heavy suitcase, once to the airport and another time to the airport hotel. I did my main shopping including the supermarket food shopping whilst I was in Tokyo, sent the heavy suitcase to the airport whilst I traveled Japan with my backpack. I sent my suitcase to the airport hotel the second time realising that packing in my hotel room was more comfortable than in the airport lobby. That being said, the advantage of sending a suitcase to the airport is that you get to pick your suitcase up right in your departure floor.

The delivery charge from Tokyo area to Narita airport or airport hotel is ¥2460. If you pre-book online, it’s ¥2160. I find the company organised and reliable. Do check with both your hotel and QL liner beforehand if your specific request can be arranged, just to be sure. Also be mindful about the collection date and application deadline.

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