The reason for the very specific title was that when I google the same – no good ideas came up. Either people stayed outside Tokyo or I got results for the other airport for Tokyo which is much closer than Narita to the city. So here is what I did – at pretty low stress level. Maybe this will help someone else out if they google the same as I did. I have several other trips to Japan from about 10 years ago….https://my-jc.blog/category/japan/
Checklist for Short Layover at Narita
- I went to “Visit Japan” to get my visa in advance – all the visa really is as letting them know you are coming into the country. The concept is that a QR code pops up in your account (there is no app) which lets you in quick. My QR code never worked – so I filled out the regular paper documents and didn’t lose much time.
- The plane pulled into gate at 8am – I was on the train by 8:30am into Tokyo. I had checked everything but my work backpack.
- I took the Keisel Skyliner – also shown as blue KS inside a blue circle. Bought a ticket for about $20 USD from the ticket office. This is the fastest way into Tokyo.
- From Narita, it was 45 minutes into Keisei Ueno Train Station – still a bit far from the places I was planning to visit. The train station had a direct underground connection to the Tokyo Metro. Bought the return ticket at this time – all seats/times reserved.
- Bought an all day ticket on the Tokyo Metro for $7 from a machine on a credit card – hopped on the Ginza line at stop G16 (Uneo) to go to Shibuya (G1) – 25 minute ride.
- Tokyo has multiple operators of the subway – I thought I knew the difference – generally anything “JR” is a different ticket from the regular subway.
- Got to Shibuya – home of the famous “Scramble Crossing”. Lot of alleys and “character” – similar to Itaewon. Struggled to choose between the “Samurai Mac” from MCD and stewers of unknown origin from a local vendor – I went with the latter with 4 “beefish” skewers and 4 “chicken” skewers.
- Tokyo is remarkably clean – however there are no trash cans. So I had to haul around my skewer remains and trash in a plastic bag for the rest of the day until I got back on the train.
- Hopped back on subway – went to G9 Ginza. Ginza is like Gangham, Park Avenue, Mayfair, Rodeo Drive, etc. The plan at that point was to walk from there to the Imperial Palace and then get back on the Ginza line to subway to Asakusa (G1) where there were temples and more street food for lunch.
- First – I got distracted and wondered through another park where I was able to be a turtle-spotter for locals. Second – At the Imperial Palace, a section in the gardens was open that is usually closed so I spent much more time there than planned. So when I left and had popped out at a different subway line – no big deal – hop on the subway for one stop to get back to the Ginza line.
- My ticket didn’t work – so I tried to buy a one way and they only accepted cash. So I bought another all day ticket for $7.
- Took the line one stop to the Ginza Line and transferred over.
- Hopped on Ginza Line for 4 stops back to Keisei Ueno Train Station – when I got off – the gates would not let me out. Apparently the one stop I took was on a 3rd Tokyo subway operator (TOEI) – so since I didn’t log in with the original, I was “illegal”.
- So my penalty was $1.80. Happy to pay – but they took cash only and no AMTs in the subway. I showed him that I had 2 all day passes so he waived me through but he pretty much hated me.
- Got on my train 2.5 hours before my flight – made it to security about 1 hour 45 minutes before my flight.
So – there is proof that you can go to Tokyo from Narita with a 9 hour layover and I got about 24,000 steps. But for full disclosure as writing this and referring to the google – Near Keisei Ueno Train Station is Ueno Park are a couple of things to see with a lot less effort: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html
Additionally, the Tokyo SkyTree is not that far away and worth a visit – tallest structure in Tokyo.
The conclusion – whether you spend time on the metro and walk a lot as I did or just focus around Ueno Park – you should go into Tokyo with a 9 hour layover. Below are pictures from the trip –
