Tokyo / Narita Hotel Reviews
The Aeon Shopping Mall at Narita is very modern and has lots of interesting shops - and some at very affordable prices. The ANA Narita hotel provides free shuttle service to this mall. Our son loves Tokyo Disneyland and wants to go back again next year. Food and entrance fees are prohibitive but the experience was rich. My wife has to move around with a crutch and was pleasantly surprised to meet with lots of assistance and concern. Overall, our visit to Tokyo this time confirms the impression from a previous visit 7 years ago - Japan is clean, rich in culture, things move like clockwork, the Japanese people are polite and customer service is first-rate - even though we cannot understand what they are saying - the smiles and friendly gestures speak for themselves.
The Aeon Jusco shopping centre which is located 10 minutes away from the hotel is a great place to be if you have half a day to spend on shopping. A bus which runs hourly or so will bring you from the hotel to the mall, very convenient.
We flew in to Narita in the pm and the next day took the express to Tokoyo station where we booked on the Nozomi bullet train for Fukuoka. Fantastic experience on the train and Fukuoka a must as it is a most cosmopolitan city and the residents very helpful. Travelled to Yamaga a small town where our son married a lovely Japanese girl and the whole experience with the Shinto wedding and reception and staying in a traditional Onsen and meeting all her family was fabulous. Travelled by car to Kumamoto, then by air to Osaka, then bus to Kyoto which is another must city to visit. Two days there then bus to Osaka, then air to Tokyo for 2 days. Not enough time to take all of it in and will definitely return.
We travelled to Tokyo station daily by train - althought scenic, it became a sore point considering it took 2hrs one way for a daily travel of 4 hrs! Once in Tokyo I loved it! The people were friendly, polite and the city soooo clean and exciting. We visited the Tower, electric city, temples and a huge market! Five days is too short to include Mt Fuji and such wonders!
We were visiting Japan, the Tokyo area and stayed at Ana Narita as a first night after a long international flight. We traveled with our 3 year old and this stay made it very convenient. Tokyo and the area was great. We visited Mitake-san, Nikko area shrines, old friends and lots of shopping in Shibuya. A great stay and we are planning to go back regularly.
Enjoyed one of my favourite Japanese meals close by in the Narita village - smoked eel - osihi - delicious. The free bus service into town {and the airport} is just sooooooooooo conveinent.
Convenient free shuttle to/from airport.
We were able to get around using both the Narita city bus and the Tokyo highway bus. But travelers should be warned that neither are set up for English-only speakers. Be ready to ask for help -- many people, including bus drivers do not speak English. However, when you catch the correct bus -- the service is excellent.
NaritaSan temple in Narita city was excellent, also access to JR was very convenient, Hotel bus shuttle stop jus in front of it. In the station there is a very good information center in which you could get information in english..